UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Katsuhiko Muramoto, emeritus associate professor of architecture in the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School, was recognized for his decades-long commitment to educating aspiring architects by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) with the 2025 Distinguished Professor Award. Muramoto retired from the University in December 2024 after serving as a faculty member in the Department of Architecture for 37 years.
Awarded annually as one of the ACSA’s Architectural Education Awards, the Distinguished Professor Award recognizes individuals “that have had a positive, stimulating, and nurturing influence upon students,” according to the ACSA website.
“I received the congratulatory email from ACSA in December on my way home, 10 minutes after the final clean-up of my office, after having removed my name plate and having just said goodbye to my many memories of teaching at Penn State,” said Muramoto. “Who could have scripted such a fantastic way of finishing a rewarding career?”
He continued, “There is no good teacher without good students and colleagues. I am thankful to have had both at Penn State. I’d also be remiss in not sharing that this award has a special meaning to me as it is a tremendous honor to receive the same ASCA award as one of my most valued Penn State mentors, [the late] Professor Lou Inserra.”
Frank Jacobus, professor and department head of architecture and Stuckeman Chair of Integrative Design, said the faculty has deep gratitude and admiration for the many years Muramoto served his students and the study of architecture at Penn State.
“Katsu’s impact as an educator has been profound — his dedication to his students, his insightful approach to design and his unwavering commitment to architectural education have left a lasting mark on our department,” he said.
During his time at Penn State, Muramoto’s design studios challenged and expanded traditional design methodology to incorporate emerging technological media and design-build strategies. His goal was to help students develop professional competency while infusing them with the means for critical inquiry. He also introduced the importance of sustainability in his design studios, not from an engineering point of view but from the concept of co-existence with nature.
His architectural design projects, models, and installations have been exhibited worldwide in prestigious museums and galleries. His professional experience includes positions with renowned architects such as Peter Eisenman.
In 2003, Muramoto introduced a course dedicated to teaching students the theory of modern Japanese architecture, introducing Japanese architecture as a counterpoint to the West, which he taught until his retirement. To enrich this experience, he conducted study abroad studios in Japan. He has also hosted a summer studio for students from Nihon University at Penn State, thus fostering a global exchange of architectural ideas and connecting students to international architectural trends.
Muramoto’s research portfolio has been diverse and comprehensive, covering many areas, including architectural design, design-build, the theory of 20th-century Japanese architecture and issues around subjectivity and modernity. He also studied the history and theory of architectural representation, new media and digital mediation.
“As a co-founder of the Korea/Japan study abroad program, he created invaluable opportunities for cross-cultural learning that have enriched countless students' experiences,” said Jacobus. “On a personal note, it has been a privilege to work alongside him during my time here, and I know I speak for all of us when I say he will be greatly missed. We wish him all the best in this next chapter of his journey."
Muramoto and the other 2025 ACSA Architectural Education Award recipients will be celebrated at the organization’s annual conference in New Orleans in March.