About
Architect, Doctor of Design, Artist
Lorena Knezevic’s work lives in the in-between..
Between art and architecture, technology and intuition, research and creative practice. A licensed architect, artist, and design researcher, she explores how emerging technologies such as AI, AR, and VR can expand human creativity while preserving the judgment and intuition at the heart of design.
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Her multidisciplinary practice moves across architectural research, immersive digital environments, live and hand-created artwork, fashion illustration, and painting. Whether working through technical systems or instinctive gestures, Lorena is drawn to the tension between precision and spontaneity, structure and release.
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Bridging academia and professional practice, physical and digital media, Lorena embraces the multitudes within her work to imagine more intuitive, human-centered ways of designing and experiencing the world.
Academic & Professional Experience
Doctor of Design | Florida International University (2026)
Doctoral research examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the economic and professional foundations of architectural practice, with particular focus on value proposition, labor distribution, and pricing models. The work positions architects as strategic integrators in AI-enabled design environments, emphasizing decision-making, workflows, and service-based value over deliverables.
Architect & Researcher | Gensler Miami (2021–Present)
Serves as a Project Architect and Manager while conducting practice-embedded research on AI integration, operational workflows, and value-based design strategies within a global firm through a part-time regional consulting role. Leads the University Connect Mentorship Program, including partnerships with Apple, advancing education–practice collaboration and translating research into firm-wide impact. Multi-year, industry-sponsored research grants have been awarded and completed.
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Adjunct Faculty | University of Miami
Taught architectural drawing courses with an emphasis on representational techniques, visual thinking, and spatial communication. Served regularly on undergraduate and graduate design studio juries, contributing to critique, evaluation, and curriculum dialogue.
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Architect | Perkins&Will Miami (2019–2021)
Worked as a licensed architect and LEED Accredited Professional while participating in firm-supported research initiatives focused on digital transformation and emerging presentation technologies. Contributed to applied research projects, including Instinct to Digital Impact and Real Presentations in Virtual Rooms, exploring new modes of design communication.
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Master of Science in Architecture | University of Miami
Thesis: A Persistent Evolutionary Model for a Nonlinear Design Process (PEP), The research proposed a parametrically driven, continuously evolving digital model that integrates emerging technologies into a nonlinear design workflow, enabling feedback across disciplines and scales.
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Bachelor of Architecture | University of Miami
Thesis: The Architecture of Augmented Reality, This research traced augmented reality from historical illusionistic precedents to future-oriented applications, framing AR as a digital medium capable of reshaping spatial perception, design workflows, and architectural service delivery.
Awards
Centennial Medal Award | University of Miami School of Architecture (2025)
Emerging Professional of the Year | AIA Miami (2025)
Thirty Under Thirty Award | Interior Design Magazine (2025)
Emerging Professionals Mentor of the Year | AIA South Florida (2025)
Design Award of Merit | SARA New York (2018)
Merit Award for Excellence in Design | AIA Miami (2017)
Grants
Agile Housing: Affordable Housing Through Adaptive Multigenerational Units
Annual Industry-Sponsored Competitive Research Grant | Gensler (2025)
Research conducted in collaboration with developers, integrating financial pro formas with adaptable multigenerational unit design.
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Affordable Living: Community Livability Index and Architectural Solutions
Annual Industry-Sponsored Competitive Research Grant | Gensler (2024)
Research using U.S. Census data and Esri Business Analyst to evaluate community livability and identify architectural solutions within the Miami region.
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Generating Diversity Through Affordable Housing in Transit-Oriented Developments
Annual Industry-Sponsored Competitive Research Grant | Gensler (2023)
Site-selection research examining affordable housing opportunities created through Florida’s Live Local Act, zoning overlays, and transit-oriented development.
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Real Presentations in Virtual Rooms: Narrative-Based Spatialized Presentations
Quarterly Industry-Sponsored Competitive Research Grant | Perkins&Will (2021)
Research exploring immersive, narrative-based presentation environments through the development and application of a spatial kit of parts.\
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Instinct to Digital Impact
Quarterly Industry-Sponsored Competitive Research Grant | Perkins&Will (2020)
Research developing a connected workflow across Grasshopper, Mindesk VR, Conveyor, and Revit, enabling design changes made in virtual reality to transfer into architectural documentation.
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Augmented-Reality Research Incubator at Milan Design Week
Fully Funded Industry-Sponsored Research Incubator | Dassault Systèmes (2019)
Selected for an international research and development incubator focused on collaborative augmented-reality systems.
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Computational Design Research
Fully Funded Master of Science Degree | University of Miami (2019)
Graduate funding supporting advanced research in computational design and emerging technologies.
Speaking Engagements
Presenter | U.S. Housing & Community Development Conference (2025):
Affordable Living: An Adaptive Approach to Inclusive Housing and Transit-Oriented Districts
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Presenter | Digital Futures (2025)
Introduction to AI, part of the AI & Architecture Series
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Panelist | FIU CARTA Generative AI in Education (2025)
AI in Architectural Education: Rethinking Process and Creativity
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Panelist | IIDA SF Meeting of the Minds (2025) :
AI, Sustainability & Intuition in Design
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Presenter | HRT-1 National Television, Croatia (2024): Happy Cities (Sretni Gradovi)
Resilient Architecture in Miami
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Presenter | Digital Futures (2024)
An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Voices in AI
Presenter | FPC AHCA Conference (2024)
The Value of Intelligent Healthcare Design
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Panelist | Smart Cities Conference Miami (2024)
Transforming the Profession
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Panelist | IIDA SF NYNY Conference (2024)
Human Excellence in a Digital Age
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Panelist | AR in Action Summit, MIT Media Lab (2019)
Architecture and Augmented Reality
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Artist & Illustrator Experience
Art Exhibitions
The Artist's Attic | Design District, Art Week Miami (2026)
An immersive art experience combining visual art, music, and live DJ programming within a dedicated Design District space at Blu Dot Miami. Lorena Knezevic's paintings filled the room, with live art pop-ups throughout.
Who Are you Really? Solo Exhibition | Design District, Art Week Miami (2025)
Located in the Blu Dot showroom, this exhibition was entirely created and curated in compliment to the showroom. Each scene represented a part of Miami - South Beach, Design District, Wynwood etc. Models posed throughout the space with Lorena's illustrating them live.
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Fashion Design Archives | Collections 1-4 ( 2014 )
Self-taught fashion designer, Lorena created her first fashion collection at the age of 16, earning her national television spotlights, local news and magazines. She went on to create design and create four collections and continues with fashion illustration to this day.
Comissioned
Georgio Armani x KITH | New York Fashion Week 2025
Created original commissioned illustrations for an invitation-only brand experience. The artwork appeared across digital and print invitations, guest communications, and large-format displays at the showroom entrance and throughout the event walkthrough.
Live Art Experiences
S.S. Lux Artist-in-Residence | Tony Choy Music & Friends Salsa Nights (2025)
Served as artist-in-residence for a recurring series of live music and salsa events, creating original paintings in direct response to the performers, sound, movement, and atmosphere of each evening.
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Aura Copeland Galleries | Live Artist
Created a series of live paintings within the gallery environment, transforming each event into both a performance and the creation of a completed original work.
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Orange Blossom Live Art Experience | South Beach NYE 2026
A live painting experience developed for an audience-centered South Beach event, using the progression of the artwork to create a shared visual memory of the occasion with 2 completed paintings in one night.
Get in Touch
Miami- Based
Italian- Born
Croatian- Raised
407-580-9502
