USC Cinematic Arts

Qingyun Ma is considered one of the most influential architects in his field. His experience and involvement on an international level make him a leader who has a strong foothold in the design community plus a great understanding of the contemporary issues surrounding urbanization.

Ma earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in Architecture from Tsinghua University in Beijing in 1988, and in 1991, he received his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.  Through his academic and professional experience, he developed a keen business sense which, coupled with his deep understanding of architecture and critical design, led him to establish MADA s.p.a.m in 1996.  MADA s.p.a.m. has produced modern urban building and community designs, garnering worldwide recognition. Ma has also collaborated with Rem Koolhaas on CCTV Beijing and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. He was also the chief curator of the 2007 Shenzhen Hong Kong Biennale.

In addition to his practice, Ma is also involved in a wide variety of academic activities. He has served as a visiting professor and critic at various institutions and taught full time at the University of Pennsylvania. He coordinated Great Leap Forward, the inaugural publication of Harvard Graduate School of Design’s “Project on the City.”  He is presently the Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Southern California, where he has enhanced the program by developing the school’s ties with China and launching a number of global initiatives, including study abroad programs and most recently, the USC American Academy in China, a base for visiting scholars to facilitate their research and foster academic exchange.