Christina J Birkentall

Visiting Assistant Professor
School of Architecture and Design

office: 103 Fletcher
email: christina.birkentall@louisiana.edu

Chris Birkentall, Reg ID, NCIDQ, IIDA, CKD, LEED-GA is a Visiting Assistant Professor, currently teaching freshman experience and second year studio. She comes to ULL from practice and from previous teaching positions. Most recently as Design Director for a contract furniture firm in the Albuquerque area, she has taught Interior Design at undergraduate and graduate levels at University of Kentucky, Western Michigan University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Harrington College of Design, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Triton College and College of DuPage. Continuing in her own practice she works on both corporate and residential projects. Her work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Trends magazines, showcasing her winning large kitchen in the Design Visions competition sponsored by the NKBA of Chicago.

Chris holds her professional license in IL and is NCIDQ certified. She has been an active member of the International Interior Design Association, as a founding member of the group and as the first president of the IL chapter. She has held officer positions in both IIDA and NKBA and has been involved in licensing for the profession in IL, NY, KY and NM. Her connections to the industry have provided her the opportunity to be a product judge at NeoCon, the annual industry show in Chicago and to expose students to the profession and how product design informs most interiors.

While at the University of Kentucky, she worked with the Human Development Institute on their Universal Design certificate and co-taught classes the concepts of Design Thinking. Her Master of Interior Design was earned from Savannah College of Art and Design, where she also earned a certificate in Historic Preservation. Using this knowledge, Chris worked with the Historic Preservation School at UK to author a Grant for Sustainability, showing how existing older buildings on campus can be re-envisioned to modern learning objectives. Chris was fortunate to be a part of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation, as a docent and as Tourism manager.  Her philosophy of re-use and re-envision is evident in all her work.