Martha Thorne

Dean IE School of Architecture and Design, Spain Hon. FRIBA // Hon COAM // Board of Advisors Member, Black Spectacles // Member, Society of Architectural Historians

Martha Thorne is Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design in Spain and was the Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize from 2005- 2021. Her interests focus on the city of the future and innovation in architecture and design education.

From 1995 to 2005, she worked as curator in the Department of Architecture at The Art Institute of Chicago. She has written numerous articles for books and journals on contemporary architecture. She served on the Board of Directors of the International Archive of Women in Architecture and the Graham Foundation for Fine Arts. She has participated on juries for the new National Museum of Chinese Art, Zaryadye Park in Moscow, and the ArcVision – Women and Architecture Prize, among many others. She also is experienced in facilitating the architect selection process for public and private clients.

Ms. Thorne received a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Affairs from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She undertook additional studies at the London School of Economics. She is an honorary fellow of the RIBA and COAM (Professional Association of Architects of Madrid).