AB, Harvard College, 1988
MArch, U.C. Berkeley, 1995

Biography

Jeffrey L. Day, FAIA is Professor of Architecture at the University of Nebraska and founding partner of Actual Architecture Company. In the College of Architecture, Day teaches design studios, seminars, and workshops that explore the intersection of design conceptualization and physical construction – the meeting place of theory and practice. Day directs FACT, an interdisciplinary, designbuild studio that engages nonprofits and communities in collaborations that span design and construction.

Day has garnered numerous awards including a 2022 Residential Architect Design Award, The Plan Award 2021, a 2019 Progressive Architecture Award, the Architectural League of New York’s 2016 Emerging Voices, Architectural Record’s 2009 Design Vanguard, the 2007 AIA California Council’s Emerging Talent award, New Practices San Francisco 2009, Residential Architect’s 2010 Rising Star, Architectural Record’s 2003 archrecord2, over 100 national, regional, and state AIA design awards, 11 ACSA design awards, 3 IDEC creative scholarship awards, 4 university teaching awards, and more. In 2019 Day was elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects, the highest membership honor in the AIA bestowed on only 3% of member architects.

Day’s work has been exhibited at the Nebraska History Museum, Museum of Design Atlanta, Sheldon Art Museum, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (4 shows), Kaneko (2 shows), little gallery (Omaha) Luggage Store (San Francisco), Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum (East Lansing), Ide@s Gallery (Shanghai), AIA San Francisco Gallery, Smart Museum (Chicago), Center For Architecture (New York), Harvard University Carpenter Center for Visual Arts, and numerous other university galleries.

Day is President Elect of the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Architecture Practice

Day’s professional office Actual Architecture Company <www.actual.ac> is an internationally recognized architecture and design firm based in Omaha, Nebraska, and operating around the world with expansive vision. Actual Architecture Co. integrates design-research, speculative design practice, and a commitment to building architecture that enhances culture and community. Day founded Actual Architecture Co. after 15 years practicing as a founding principal of Min | Day in San Francisco and Omaha.

Instagram: @actual.ac

Designbuild Workshop

In the College of Architecture Day runs FACT <www.factlab.org> (Fabrication And Construction Team) a designbuild studio engaging creative nonprofits and communities in collaborations that span design and construction. While academic design studios focus on conceptualization and schematic design, FACT affords students opportunities to focus on the creative opportunities embedded in the development and realization of projects. Central to FACT’s mission are 2 types of projects: 1. Attainable housing prototypes, and 2. projects engaging places of intersection between the production and consumption of culture - where creators and audiences meet. FACT wins design awards including ACSA’s Design Build Award in 2013 and 2023, a 2019 Progressive Architecture Award, and many AIA national, regional, and local awards for work both built an unbuilt.

FACT has worked with Parthers for Livable Omaha, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Farm, The Sheldon Museum of Art, Community CROPS, the Salina Art Center, the Sandhills Institute, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, Sheridan County 4H Foundation, the Nebraska History Museum, and other organizations. At the core of FACT are projects engaging places of intersection between the production and consumption of culture – where the creators and audiences meet. FACT often partners with architects, builders, fabricators and other makers such as Actual Architecture Co. and Cornhusker State Industries, the Nebraska State Prison’s fabrication shop management company. FACT has won numerous design awards including ACSA’s first ever national Design Build Award in 2013 and a 2019 P/A Award. FACT projects have been published widely.

Instagram: @makefact

Furniture Design

In addition to architectural practice, Day has developed an award-winning furniture line through MOD <www.mdmod.com> to create objects that inspire improvisation. Informed by everyday geometries, MOD is furniture – infrastructure for living.