Avi Friedman began his architectural studies at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Israel Institute of Technology (first in class/cum laude) and his Master in Architecture from McGill University in Montreal. He received his doctorate in 1987 from the Universite de Montreal. In 1988, he cofounded the Affordable Homes Program at the McGill School of Architecture, where he is a Full Professor. Dr Friedman is the recipient of the Progressive Architecture Research Award, the J.-Armand-Bombardier Prize for Technological Innovation and the Manning Innovation Award of Distinction. Education, Teaching, and Research. He has authored ten books on housing related issues, for McGraw-Hill, Wiley, Penguin, and Princeton Architectural Press, which were well-received by reviewers and the public. He also authored numerous peer-reviewed articles for academic journals on subjects ranging from prefabrication and construction technology to suburban planning and space management, and has contributed chapters to other books. Dr Friedman is a member of the editorial board of architectural journals and has authored research monographs and articles in trade publications in the USA and Canada. Between 2000 and 2008 he wrote a bi-monthly syndicated column on housing for the Canwest chain of daily newspapers with a readership of over two million.