ASSOC. PROF. SURASAK KANGKHAO
Founder, Heritage Asia Research Community (HARC)
Associate Professor, Department of Architectural Education and Design, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Thailand
EDUCATION
- 1989 — Master of Architecture, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines.
- 1987 — Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of San Agustin, Philippines.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Strategic Spatial Planning, Urban Planning, and Community Development Planning.
- Integrated Master Planning, Architectural Project Management, and Urban Development.
- Sustainable Cultural Tourism Strategy and Master Planning.
- Community Development Research and Sustainable Development Planning.
- Agro-Urban Development and Place-Based Spatial Design.
- Landscape-Responsive Architectural and Spatial Planning and Design, Water Systems, Flood Adaptation, and Sustainable and Resilient Community Development.
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
- 1998-2000 — Professional Committee Member, Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA).
- 2024 — Advisor, Horticultural Science Society of Thailand.
- 2025 — Steering Committee Member, AIPH Spring Meeting & Green City Conference.
- 2026 — Advisor and Landscape Working Committee Member, Horticultural Science Society of Thailand, for the International Horticultural Expo Udon Thani 2026.
- Committee Member, Architects Council of Thailand Professional Development Program: “Strategic Community Development for Urban Planning and Local Building Control.”
- Advisor, Horticultural Society of Thailand.
- Committee Member, Botanical Association of Siam (BAS).
- Academic Reviewer, Art and Architecture Journal, Naresuan University (AJNU).
- Academic Reviewer, Research Journal, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok.
- Expert Reviewer, Thailand Art and Design Exhibition (TADE).
- Advisor and Landscape Design Working Group Member, Horticultural Science Society of Thailand, Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026.
- International Garden Competition Judge, Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026.
- Honorary Advisor, Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Senate of Thailand.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Education and Public Service
- 2020 — Outstanding Civil Servant Award, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
Fine Arts and Academic Excellence
- 2020 — National Outstanding Faculty Member Award in Fine Arts, Council of University Faculty Senates of Thailand (CUFST).
Research and Innovation
- 2021 — National Research Award in Information Technology and Communication Arts, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
Professional Architecture
- 2024 — Senior Architect Honor Award, presented on the occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA).
RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC PROJECTS
- 2015 — Project Leader, Research, Survey, and Master Plan Development for Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University.
- 2015 — Project Leader, Student Dormitory Renovation Project, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University.
- 2016 — Principal Investigator, Integrated Master Plan Development for Sustainable Creative Tourism in Sukhothai–Si Satchanalai–Kamphaeng Phet Historical Parks (NRCT).
- 2016 — Project Leader, Meditation Hall Design Project, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University.
- 2016-2018 — Founder and Project Director, “World Heritage Experiences,” in collaboration with Ball State University, USA, and the Royal College of Art, United Kingdom.
- 2017 — Principal Investigator, Tourism Route Design and Connectivity Project for UNESCO World Heritage Historical Parks in Sukhothai–Si Satchanalai–Kamphaeng Phet (NRCT).
- 2018 — Principal Investigator, Creative Tourism Master Plan Development for the ASEAN World Heritage Tourism Network (NRCT).
- 2019 — Principal Investigator, Innovative Tourism Safety Application Development for Si Satchanalai–Sawankhalok UNESCO World Heritage Areas (TSRI).
- 2020 — Deputy Project Manager, Master Plan Review and Development Project for Expressway Development Areas.
- 2020 — Principal Investigator, Sawankhalok Urban Master Plan Development for Tourism Connectivity with Sukhothai–Si Satchanalai–Kamphaeng Phet Historical Parks (TSRI).
- 2026 — Project Leader, Research and Development Project on Approaches to Driving and Enhancing Integrated Flood Management in the Chao Phraya River Basin System for the Upper Central Provincial Cluster Area (Chainat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya).
- 2026-Present — Project Leader, Enhancing Tourism Cities and Creative Economic Districts by Linking Transportation Networks from Hubs to Communities to Increase Economic Value through Responsible Tourism and Carbon Neutrality in the Upper Central Provincial Cluster (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Sing Buri, and Ang Thong).
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC COLLABORATIONS AND NETWORKS
- 2013 — Project Leader, Academic and Research Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Tourism and Conservation Master Planning between KMITL, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA).
- 2013 — Project Leader, Academic Memorandum of Understanding on Integrated Community Master Planning for Flood-Prone Villages.
- 2015-2019 — Coordinator of International Academic Exchange and Integrated Learning Programs in collaboration with IAESTE Thailand and international universities.
- 2018 — Project Leader, Cultural Practitioner Network Collaboration among 11 academic institutions and the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre.
- 2025 — Project Leader, Focus Group: Green City for Chiang Rai, under the Green City Conference 2025, in collaboration with the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH).
- 2025 — Steering Committee Member, AIPH Spring Meeting & Green City Conference 2025, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
ACADEMIC LECTURES AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
- 2018 — Presenter, International Conference on Tangible–Intangible Heritage(s), University of East London, United Kingdom.
- 2018 — International Research Publication, “Innovative Application Software for Tourism World Heritage Site Si Satchanalai Historical Park,” presented at the 3rd International Conference on Information and Education Innovations (ICIEI 2018), London, United Kingdom. Published by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), New York, USA. ISBN: 978-1-4503-6440-9.
- 2020 — Invited Speaker, “Why Urban Revitalization Matters?” Annual Meeting of the Sukhothai Provincial Industrial Council, Thailand.
- 2024 — Guest Speaker, Thai-Dutch Session, Horti Asia 2024, “Innovative & Sustainable Horticulture: A Thai-Dutch Inspiration in a Global Context,” 22 May 2024.
- 2025 — Keynote Speaker, Green City Conference 2025, Chiang Rai, Thailand, presenting “Cultural Nature & City Life” and “Shaping the Future of Ecological Urbanization through Hidden Truths,” under the Continuing Green Sustainable Development session, as Founder of Heritage Asia Research Community (HARC).
- 2025 — Invited Speaker, World Town Planning Day 2025, Sing Buri Province, Thailand, presenting “City in Nature for Climate Change.”
- 2026 — Speaker, International Forum on Green Finance for Sustainable Cities, organized by the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, and partner networks, Bangkok, Thailand, with Sing Buri Province involved in the initiative.
- 2026 — Keynote Speaker, Green City Conference 2026, Udon Thani, Thailand, presenting “Blue–Green–Human to Wetland Green City,” focusing on the integration of blue and green infrastructure, wetland ecosystems, and human capacity to advance sustainable wetland city development.
PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE
- 1987-1997 — Architectural design for commercial buildings, hotels, resorts, shopping centers, and housing developments in Bangkok and provincial Thailand. Projects included ISETAN World Trade Center, EVERGREEN CITY, TRAD HOTEL, MERCURE KOH CHANG HIDEAWAY, and VIVA GARDEN SUKHUMVIT, alongside large-scale private developments and premium residential projects.
- 1997-2007 — Expanded professional practice into public architecture, educational facilities, and religious architecture. Projects included developments for Ramkhamhaeng University, Ramkhamhaeng University Demonstration School, and Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, as well as cultural and infrastructure developments across Thailand.
- 2007-2017 — Led urban planning, landscape architecture, and cultural tourism development projects in collaboration with government agencies, particularly in historical districts and cultural tourism corridors in Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai, and Kamphaeng Phet, in collaboration with DASTA.
- 2017-Present — Senior Architect and Urban Development Specialist working on national infrastructure, urban development, transportation systems, commercial planning, expressway development, and Park & Ride projects. Work integrates economic, social, tourism, and quality-of-life dimensions into spatial planning and development strategies.
ORGANIZATION & PERSONAL PORTFOLIO
https://www.facebook.com/HARC.ASIA
www.linkedin.com/in/surasak-kangkhao
REFERENCE PROJECT WEBSITE
https://vivagardenservicedresidence.com-bangkok.com