San Diego—Nov. 18, 2013—NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD) students will present this Friday a comprehensive vision for the San Diego County transportation corridor from La Jolla to the Mexican border that was developed during a special studio course in collaboration with the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The event, scheduled for Nov. 22 at NSAD, marks the formal release of a book developed from the studio. Kai-Uwe Bergmann of BIG, who co-taught the course with San Diego architect and NSAD instructor Frank Wolden, will also be available to discuss the project and answer questions.

The presentation, which lasts from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the NSAD auditorium, is open to the public, though RSVPs are requested to guarantee a seat:  bignsad.eventbrite.com

The project offers a model for cities around the world to redevelop suburban areas to become high quality sustainable urban areas. An online version of the book project can be viewed at NSAD-BIG Studio: String Theory. Video renderings of the project are available at the NSAD YouTube channel. 

What:  Book launch and presentation of regional vision for San Diego County transportation corridor by NSAD students who participated in special collaborative design studio with Bjarke Ingels Group.
When: Friday, Nov. 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: NSAD Auditorium. 1249 F. Street
RSVP: RSVPs requested to guarantee a space. Please sign up at bignsad.eventbrite.com
Questions: Contact Anna Cearley, NSAD PR Manager, at acearley@newschoolarch.edu

About the Project: The NSAD-BIG design studio was led by Kai-Uwe Bergmann, a partner with BIG, who has been involved in architecture projects in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States. The BIG firm, based in Copenhagen and New York, is considered to be one of the leading companies in innovative, contemporary architecture, and the firm has won international awards and recognition.  The design studio was co-taught by NSAD instructor and local architect Frank Wolden, and it was inspired by the decision by the San Diego County regional planning agency SANDAG to approve an extension of the light rail from San Diego’s Old Town area to the University of California, San Diego. That planned extension is expected to be in operation by 2018, and it connects with an already-established transportation network that reaches the Mexican border. The NSAD exercise focuses on seven proposed sites along the extended transportation corridor through a framework called “String Theory.”

About NewSchool of Architecture and Design
NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD), founded in 1980, is located in San Diego, California. For the past two years, DesignIntelligence has ranked NSAD among the top 10 undergraduate architecture schools in the western United States in its publication “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools.” NSAD is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. NSAD’s Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Executive Master of Architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NSAD offers a pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a Master of Science in Architecture in addition to a Bachelor in Science in Construction Management and a Master of Construction Management. The school’s expanding global design offerings include a Bachelor of Interior Design program and a new Bachelor of Product Design, both through the Domus Academy School of Design at NSAD. In addition to a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Arts, NSAD is now offering a Bachelor of Arts in Animation.   For more information, visit www.NewSchoolArch.edu.