Archinect - Features

How To Choose Between Architecture Schools

2020-05-12T16:06:00-04:00

One of our most popular questions in the Archinect Discussion Forum is how to choose between architecture degree programs. Some students might already be accepted to multiple programs and are uncertain which to choose while others may have yet to apply and are unsure of which to pursue. The question is usually along the lines of, “which school is better?” or, “which school should I go to?” and even sometimes, “can someone give me insight into these programs?”

It’s a tough position, and candidates want to make the right decision for their future, so they turn to the Archinect community for guidance only to be met with conflicting opinions or harsh feedback. When it comes to this crossroad, one that will influence the trajectory of the next 2 to 5 years of your life, turning to strangers isn’t always the best idea. In this article I hope to provide prospective students with some essential techniques in making a good decision about which school to attend and how to decide between diff...

USC Architecture Faculty Share Insights on Virtual Learning

2020-03-27T12:24:00-04:00

As institutions of higher learning round out the shift to online instruction, architecture schools also have had to address the pivot. However, the tactile nature of architectural education lends itself to the curious case of duplicating the tactile benefits of studio digitally. There's no doubt schools of architecture across the country have risen to the task at hand. Archinect has even reached out to educators and students across our international community to learn more about the diverse experiences and approaches to this unorthodox learning model.

In this piece, I had the pleasure to connect with the faculty over at the USC School of Architecture to discuss everything from how they mobilized so quickly, solving this debacle of online learning in design to the challenges they faced along the way. While only a perspective of one institution, this exploration should prove valuable to students, professionals, and educators alike.

Troy Schaum on Challenging Architecture Studio Pedagogy Through "Totalization"

2020-01-22T12:42:00-05:00

Design studios play a crucial role during a student's time in architecture school where students are given opportunities to gain new skills, experiment with fabrication techniques, and implement design theory, all while creating prototypes and learning how to effectively present their designs. However, not all studios are executed in the same way. Depending on the institution's focus and pedagogy, studio instructors are often challenged to create new methods of interpreting studio culture, while continuing to implement applicable themes and briefs that challenge and initiate creative thought and reasoning for students. As stressful as it is memorable, students and instructors engage in an almost symbiotic experience through studio: Both parties learn together while conducting research and experimentation through design.

Archinect connected with Troy Schaum, Associate Professor at the Rice University School of Architecture, to discuss his Totalization studio and his recently publish...

Balancing Studio With Other Classes

2019-10-21T10:00:00-04:00

In architecture school, everything takes second place to studio. It’s an unwritten rule: you do whatever it takes to have a great studio project, and if your other classes fall by the wayside, then so be it. Is this a well-placed tendency? Perhaps it depends on what we believe architecture school is here for: to make us great designers, or maybe to accurately prepare us to be a professional. In any case, should studio reign over our other studies? Is our propensity to prioritize it over everything else warranted? Or is there a bigger picture to understand?

When Our Passion For Architecture Dwindles

2019-08-22T13:00:00-04:00

Sometimes, when we spend so many years pursuing something, striving for a far off goal, and then reach it, we can become dissatisfied, or even depressed. "Is this what I've been working toward? Will this be my whole life now?" we might think to ourselves. It's a common thing for many graduates: you go into a firm, and the shock of professional life begins to diminish the zeal you once had for architecture. Even after gaining years of experience, we reflect on how far we've come and begin to yearn for something more. "Do I still want to do this? Is this job leaving me fulfilled? Has it just become routine?" These are all legitimate questions, ones we may all ask at some point. And whether it's as a recent graduate or an experienced professional, the issue of questioning our passion for architecture is something worth addressing.

What the Broke Architecture Student Can Learn From the Work of Glenn Murcutt

2019-08-06T09:00:00-04:00

Architecture school can be a rewarding and overwhelming experience. The long hours, harsh criticisms, and competition amongst peers are only a few factors the student faces daily. And, of course, there’s the question of the material costs that come along with model building, 3D printing, software, computers, and the pile of other commodities one must acquire during their time in school. Of course, there are those students who are fortunate enough to have the funds needed to do as they desire during their academic progression. But, there are also those who can hardly afford to buy a few sheets of material. Do they just take out a loan to keep up with the more well-off students? What if their professors expect them to use an expensive material and they do not have the means to obtain them?

How do you view architecture school when you’re broke?