Archinect - Features

Discussing Paid Research Opportunities for M.Arch Students at UW-Milwaukee SARUP

2023-12-04T08:00:00-05:00

In November 2022, we connected with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's School of Architecture & Urban Planning (SARUP) to unpack its Mellows Graduate Research Positions (formerly called the Mellowes Master’s Research Assistantships).

For the 2024-2025 school year, SARUP is accepting applications for its latest round of M.Arch graduate researchers in the field of architecture and is offering two additional research positions exploring preservation, conservation and restoration, and material investigations.

To further investigate what options graduate students have, we've reconnected with the school to learn more about its series of paid graduate research openings and why they should apply.

NYIT School of Architecture & Design's M.Arch Graduate Studio Explores 'Designing (Inter)Scalar Domains'

2023-08-01T15:05:00-04:00

Continuing with our Archinect Studio Pin-Ups series, we connect with Archinect Partner School New York Institute of Technology to learn more about its Fall/Spring semester M.Arch studio led by Marcella Del Signore, the school's Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Architecture, Urban and Regional Design.

The ARCH 802 Design-Research Studio "Designing (Inter)Scalar Domains" built upon the preceding M.ARCH 801 Studio from Fall 2020/21 and continued to focus on "interscalar design processes, translating research and design scenarios into the development and production/fabrication phase," asking students to "explore the continuity and interdependence of scales in their project proposals while emphasizing strategies that address micro and macro scales." The concept of 'interscalarity' served as a "methodological framework, investigating scalar relationships and the co-dependency of material, spatial, social, cultural, political, and environmental concerns."

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Breaking Down Architectural Techniques With USC School of Architecture’s Foundational Graduate Studio

2023-01-13T08:30:00-05:00

Kicking off 2023, we've connected with USC School of Architecture to learn more about one of its graduate studios taught by instructors Ryan Tyler Martinez of Studio Ryan Tyler Martinez and Jimenez Lai of BUREAU SPECTACULAR.

For our latest installment of Archinect Studio Pin-Ups, we explore Graduate Studio 1: Form, Order, and Representation. This foundational studio focused on giving students with no previous architecture backgrounds an opportunity to gain "experience to foundational design concepts, disciplinary knowledge, and techniques for thinking about and developing fundamental architectural principles." Comprised of three studio projects and a field trip to Chicago, first-year graduate students could learn, explore, and apply these foundational design principles as they continue their studies.

UCLA AUD's M.Arch Research Studio Explores Speculative 'Future Histories' of Los Angeles

2022-12-15T13:57:00-05:00

The latest installment in Archinect's Studio Pin-Ups series presents graduate student work from one of UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (AUD)'s Research Studio Seminars. The studio, titled "Future [Hi]Stories of the City," is led by Kutan Ayata, AUD's Vice Chair, Associate Professor, and co-founder of Brooklyn-based architecture practice Young & Ayata.

This research-based studio encouraged M.Arch students to explore and document "speculative future histories of Los Angeles through the design of episodic instances. In pairs, students choose an issue that currently pressures and influences the development of LA; the task is to document the state and impact of these issues towards the Year 2062."

Gehry Prize Winners Reimagine Funerary Architecture

2022-12-12T18:12:00-05:00

Thesis projects aim to push students outside of their comfort zones and foster new versions of architectural thinking. For our latest installment of Archinect's Thesis Review series, SCI-Arc M.Arch graduates Ian Wong and Sue Choi discuss the architectural tones and typologies of cemeteries and funerary customs in their project, Earthly Passage.

Winners of the 2022 Gehry Prize for best thesis project, Wong and Choi explained, "Earthly Passage is a new model of funerary architecture." While their topic may seem unconventional, the duo explains the importance of exploring and respecting these spaces for the deceased. Their project exhibits a place for "funerals to take place, as well as subsequent visits," highlighting improved experiences for mourners to pay their respects. They continue by adding, "culturally, our thesis highlights a program or function of space/architecture that is often uncomfortable, or taboo, to talk about."

During this interview, they discuss their motivation to...

Exploring Methods of Resiliency in Society, Ecology, and Design with Kevin Mojica, Sam Fox Ambassadors Graduate Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis

2022-04-27T09:07:00-04:00

Continuing with our spotlight on architecture fellowships and the individuals behind the work and research, we present Part Two of our special (2020–2022) Sam Fox Ambassadors Graduate Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis features. Last week, we highlighted the work of fellow Nathan Stanfield. Here, we share our interview with Sam Fox Ambassadors Graduate Fellow Kevin Mojica about his research.

Mojica's path to studying architecture was influenced by his upbringing in Mexico and the architectural disparities he observed growing up in Southern Florida. During our in-depth interview, Mojica identifies the stark realities immigrant families face when it comes to housing and challenges in climate change. He discusses how his experiences influenced his design perspectives and focus on climate resiliency projects and design's impact through a social and cultural lens. "To understand my interest in design and architecture, I feel it is important to share my background as a first-ge...

Investigating the Histories and Futures of Water-Based Crises with Nathan Stanfield, Sam Fox Ambassadors Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis

2022-04-15T17:43:00-04:00

While highlighting fellowships has been a regular editorial topic on Archinect, we developed a special series (starting in 2018) to understand what these positions offer for both the fellows themselves and the discipline at large by presenting their work and experiences through an in-depth interview. Archinect's Fellow Fellows series is about bringing attention and inquiry to academia's otherwise maddening pace while also offering a broad view of the exceptional and breakthrough work done by people navigating the early parts of their careers.

For this Fellow Fellows feature, we'll be connecting with participating fellows from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. In this special two-part feature, we speak with Nathan Stanfield, Sam Fox Ambassadors Fellow (2020–2022) and Divided City Graduate Fellow (2021). He is a graduate of Sam Fox School at Washington University in St. Louis where he received his B.S. in Architecture as well as an M.Ar...

Academia and Professional Practice: Cal Poly Pomona's Graduate Architecture Program Fosters Architecture Leaders

2021-03-03T14:53:00-05:00

While applications for graduate programs have passed, there are a handful of schools whose application deadline extends into April. In preparation for their Fall 2021 term and its prospective applicant pool, Archinect dives into the graduate program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Department of Architecture (CPPARC)

According to Department Chair and Professor George Proctor AIA, "The learning environment at CPPARC cultivates both individual skills and knowledge while providing the context and tools for collaboration [...] The learn-by-doing methods and collaborative components of every CPPARC studio have produced leaders who run many of the region's largest and most successful firms." Newly appointed Graduate Coordinator Victor Jones shares, "our graduate students are outfitted to harness architecture’s potential to address the many of environmental, political, social, and economic challenges that face our communities and cities."

To further expand on their gradua...

Academia and Social Responsibility: A Closer Look at Tulane School of Architecture's Graduate Programs

2020-10-22T11:47:00-04:00

Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the heart of the Gulf Coast, is Tulane University's School of Architecture. Rooted within the institution is an academic environment that houses its architecture, preservation, and real estate development graduate programs. In this feature, we take a closer look at the school's mission, its goals for its students and faculty, and how it aims to foster an environment of socially responsible learning.

According to Director of Graduate Architecture Benjamin J. Smith, Ph.D., the school's graduate programs share a "commitment to design excellence and social responsibility. With studio, seminar, and lecture courses that bridge intellectual, technical, social, and physical areas, our graduate students examine architecture by understanding its discipline and its consequence. To impact culture in positive ways, our students use architecture to ask challenging questions and deliver meaningful responses."

To learn more about the school's graduate programs...

Using Optimism to Guide Online Education with Karl Daubmann, Dean of Lawrence Technological University College of Architecture and Design

2020-05-13T09:00:00-04:00

Archinect's Deans List is an interview series with the leaders of architecture schools, worldwide. The series profiles the school’s programs, pedagogical approaches, and academic goals, as defined by the dean–giving an invaluable perspective into the institution’s unique curriculum, faculty, and academic environment.

For our latest installment, Archinect spoke with Karl Daubmann Dean of Lawrence Technological University College of Architecture and Design (LTU CoAD). What makes the university unique is it is one of four American universities that is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) to offer an online Master of Architecture degree.

During our conversation, Daubmann unpacks the program's decade-long experience in providing an online master's education. Together we discuss common misconceptions about choosing an online degree, online studio culture, and building trust with students. According to Daubmann, the beauty of the school's programming is in its ...

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...

Demystifying SCI-Arc's M.Arch I Program With Rebecca Fitzgerald

2020-01-16T14:00:00-05:00

Pursuing a graduate degree in architecture can be a daunting task for any prospective student. Earning an M.Arch I degree requires that individuals undergo a "crash course" in architecture, for one. But before that can happen, they must also find the right institution, typically one that not only provides them with the support, tools, and resources they need to foster their sense of architectural exploration but that also helps nurture a critical disciplinary perspective.

To learn more about the journey of an M.Arch I student, Archinect spoke with recent Southern California Institute of Architecture's (SCI-Arc) graduate Rebecca Fitzgerald. Part reflection, part interview, we unpack the journey of an individual whose robust liberal arts background and passion for architecture's multifarious nature activated a desire to chart out her own architectural trajectory. Together, Rebecca and I discuss her academic journey, how research furthered her architectural thinking, and her interests ...

Postgraduate Students Present Final Projects at SCI-Arc’s EDGE Symposium

2019-10-04T06:00:00-04:00

For SCI-Arc’s 2019 academic year, each of the school’s four postgraduate programs engaged with a different design phenomenon or technological paradigm. The culmination of the year-long postgraduate degree cycle was marked by a celebration of student work, the EDGE Symposium. Now in its third installment, the symposium was orchestrated in collaboration with the A+D Museum and presented an exhibition of collected graduate work entitled Speculations at the Edge. The two-day symposium consisted of presentations, reviews, project screenings, and a closing celebration at the A+D Museum.

Archinect connected with a few students to learn more about their year-long program experience. Below are thesis projects and comments from Laure Michelon, Pedro Ferrazini, Potsung Huang, Marine Lemarié, Juan Rincon, and Jeremy Kamal.

Archinect's guide to the Architecture Graduate School Application - Part Three: Choose Your Advisor

2017-11-07T12:13:00-05:00

Choosing advisors is one of the most important decisions you can make in grad school. In the last piece in our three-part guide to the Architecture Graduate School Application, in partnership with Study Architecture, we offer some advice on how to choose the right advisor.

Archinect's guide to the Architecture Graduate School Application - Part Two: Do Your Research

2017-11-06T13:49:00-05:00

We have partnered with Study Architecture to create a three-part guide to the Architecture Graduate School Application process. On Friday we shared part one, which focused on identifying one's interests. Today, we are sharing part two, focused on researching potential schools.

Archinect's guide to the Architecture Graduate School Application - Part One: Identify Your Interest

2017-11-03T11:44:00-04:00

Applying to graduate school is no easy task! Cost, location, professors, programs, resources, and funding are just a few of many things one needs to take into account while navigating the numerous options out there. Hoping to help future graduate students with the application process, Archinect has partnered with Study Architecture to create the ultimate guide for navigating the process.

Letters of acceptance are in and the Archinect community is here to help!

2017-03-29T10:42:00-04:00

It’s that time of year again, when architectural hopefuls sit anxiously on their front step waiting for the mail or more likely, at their computers refreshing their inbox. And while many may have thought the difficult part was turning in the applications, they are probably figuring out by now, that making a decision on which program to accept can be just as taxing.