Archinect - News

The New School announces Joel Towers as its next President

2024-05-20T17:53:00-04:00

The New School has announced current Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design and the former Executive Dean of the Parsons School of Design Joel Towers as its tenth President. Towers’ appointment was announced today by Board of Trustees Chair Linda E. Rappaport, who also led the search committee and stated that it comes at a “pivotal moment” in the institution’s 105-year history.

“During his 20 years at The New School, President-elect Towers has prioritized excellence in teaching and learning, with a deep commitment to our students and a passion for the mission of The New School,” she wrote in the announcement. “He brings a track record of success in sound financial stewardship and consensus-building, as well as a clear understanding of both the complexities and possibilities for our storied and unique academic institution. He has demonstrated the vision, experience and commitment required to lead us in realizing the ambitions and strengths of our university.”

Towers, who co...

Designer creates new accessibility-minded brand of accessories

2019-08-05T20:15:00-04:00

Lucy Jones, founder of FFORA, a company whose "mission statement is simple, the world made accessible to all." After embracing a challenge by one of her professors at Parsons to design something that could change the world, the young designer began to talk to one of her family members who had cerebral palsy.

"This challenged me to better consider the accessibility of my creations and reach out and listen to others’ stories. I spent a year listening to a diverse group of individuals who all had varying needs and desires," he expressed in a Teen Vogue interview. Her inquiry continued to larger collaboration and people with disabilities which informed the production and creation of her FFORA brand.

Jones elaborated further on her future ambitions. "For too long, the disability community has had to reinvent or hack their belongings or surroundings due to lack of available products. We believe everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in the products that they use every day, and I ...

NCARB awards $50K to Parsons and Clemson University for development of new integrative curricula

2014-11-07T19:57:00-05:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards have announced that the architecture programs of Parsons The New School for Design and Clemson University are the 2014 recipients of the NCARB Award. NCARB will award the schools a total of over US$50,000 to support the development of each school's proposed program, which explore new paradigms of integrating architectural practice and education.

The award is timelier than ever, in relation to NCARB's major announcements to expedite the architectural licensure and examination process in the U.S.

Program: Clemson University, School of Architecture - Clemson, SC
Proposal: “Graduate Program in Architecture + Health”
The project's mission is to advance healthcare facility design through the collaboration of architects, academia and members of the health care industry.

Program: Parsons The New School for Design, School of Constructed Environments - New York, NY
Proposal: “Student-Practitioner Partnerships in Building Performance Evaluation"
Although there is stronger emphasis on sustainability, instruction on performance measurement is lacking. Clemson's proposal addresses a new and critical opportunity for architecture students to improve the environmental performance of buildings through measurement.

Head over to Bustler for further details.

Get Lectured: Parsons The New School for Design Fall '13

2013-09-16T13:15:00-04:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2013

Here on Archinect we recently launched "Get Lectured", where we'll feature a school's lecture series--along with their snazzy posters--for the current season. Check back regularly to stay up-to-date and mark your calendars for any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

Let's begin the new week with the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons The New School for Design.

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

Listed below are SCE Public Programs events only as listed on the poster. All events are free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served. All events will be followed by a reception.

AUGUST

August 29
6:00-7:00 pm
Introduction to Fall 2013
Wollman Hall, 65 W 11th, 5th Floor

SEPTEMBER

September 12
6:00 pm
INSIDE (hi) STORIES: Allan Wexler on the Art of Building in Ten Books
Parsons The New Schoo...

Timber in the City Competition: Design Students Imagine a Mixed-Use Complex for Red Hook

2013-08-14T13:47:00-04:00

The Timber in the City competition organized by ACSA, the Binational Softwood Lumber Council, and Parsons The New School for Design, attracted over 1,000 architecture students and young professionals to create proposals for a mid-rise, mixed-use complex addressing NYC housing needs. The winners were chosen by a panel of leading architects and professors based on the use of wood as the primary structural material while meeting the needs of the Brooklyn waterfront community.

See the winning projects: www.acsa-arch.org/timber

The competition focused on a site in the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood of Red Hook, with a population of public housing residents and working artists and designers, and a number of new residential and commercial developments. With a focus on regenerating the urban manufacturing sector and addressing housing needs, entrants, working individually or in teams, were tasked with incorporating affordable housing units; a bike sharing and repair shop; as well as a vocational, manufacturing and distribution center for the innovative use of wood technology.

“Today, timber is being used in new, innovative ways to help address the economic and environmental challenges of the build environment,” said Cees de Jager, executive director of BSLC. “This competition brought to life the way the design community is recognizing the benefits of wood – from reduced economic and environmental impact to enhanced aesthetic value and structural perfo...