Archinect - News

Snapchat co-founder offers to repay student loans for Otis 2022 grads

2022-05-18T14:47:00-04:00

Otis College of Art and Design has received a significant donation that will allow for the payment of student loans of students in the graduating Class of 2022. The money comes from Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel and his wife Miranda Kerr, KORA Organics CEO and model, through their philanthropic foundation, the Spiegel Family Fund. This is the largest single gift in the history of the school.

“Student debt weighs heavily on our diverse and talented graduates,” said Otis College of Art and Design President Charles Hirschhorn. “We hope this donation will provide much-deserved relief and empower them to pursue their aspirations and careers, pay this generosity forward, and become the next leaders of our community.”

The donation was announced during Otis College’s 2022 Commencement, where Spiegel, Kerr, and interior designer and Queer Eye host Bobby Berk received honorary degrees. Spiegel attended a high school summer program at Otis College when he was 15 prior to attending Stanford Univer...

New report shows the architecture industry's resilience in California throughout the pandemic

2022-05-13T14:54:00-04:00

When a recession hits, architects often take it in the gut. The design sector has traditionally been one of the losers of a market downturn, with big real estate developments being put on hold and the need for architectural design services kicked down the road. But during the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, architecture has been surprisingly robust.

According to the 2022 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, an annual report by Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles that tracks the economic health of creative industries in California, architecture has been the most resilient sector. This is compared to creative goods and products, entertainment and digital media, fashion, fine arts, and performing arts. Between 2019 and 2020, architecture saw only a 2.2 percent decrease in employment. And nationwide, the industry added 670,000 jobs in 2021, the largest amount since before the pandemic-induced global financial crisis. The number of businesses also expanded during this period, increasing by 8 percent.

Economist Adam Fowler, a partner at CVL Economics, who authored the report, attributes the industry’s strength to the high demand for architectural services in areas experiencing robust job growth. He also notes the heightened demand for affordable housing. In addition, the pandemic resulted in the reconsideration of h...

AIA|LA recognizes the work of California's architecture students at the 2019 2x8:Exchange Competition

2019-05-15T15:04:00-04:00

This week the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles chapterfeatures work from architecture students in California. The 2x8: Exchange is a three-pronged program that provides students the opportunity to submit their work for the competition, be apart of the student exhibition, as well as provide scholarship opportunities. Now in its 13th iteration, the competition received participation from 16 schools throughout the state to participate in the annual show. In celebration of California's unrivaled diversity in academic pedagogy and programming, each school selects two students to represent the program's ethos and vision.

2x8:Exchange at Helms Design Center, 2019. Image courtesy of Katherine Guimapang

Open to the public, this year's student exhibition takes place in Culver City at the Helms Design Center. Focusing on a forward-thinking take of gallery presentation and setting the show features VR immersion stations, a zero-waste plan, and an ornate display of student work in th...

Get Lectured: Otis College of Art and Design, 2015-16

2015-12-03T19:42:00-05:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2015

Archinect's Get Lectured is ready for another school year. Get Lectured is an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back frequently to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

The next featured poster comes from the Otis College of Art and Design, Architecture-Landscape-Interiors program in Los Angeles.

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 upcoming events only. Note each lecture's time and location. Free and open to the public.

Dec 3
7 p.m.
Nick Seierup / Principal, Perkins + Will - Los Angeles
at Forum, Ground Floor, Kathleen Ahmanson Hall - Elaine and Bram Goldsmith Campus, Otis College of Art and Design

Feb 18
7:30 p.m.
Iñaki Ábalos / Ábalos + Sentkiewicz | Architects - Madrid / Cambridge / Shanghai
at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre - Barnsdal...

Get Lectured: Otis College of Art and Design, '14-'15

2014-11-18T13:13:00-05:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2014

Say hello to another edition of Archinect's Get Lectured! As a refresher, we'll be featuring a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. If you're not doing so already, be sure to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

Our next poster comes from the Otis College of Art and Design, Architecture-Landscape-Interiors program in Los Angeles.

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

All lectures free and open to the public. Note each event's time and location.

Nov. 20
7 p.m.
PATRICK TIGHE / Principal - Patrick Tighe Architecture | Santa Monica
at the Forum, Ground Floor - Kathleen Ahmanson Hall, Goldsmith Campus - Otis

Dec. 4
7 p.m.
JULIA CZERNIAK / Principal - CLEAR; Associate Dean - Syracuse University
at the Forum, Ground Floor - Kathleen Ahmanson Hall, Goldsmith Campus - Otis

Feb. 18
7:30 p.m.
JAMES CORNER /...