Dan Pitera, the director of the non-profit, community-centric Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) for the past 20 years, was appointed as the new dean of the University of Detroit Mercy's School of Architecture and will begin his new position on August 1.
Described as “a political and social activist masquerading as an architect”, Pitera has led a successful career in architecture and urban development, with an expertise in public interest design and community engagement. He earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Architecture degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then joined the University of Detroit Mercy in 1999 and has taught upper-level design studios. He served as a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University from 2004-05, and in 2010 was formally inducted into the AIA College of Fellows. He co-authored the book “Syncopating the Urban Landscape: More People, More Programs, More Geographies” and co-edited “Activist Architecture: The Philosophy and Practice of the Community Design Center”.
Under Pitera's leadership, the DCDC won several awards and honors like the prestigious AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award in 2017 and the Dedalo Minosse International Prize in 2002 and 2011. In 2010, he co-led the civic engagement process for the Detroit Works Project Long Term Planning, which was included in the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt Design Museum’s exhibition “By The People”. This past April, the DCDC expanded their operations to the Neighborhood HomeBase storefront office location on McNichols in Detroit.
Pitera will replace Professor Will Wittig, who led the architecture school for over eight years and is currently on sabbatical. Architecture Professor Noah Resnick will assist Pitera as associate dean and is serving as interim dean until August 1.
3 Comments
Well, white men are sure having it rough these days. Almost makes you think, what did they do to deserve this?
“political activist” Hmmmm I wonder which ideology he leans towards...
UDM is big on social justice, part of the Jesuit tradition. Also influenced by the pretty terrible history of segregation and racism in Detroit. I think it's good for schools to have a point of view. Dan gave me a D in studio, so obviously I'm not a huge fan of his.
I just feel bad for the people who interviewed for the job, funny think they really had a chance
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