The onset of COVID-19 hit hard in March. We began to see the death of many people across the globe. This included some of architecture's very own, with the passings of Vittorio Gregotti, John LaPlante, Michael Sorkin, Michael McKinnell, all occurring in March this year. Schools transitioned to online instruction, and architecture and design events around the world were postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, new happenings unfolded at the School of Architecture at Taliesen.

↑ How architecture students and educators are handling the transition to online coursework

Institutions were forced to transition to online learning practically overnight sure to the pandemic. To better understand the implications of such a jarring move, Archinect reached out to its global community to learn how schools were dealing with the change.

↑ BREAKING: Taliesin School of Architecture Board votes to rescind planned closure

Back in March, the Board of Directors for the School of Architecture at Taliesin (SoAT) voted to rescind their previous decision to close its facilities. According to a statement sent to Archinect by Kirkland & Ellis, a law firm that is currently representing the school, the decision was made following significant student outcry over the planned closure and as the school has “secured additional funding” to remain open.

↑ Here is a list of the architecture and design events that have been canceled or postponed due to the growing coronavirus outbreak

As concerns increased for COVID-19, many cities, institutions, and events had been taking precautions in an effort to mitigate the risk of spreading the disease. The architecture industry saw its share of impact, with the cancellations and postponements of many prominent events across the globe. 

↑ Engineers use 3D-printer to save COVID-19 patients in Italy

When a hospital in Italy ran out of much needed life-saving respirators, a 3D-printer company designed and printed 100 of them in 24 hours, saving the lives of the at-risk patients.

↑ Michael Sorkin, visionary and incisive architect, educator, critic, has passed away from COVID-19

↑ Michael McKinnell, co-designer of Boston's Brutalist City Hall, dies from COVID-19

↑ Vittorio Gregotti, Italian Neo-Avant Garde architect, has died from COVID-19

↑ John LaPlante, engineer who helped fix Chicago’s “Z-Curve,” dies from COVID-19