In July 2020, Will Hunter, founder of the London School of Architecture (LSA), announced his plans to step down from his chief executive position. Launched in 2015, the school aimed to provide "alternative routes to architecture." Hunter, the former Deputy Editor of The Architectural Review, was ambitious with the school's founding starting with 30+ postgraduate architecture students during the program's first cohort. 

Archinect spoke with Hunter in the Fall of 2015 as a guest on our Archinect Sessions podcast. During our discussion with him, he shared his goals and intentions for shaking up architectural academia in the UK. Quoted during his interview with the podcast team, Hunter explained that he wanted to develop "a 'cost-neutral' model of architecture education, where students work part-time – for pay equal to the cost of tuition – while also attending courses."

Since then, the school has grown into a thriving alternative architecture program that continues to grow and strengthen its options for prospective students seeking a career in architecture. It has received RIBA validation and received its "Part 2" accreditation from the Architects Registration Board. However, with Hunter's plans on stepping down, the school was in search of his replacement. Early this month, the LSA announced Neal Shasore as the new Head of School and CEO. 

Shasore is no stranger to architectural academia. Before taking on his new position at the LSA, he was a Lecturer to the University of Cambridge's architecture school in addition to posts at RIBA and the University of Westminster. An esteemed academic and author, he also holds several Trusteeships through The Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) and Research and Innovation Advisory Group of RIBA, to name a few.

Below is a response from Shasore on his new position at the school.

“It’s a huge privilege to be appointed by the Trustees to succeed Will Hunter as Head of School. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my interactions with the LSA’s talented and driven students. I am looking forward to working more closely with them, and with our pioneering teaching and operations teams as the school develops over the coming years.

The LSA’s innovative model is more needed than ever as architectural education meets the challenge of the government’s emerging higher education policy. More profoundly, providing accessible, inclusive and creative educational opportunities for aspiring and practicing built environment professionals has taken on even greater urgency as the RIBA and ARB develop plans to embed ethical practice and drive-up competency after the tragedy of the fire at Grenfell Tower and following our departure from the EU.

Building on the team’s successes in creating a thriving, collegial and dynamic school in under a decade, I’m looking forward to expanding the LSA’s educational programme and deepening our relationship with our partners and practice network. In all this, we’ll redouble our commitment to diversity, inclusivity and design in the service of environmental and social justice.”

According to the LSA, Shasore will begin his tenure at the end of June 2021.