2022 proved to be a year filled with reevaluating what it means to offer an architecture education as well as to receive one. Schools, students, and faculty across the globe continued to adjust to remote learning while students were also welcomed back to campus. This, however, didn't stop the innovative and inquisitive minds of students, academic researchers, and fellows from producing new and exciting work.
Each year comes with its own sets of challenges and questions. Nonetheless, the perseverance of students provides the industry with a glimpse into the future of architecture as a whole. To recognize and celebrate student work, research, and fellowship in architectural academia published on Archinect in 2022, we've curated a collection of stories worth revisiting.
Exploring and highlighting academic work has been one of Archinect's editorial pillars for years. Beyond exclusive interviews with students and graduates this year, our team launched a new feature series that brings attention to the architecture studio, Archinect's Studio Pin-Ups.
Led by Jing Liu (Visiting Professor and Co-Founder of SO–IL) and Claire Townley (UT Austin Alumn '19 and Associate Architect at Pollen Architecture & Design), UT Austin's Advanced Spring studio works "on a modest physical scale, an ADU dwelling, but seek to address large questions about density, resources, and the earth system." The team sought "tangible ways to harness sustainable energy in residential building design from the inside out," resulting in "GreenCore."
Exploring First-Year Student Work With Cal Poly Pomona's Architecture Foundation Design Studio
For our second Studio Pin-Ups series installment, we connected with Cal Poly Pomona's Department of Architecture, where we explored first-year undergraduate student work. This foundational studio is led by Studio Coordinator Robert Alexander (CPP alumn and Coordinator of the Department of Architecture's First Year Design Studio) and Associate Coordinator Claudia Wainer (CPP ARC lecturer and Senior Architecture Associate at OWUI). "The Spring studios of the first year of the core curriculum at Cal Poly Pomona typically see students further integrating and building on their knowledge of tectonics, building organization, and analysis that they have begun in the fall while continuing to develop their digital representation and drawing skills."
UCLA AUD's M.Arch Research Studio Explores Speculative 'Future Histories' of Los Angeles
Our latest Studio Pin-Ups feature explores UCLA's M.Arch research studio led by Kutan Ayata, AUD's Vice Chair, Associate Professor, and Co-Founder of Brooklyn-based architecture practice Young & Ayata. This exploratory studio invited students to think about the city of Los Angeles and its future. "In pairs, students choose an issue that currently pressures and influences the development of LA; the task is to document the state and impact of these issues towards the Year 2062."
*Are you an instructor or current architecture student participating in an exciting studio? We are currently accepting submissions for our Archinect Studio Pin-Ups 2023 series. Reach out to us here for a chance to be featured.
Archinect's ongoing Thesis Review series provides a look into the work and process behind thesis projects produced each year. In 2022, we connected with B.Arch and M.Arch graduates to dive into their process, architectural perspectives, and their post-graduation pursuits.
The undertaking design crits and thesis work is a pivotal point in a young designer's journey. As Pin Sangkeao shared during our interview: "A thesis is a chance to evaluate the work you've done over the years and make use of what you have." Ian Wong reflected on his academic journey and shared that his architectural education has equipped him "to enter the world of practice both inquisitively and undogmatically."
A thesis project that touched on the importance of architecture and its connectivity to socio-economics and human rights. Syracuse B.Arch graduates Pin Sangkaeo and her collaborative research partner Bensen Joseph presented a thesis project that "investigates the role of shopping malls as physical tools of maintaining the status quo, used by those who hold political powers in order to superimpose their ideologies on the collective citizens and perpetuate the systems."
Gehry Prize Winners Reimagine Funerary Architecture
While SCI-Arc rocked headlines this year for other reasons, its students continued to persevere and produce exciting new projects. From its memorable Spring Show, Graduate Thesis Weekend, and Main Event, students showed up and showed out in 2022. Take M.Arch graduates Ian Wong and Sue Choi, who explored "the architectural tones and typologies of cemeteries and funerary customs in their project, Earthly Passage."
Archinect's tips for students preparing for thesis reviews and studio critiques
Let's not forget that behind every project and presentation is an architecture student mustering up a combination of project knowledge, nerves, mental focus, and presentation skills to execute a successful design crit or final review. While Archinect readers, jurors, etc. may only see the tangible results that go into a final project or thesis, it's important to commend the hard work students put in internally to make things happen.
Every year, a promising cohort of designers and emerging academics is announced as incoming fellows across various schools. Below are highlights showcasing the exciting work of academia's future change makers.
Architect Lily Chishan Wong named 2022–23 Harry der Boghosian Fellow
Practicing New York-based architect, educator, editor, and researcher Lily Wong was announced as Syracuse University's Harry der Boghosian fellow. "Her research during her fellowship focuses on 'the use of vegetation in architecture and its spatial, socio-political, and environmental dimensions.' Titled Producing Nature, her work challenges 'the idealized notion of nature and considers live plants as atmospheric design — grown, shipped, and stored globally to be used in architectural production.'"
*The school is accepting applications for its 2023–2024 Harry der Boghosian Fellow. Click here to learn more.
A true champion and advocate for architectural academia and mentorship, NOMA announced its 2022 Foundational Fellowship cohort. This year's group consisted of 20 architecture students and graduates who will be working at design firms across the United States. "Students who participated in this year's eight-week NOMA Foundation Fellowship received a salary of $7,040, a $1,000 travel assistance or relocation stipend, and $1,000 licensure stipend if fellows become a licensed architect within five years of completing the fellowship."
Archinect's Fellow Fellows Series
Since 2018, Archinect's Fellow Fellows series has allowed us to connect with individuals pursuing architecture fellowships. These conversations provide an insider's look at the journey of emerging design professionals as they expand on their architectural perspectives, strengthen their research, and contribute to pedagogy. This year, we connected with Sam Fox School of Design Ambassador Fellows Nathan Stanfield and Kevin Mojica as well as Knowlton School of Architecture's Howard E. LeFevre '29 Emerging Practitioner Fellow Zelig Fok.
*Interested in applying to an academic fellowship for 2023? Explore the Archinect Job Board to view current fellowship opportunities.
Throughout the year, we showcased student work through a competitive lens as we featured news stories focusing on student competition wins and awards. Below is a sample selection of award-winning student work.
Check out the winning student projects from the 2021 AIA Honolulu Design Awards
In January 2022, the AIA Honolulu Design Awards recognized five student projects from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Architecture. The winning project, Kaiwi Floating City, was awarded the top prize for its "innovative modular floating city concept designed to address climate change and sea-level rise."
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) announced the winners of the 20th annual Gerald Hines Student Competition. "This year’s winning master plan for a mixed-use site in the Oakland, California beat out entries from Harvard, Georgia Tech, and a combined effort from MIT and Harvard to take home the $50,000 top prize."
In March, the 11th annual Design Charrette hosted by USC's Architectural Guild announced this year's winning projects. "Six awards were handed out, including the Grand Prize, which comes with a one-time cash reward of $6,000." The 2022 Charrette committee was chaired by Perkins & Will Los Angeles' Principal Director of Global Diversity, Gabrielle Bullock.
Archinect sends its congratulations to architecture students around the globe for another year of learning and creating!
Be sure to follow Archinect's special End of the Year coverage by following the tag 2022 Year In Review to stay up to date.
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