The ranking for NewSchool of Architecture and Design’s undergraduate architecture program rose in the annual DesignIntelligence “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2013” report, which is conducted each year by DesignIntelligence on behalf of the Design Futures Council. Rankings are based on the input of leading professionals with direct experience hiring and supervising the performance of recent architecture and design graduates.

According to the 2013 report’s regional rankings, NSAD’s undergraduate architecture program moved up to No. 8 among “Top Schools in the West.” The western region comprises Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

“We are pleased to see this outside recognition from the architecture and design professional community as the word gets out about our high-quality programs and graduates,” said NSAD President Steve Altman. “It shows that NSAD is providing its students with academic practice, preparation and skills that are valued by leading professionals in the field.”

This year, NSAD student teams have received high honors in a number of state, national and international competitions. One NSAD team won the MCM Group Mock Firms International Skyscraper Award, the highest honor in the international 2012 Mock Firms Competition collegiate division, and another NSAD team was a finalist. In addition, two NSAD teams won honorable mention in the 2011–2012 ACSA/AISC Steel Design Student Competition and an NSAD team won “Most Adaptable Structure” in the annual CalPoly Design Village competition. Also in 2012, three NSAD alumni won recognition from the American Institute of Architects for demonstrating exceptional leadership and making significant contributions to the profession in the early stages of their architectural careers at the local, state and national levels: Shari G. Grant, AIA, received the AIA Young Architects Award from the national AIA; Bruce Fallon, AIA, received the Young Architects Award from the AIA Utah chapter; and Benjamin White, AIA, received the Young Architect of the Year Award from the AIA San Diego chapter.

NSAD is also enhancing its traditional architecture offerings with global design education opportunities for current and future students. In November, NSAD announced the launch of several global design education initiatives that are being developed in collaboration with two internationally recognized leaders in design: Domus Academy in Milan, Italy, and Media Design School (MDS) in Auckland, New Zealand. NSAD, Domus Adacemy and MDS are all members of the Laureate International Universities network. The new offerings, starting in the 2013–2014 academic year, include an interior design bachelor’s degree program with an emphasis on global design, offered through the newly created Domus Academy School of Design at NSAD, and an opportunity for students enrolled in NSAD’s digital media arts program to obtain a certificate of study from MDS.

About NewSchool of Architecture and Design
NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD), founded in 1980, is located in San Diego, California. NSAD is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. NSAD’s Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Executive Master of Architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NSAD also offers a pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Arts, a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, a Master of Construction Management and a Master of Science in Architecture. NSAD was ranked among the top 10 undergraduate architecture schools in the western United States, according to the DesignIntelligence report “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2013.” For more information, visit www.NewSchoolArch.edu.