Pratt Institute's undergraduate and graduate architecture programs will present their spring 2011 School of Architecture Lecture Series from February 13 through April 9, 2012, at the Institute's Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses. The lectures are free and open to the public; however, seating priority will be given to current students with Pratt identification.

The following lectures will take place at 6 PM at Higgins Hall Auditorium at 61 St. James Place in Brooklyn unless otherwise noted.

Monday, February 13 - Ursula von Rydingsvard
Monday, February 20 - Peter Eisenman in Conversation with Catherine Ingraham
Thursday, February 23 - Craig Dykers
Thursday, March 1 - Theoharis David with Introduction by Lebbeus Woods
Monday, March 5 - Craig Schwitter
Thursday, March 29 - Tracie Morris (12:30 PM)
Thursday, March 29 -  Erik Ghenoiu, Catherine Ingraham, Maria Sieira, and Meredith TenHoor on Occupy Wall Street
Monday, April 9 - Farshid Moussavi

Sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard will deliver a lecture on Monday, February 13. She is best known for creating large-scale sculptures from cedar beams that she cuts, assembles, and laminates, rubbing powdered graphite into the work's textured, faceted surfaces. Von Rydingsvard's work has been included in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, all in New York. Von Rydingsvard, who was recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and two National Endowment for the Arts awards, received her master of fine arts degree from Columbia University. For more information, please visit: http://www.ursulavonrydingsvard.net/

Internationally renowned architect, educator, and author Peter Eisenman will speak with Catherine Ingraham, a professor in the graduate architecture and urban design program, on Monday, February 20. Eisenman is known for his award-winning large-scale housing and urban design projects, innovative facilities for educational institutions, and inventive private houses. He has been recognized with the Medal of Honor from the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award in Architecture, and a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2004 Venice Architecture Biennale. Eisenman is currently the Charles Gwathmey Professor in Practice at Yale University's School of Architecture. For more information, please visit: http://www.eisenmanarchitects.com/

Architect Craig Dykers, who has worked on such projects as The Alexandria Library, Egypt; the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, Oslo; and the National September 11th Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center site, New York, will deliver a lecture on Thursday, February 23. Dykers is co-founder of the architecture, landscape, and interior design company Snohetta, which is based in Oslo and has a satellite office in New York. The Dykers lecture is an Arnold Syrop (B. Arch. '61) and Joanne Syrop Annual Lecture, part of a lecture series endowed by The Selz Foundation. For more information, please visit: http://www.snoarc.no/#/main/

Architect, alumnus, and longtime Pratt Architecture Professor Theoharis David, FAIA, will deliver a lecture on Thursday, March 1. The lecture, which will be introduced by visionary architect Lebbeus Woods, will reflect on David's 43 years as a teacher through the work of his former students, many of whom have gone on to become accomplished architects and teachers. The lecture will be followed by an opening reception for "Built Ideas: A Life of Teaching, Learning, and Action," an exhibition of models, photos, and concept drawings by David that will be on view at The School of Architecture through March 30. For more information, please visit: http://www.tdanyc.com/

Craig Schwitter, a leader in the engineering design of complex buildings and large-scale developments and founder of the first North American office of Buro Happold Consulting Engineers, will deliver a lecture on Monday, March 5. His work includes educational, performing arts, cultural, civic, stadia, transportation, and master planning projects. With a focus on integrated engineering and the use of appropriate technology, Schwitter has played a hands-on role in ensuring the high quality in Buro Happold's projects and breakthrough innovations on recent high profile engineering commissions with the firm. For more information, please visit: http://www.burohappold.com/

Tracie Morris, a poet, performer, and associate professor in Pratt's Humanities and Media Studies department, will deliver the annual Christina Porter Art and Poetry in the Schools lecture on Thursday, March 29 at 12:30 PM. Morris works extensively as a singer, sound artist, writer, bandleader, and actor. Her installations have been presented at the Whitney Biennial, Ronald Feldman Gallery, the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, and the New Museum. She holds a master of fine arts degree in poetry from Hunter College and master of arts and doctoral degrees in performance studies from New York University. The annual lecture honors Christina Porter, the late daughter of Pratt Adjunct Professor of Architecture Brent Porter. For more information, please visit: http://traciemorris.com/

Four professors from Pratt's graduate architecture and urban design program (GAUD) will focus their theoretical lenses on Occupy Wall Street on Thursday, March 29 as part of the GAUD History/Theory Conference. The professors include Erik Ghenoiu, Catherine Ingraham, Maria Sieira, and Meredith TenHoor. Ghenoiu's interests are in the architecture, design, and urban planning of the 19th and 20th centuries, with a particular focus on Germany and the United States. Ingraham has authored over 50 articles on architectural theory and history published in academic journals, book collections, and other publications. Sieira is founder of Xoguete Architecture, a firm that practices architecture and engages in design research. TenHoor has lectured widely about infrastructure and design planning in urban environments and is currently writing a history of architecture and biopolitics in food markets of Paris.

Farshid Moussavi, an internationally acclaimed architect and professor of architecture at Harvard University, will speak on Monday, April 9. As founder and principal of Farshid Moussavi Architecture, she is working on a wide range of prestigious international projects integrating architecture, urbanism, and landscape design, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland, and a Quran Museum in Tehran. For more information, please visit: http://www.farshidmoussavi.com/flash/index.html 

The following lectures will take place at 6:30 PM at Pratt's Manhattan campus located at 144 West 14th Street, second floor, room 213.

Wednesday, February 29 - What's Shaking the City? Seismic Design in NY
Dr. Sissy Nikolaou, PE, senior associate, Mueser Rutledge Engineers

Tuesday, March 20 - Real Life/Real Time Dispute Resolution
Joel Sciascia, general council, Pavarini McGovern

Friday, March 23 - Brownfield Reclamation
Dan Walsh, director, NYC Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation; and Jody Koss, New Partners for Community Revitalization

Friday, March 30 - Unlocking the Green Opportunity in New York's Old Buildings
Lisa Kersavage, senior director, Preservation and Sustainability; Municipal Art Society

Friday, April 20 - Riverside Center (Part 3)
Brian Cook, director of planning, Office of Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President 

Thursday, April 19 - Disaster Mitigation - Protecting Buildings
Christopher Marrion, PE, FSFPE, Marrion Consulting 

Past School of Architecture lecturers have included Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Will Alsop, Bob Crane, Lawrence Feldman, and Michael Ratner. For more information on the series, please visit http://www.pratt.edu/academics/architecture/architecture/lectures/
 
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Aronoff at 718-636-3554 or aarono29@pratt.edu