KU Architecture & Design on short list of world's top programs

Thu, 01/25/2018

Jill Hummels

KU students work on a renovation of a portion of Chalmers Hall they designed and then completed as part of the Dirt Works Studio Course in 2016-2017 LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design appears on a short list of the world’s top programs as compiled by Azure Magazine.

KU’s architecture program is one of 10 in the United States and of 17 total that appear in the January/February issue of Azure in print and online. Azure, based in Canada, is an international news organization that covers contemporary architecture and design. The magazine has readership of more than 80,000 and website traffic of more than 36,000 unique visitors every month.

“Our academic community and alumni have been thrilled to have received global recognition for the innovative work we do and for our students’ distinctive educational experience,” said Mahesh Daas, dean of the School of Architecture & Design. “We are beginning to realize the fruits of our vision to be the pioneering force for global impact through design.”

Azure cited as KU strengths the renowned Studio 804 and course development that incorporates input from international professionals. Azure editors noted KU’s global-study programs that immerse students in historical and modern architecture. They also touted the distinctive local opportunity KU offers through Studio 804 – a boot camp-like, hands-on experience for master’s candidates that produces an ambitious structure each year. Other U.S. architecture programs featured in Azure’s list include UCLA, the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University.

The Forum at Marvin Hall was created through the endeavors of the Studio 804 course at the University of Kansas The latest honor is one of many recent accolades for the KU School of Architecture and Design.

Nilou Vakil, director of strategic initiatives and Interdisciplinary Innovation Fellow, was named one of DesignIntelligence’s 25 Most Admired Educators of 2018.
Daniel Coburn, assistant professor of photography, won a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2017.
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture presented its Collaboration Award to Professor Nils Gore, Associate Professor Shannon Criss, and doctoral student Matt Kleinmann for their work on the Dotte Agency.
The Department of Design has won “Best School” at the National Student Show and Conference for five years in a row.