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USC School of Architecture

{{Short description|Architecture school at the University of Southern California}}

{{Infobox university

| name = USC School of Architecture

| image = USC School of Architecture logo.svg

| image_size = 250px

| established = 1914{{Cite web|title=Architecture {{!}} Academics {{!}} USC|url=https://academics.usc.edu/architecture/|access-date=2021-02-05|website=academics.usc.edu}}

| type = Private

| city = Los Angeles

| state = California

| country = United States

| campus = Urban

| parent = University of Southern California

| undergrad = 500

| postgrad = 200

| faculty = 112

| academic_affiliation = NAAB

| dean = Brett Steele

| head_label = Associate Dean

| head = Joon-Ho Choi, Vittoria di Palma, Trudi Sandmeier

| colors = Cardinal and Gold
{{color box|#990000}} {{color box|#FFCC00}}

| website = {{URL|arch.usc.edu}}

}}

The USC School of Architecture is the architecture school at the University of Southern California. Located in Los Angeles, California, it is one of the university's twenty-two professional schools, offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of architecture, building science, landscape architecture and heritage conservation.{{Cite web|title=Academics|url=https://arch.usc.edu/academics|access-date=2021-04-23|website=USC School of Architecture|language=en}}

The USC School of Architecture has enrolled over 6,500 alumni. Since its founding as a department in 1914, the school has produced some of the world's leading architects, including Frank Gehry, Paul R. Williams, Pierre Koenig and Thom Mayne, among others.{{Cite web|title=USC Architecture Celebrates 100 Years of Innovation & Impact|url=https://arch.usc.edu/news/usc-architecture-celebrates-100-years-of-innovation-and-impact|access-date=2021-04-23|website=USC School of Architecture|language=en}} The current dean of the school is Brett Steele and faculty comprises notable architects including Alvin Huang, Wes Jones, Lorcan O'Herlihy and Lawrence Scarpa.{{Cite web|title=Faculty|url=https://arch.usc.edu/people|access-date=2021-03-29|website=USC School of Architecture|language=en}}

History

File:Watt Hall, USC.jpg]]

The program at USC began as an architecture department in 1914. Soon after, with the help of the Allied Architects of Los Angeles, a separate School of Architecture was established in 1925.[http://catalogue.usc.edu/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=1297 A Separate School of Architecture established] By 1928, majors and degree-granting programs were provided to students. One of the earliest undergraduate programs was the 5-year professional Bachelor of Architecture program. Over the years, the school grew and expanded its influence into one of the premier architecture programs in the country. The school now offers 3 undergraduate degrees, 3 undergraduate minors, 4 master's degrees and 1 Ph.D.

The current main buildings are Watt Hall & Harris Hall. Watt Hall was built in 1974 and designed by alumnus Edward Killingsworth ('40).Allison Engel, [https://news.usc.edu/80522/in-memoriam-samuel-hurst-94/ In memoriam: Samuel Hurst, 94], USC News, April 28, 2015, accessed February 7, 2017.

USC Architecture took over maintenance of the Gamble House,[http://gamblehouse.org/50th/ Gamble House celebrates 50 years of the gift to USC and Pasadena] the Craftsman masterpiece in Pasadena designed by Greene and Greene in 1966 in a joint deed with the city of Pasadena, which took over responsibility for the grounds. The school also owns the Samuel Freeman House, a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles built in 1923.[http://franklloydwright.org/site/samuel-freeman-house/ Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation article about the Freeman House] The Freeman house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm National Register #71000146] The house has also been listed as a California Historical Landmark #1011,[http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21427 California Historical Landmark #1011] and as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #247 in 1981.[http://preservation.lacity.org/commission/designated-historic-cultural-monuments Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Landmark #247] The Freeman house is undergoing long-term stabilization and rehabilitation.

Fields of Study

File:USC School of Architecture entrance.JPG

=Undergraduate Architecture=

Director: Doris Sung
The undergraduate "B. Arch" is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.[http://arch.usc.edu/news/usc-architecture-receives-eight-year-seal-approval Full accreditation renewed for eight years] The "NAAB" is the sole authority for granting accreditation for professional architecture degree programs.

=Graduate Architecture=

Director: Alvin Huang
The graduate "M. Arch" is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.[http://arch.usc.edu/news/usc-architecture-receives-eight-year-seal-approval USC M.ARCH program receives maximum term of accreditation] As an accredited professional degree, the M.Arch provides firm grounding knowledge in history, technology, professional practice and theory. The studio is the core setting for students to learn to synthesize the cultural, environmental and tectonic thinking through informed design practice. The separate Master of Advanced Architecture Studies (MAAS) is a post-professional degree for those who already have a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

=Graduate Heritage Conservation=

Director: Trudi Sandmeier
The graduate heritage conservation curriculum is designed to expose students to the full breadth of the profession, including "...materials conservation, policy and planning, conservation theory, global conservation efforts, architectural and landscape history, best-practices in resource documentation and evaluation, sustainability, and historic site management."[https://arch.usc.edu/programs/master-heritage-conservation Master of Heritage Conservation, University of Southern California]

=Graduate Landscape Architecture + Urbanism=

Director: Alison Hirsch
Landscape architecture at USC is a design-centered program centered on a trans-disciplinary approach. The Master of Landscape Architecture is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB).[https://arch.usc.edu/sites/default/files/mla/usc_mla_accreditation_march_2011.pdf Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Southern California]

=Graduate Building Science=

Director: Kyle Konis, Ph.D., AIA
The Master of Building Science (MBS) degree program was recognized as a "top-notch program" by ARCHITECT: Journal of the American Institute of Architects, in 2009.[http://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/top-notch-program-master-of-building-science-university-of-southern-california_o Top=Notch Program: Master of Building Science, University of Southern California] Building science focuses on the relationship of the human condition and to natural forces. The USC Chase L. Leavitt Graduate Building Science program emphasizes the breadth of technology in architecture, including structures, building systems, analytical computing and BIM, building envelopes, design theories and methods, human comfort, sustainability, acoustics, lighting and daylighting.

Facilities

File:Harris Hall, University of Southern California.jpg

The School of Architecture is located in the Harris Hall and Watt Hall Complex, at the southern end of the USC University Park Campus. The school comprises over {{convert|50000|sqft|m2}} of design studios, classrooms, galleries, workshops and labs. Students in the USC School of Architecture have their own 24-7 personal workstations. Students have access to their projects at all times. Watt Hall contains one of the best regional architecture libraries, and is home to extensive woodshop and fabrication facilities. The complex also houses several gallery review spaces and, next door, the "USC Fisher Museum of Art".

Faculty

Many of the faculty members at the School of Architecture are practicing professionals and researchers. The majority of the faculty are active members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) or the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and 14 are Fellows of AIA (FAIA).

Notable Faculty:{{Cite web|url=https://arch.usc.edu/people|title=People|website=USC School of Architecture|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21}}

Notable Former Faculty:

Notable Former Visiting Faculty:{{Cite web|url=https://arch.usc.edu/portal-endowed-faculty-positions|title=Endowed Faculty Positions|website=USC School of Architecture|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21}}

Alumni

File:Turner 07 FGLecture.JPG (B.Arch 1954), architecture alumnus ]]

File:Thom Mayne, USC, 2023.jpg (B.Arch 1968), co-founder and principal of Morphosis Architects]]

Many of the students that have graduated from the USC School of Architecture have moved on to be leading figures in the architectural community.

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://arch.usc.edu/}}

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{{University of Southern California}}

Category:Architecture schools in California

Architecture

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1925

Category:University subdivisions in California

Category:1925 establishments in California