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Teri Nagel, College of Architecture
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Tech College of Architecture to Re-Envision Higher Ed in Design

Leaders invite feedback from stakeholders in year-long process.

Atlanta (July 28, 2009) — Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture announced today a new strategic emphasis on interdisciplinarity following an 18-month review process led by Dean Alan Balfour and Senior Associate Dean Doug Allen. Bold structural changes and curricular advancements will catapult its pursuit in areas like green buildings, alternative energy, healthcare, digital design and information technology.

“The College is at a critical juncture. We have enjoyed a decade of phenomenal growth, but now we must harness the remarkable set of expertise unique to us,” said Balfour. “Graduates of our programs will have leadership and problem-solving skills unmatched in a fiercely competitive job market, and faculty will have the resources and backing to advance their own interdisciplinary research and professional agendas.”

The core of this strategy emerged through discussions with advisory groups, alumni, industry leaders and faculty. Open forums will be held throughout the upcoming year, inviting continual feedback. And, as new programs are developed, the College will adhere to policies set forth by Georgia Tech and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

Associate Dean Sabir Khan is leading the development of an integrated undergraduate curriculum that introduces the full design process—planning, design, engineering and construction. “Designing a curriculum that pre-wires undergraduates for inter-and cross-disciplinary ways of thinking and working is both ambitious and exciting,” said Khan. “We want to create an undergraduate experience that integrates core requirements with new content areas and modes of teaching and learning; one that not only meets the current needs of the professions, but also looks forward to emerging modes of practice in order to prepare our graduates for the unprecedented challenges and opportunities in our fields.” Areas of specialization could be indicated in degree designations, such as Bachelor of Science in Design (Building Construction).

Directors of the graduate programs—in Architecture; Building Construction; City and Regional Planning; Industrial Design; and Music Technology—will aggressively pursue collaborative research and partnerships across campus and with corporate firms. In partnership with the College’s seven research centers, this new aim will advance the research mission of the College and build stronger linkages with other units across campus.

John Peponis will oversee development of interdisciplinary Master of Science degrees geared toward practitioners in the following areas: Architecture/Engineering/Construction Integration; Digital Design and Fabrication; Geographic Information Systems/Spatial Analysis; Health and Design; High Performance Buildings; and Urban Design.

In addition, the College will expand its doctoral degree offerings to build on the current PhD with a major in Architecture. The Board of Regents is reviewing proposals for PhD degrees with majors in City and Regional Planning and Music Technology; the Building Construction Program will propose its PhD degree soon.

“The overarching goal is to preserve and enhance the value of degrees at the Georgia Tech College of Architecture, and to enable a greater impact on the critical needs of society,” said Assistant Dean Leslie Sharp. “However, our primary focus is to make seamless transitions so that every student continues to benefit from superior resources and excellent learning experiences regardless of year or major.”

Further announcements regarding opportunities for involvement are expected in late August. In the meantime, all those interested are encouraged to subscribe to the Georgia Tech College of Architecture monthly e-newsletter to stay informed of upcoming events.

About the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech
Connecting science, technology and the arts, the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech champions advancements in the designed and built environment. The extraordinary legacy of its one-hundred-year history is evident around the globe—from the invention of the atrium hotel by John C. Portman (1950) to the design for the World Trade Center Memorial in New York by Michael Arad (1999). The College houses seven interdisciplinary research centers, including the Center for Music Technology, the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access, the Center for Geographic Information Systems, the Construction Resources Center, the Advanced Wood Products Laboratory, the Interactive Media Architecture Group in Education and the Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development.