News & Events Archives

2008-2009 News & Events

2007-2008 News & Events

Awarding of Tenure

Robert Arens has been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Professor, Don Choi has been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Associate Professor, Tom Di Santohas been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Associate Professor, and James Doerfler has been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Professor.

2009 Thesis Show Gallery

Image of Senior Thesis Students before the Chumash Show

Another succesful year showcasing senior talent. To view the gallery of images, visit Chumash Show 2009.

Posted 3.15.09

A Memorable Time at BAR Architects

Over 250 alumni and guests gathered at BAR Architects during the 2009 AIA San Francisco Convention (Thursday, April 30th, 2009) to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Cal Poly's Architecture Department.

Go to AIA Alumni Social for images and Alumni Perspectives for remembrances in the Alumni & Friends section of our web site.

Awarding of Tenure

Robert Arens has been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Professor, Don Cho has been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Associate Professor, Tom Di Santo has been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Associate Professor, and James Doerfler has been awarded tenure and promoted to the academic rank of Professor.

Posted 5.22.09

Architecture Student Wins National Livability Award

John Vierra won first place in the 2009 Livable Communities Student Design Competition. The competition was sponsored by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) in conjunction with AARP, a national advocacy group for people 50 and older.

Previous competitions focused on single-family housing but the goal in 2009 was to design community space that enhanced the lives of senior residents by providing access to services, multiple transportation options and venues for social engagement as well as safe, accessible and affordable housing.

Perspective view of the winning design proposal

The competition required the design to include 30 units compliant with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility or adaptability guidelines. The design also had to incorporate an assisted-living wing with 24-hour health care, street-level retail space and community recreation and social spaces.

Vierra won with the design "Flexible Framework," a mixed-use facility in Venice, Calif. Judges noted the integration with its urban environment, circulation within the units and the innovative use of movable walls which would allow occupants to change their space as their needs required.

Vierra completed the project as a fourth-year student in a studio class supervised by professor Margarida Yin. Vierra is currently studying in Japan as part of a study abroad program offered through Cal Poly’s Architecture Department.

Vierra was awarded $6,000 for the top prize, and an additional $1,000 was awarded to Cal Poly’s AIAS Chapter.

For more information go to the Livable Communities Competition web page on the AIAS web site.

Posted 5.18.09

Interdisciplinary Cal Poly Team
Wins Low-Income Housing Challenge

Cal Poly won Bank of America's annual Low-Income Housing Challenge; the financial institution announced Tuesday evening at a reception held in San Francisco to recognize the Challenge winners. Ms. Lynn Jacobs, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development was the keynote speaker for the event.

This year’s competition included teams from Cal Poly, Stanford and UC Berkeley. The Cal Poly team partnered with People's Self Help Housing to create a physical and financial proposal for an 80-unit farm worker housing development in the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County near Santa Maria. In addition to housing, the team’s concept included a community and family education center, the renovation of the historic Alan Hancock house, an onsite wastewater treatment facility, and an organic community farm all designed to meet the particular needs of the farm worker population. The development qualifies for LEED Silver certification.

Twelve students from six different campus departments made up this unusual interdisciplinary team. The team members included nine students working toward bachelor degrees in architecture, business, city and regional planning, construction management, and landscape architecture, as well as three masters students in city and regional planning and industrial technology.

Photo of students on winning BOF team

Names and major (left to right): Anthony Adams (MCRP), Peter Kim (CRP), Christian Medin (Bus), Renee Brown (Bus), Josh Hoffman (CM), Julia Metz, (Arch), Kim Hoving (MCRP), Alexis Austin (Arch), Cece Reyes (M IndTech), Jennifer Webster (LArch), Stephan Jackson (CRP), Wade Sherman (LArch)

The full proposal and a short video introducing the project are available for download at the Poly Housing Collaborative web site.

Bank of America sponsors the Low-Income Housing Challenge as a way to encourage emerging leaders in the fields of architecture, business, and city planning to pursue careers in affordable housing and to honor their innovative ideas.

It should be noted that in addition to their generous sponsorship of this exceptional educational event, Bank of America will award $5,000 to People's Self Help Housing as the non-profit partner of the winning team.

Architecture Student Thesis Show

Image of a stairway with the Rise and Run superimposed

Join us at the annual fifth year architecture student show. It is an exhibition and celebration of the students' year long thesis projects completed as the culmination of their undergraduate studies.

Where & When

Chumash Auditorium, Julian A. McPhee University Union

Opening Reception:
May 22, 2009, 6:00pm

Exhibition:
May 23–24, 10:00am–5:00pm

Go to the Rise And Run web site for additional information.

Tenure-Track Faculty Recruitment

The Architecture Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA, is looking for colleagues to join the University as tenure-track faculty for the academic year beginning on September 13, 2010. Multiple positions are available in a program offering the B.Arch. and M.S. in Arch.; the department seeks faculty in the following curriculum areas.

Go to our Tenure-Track Faculty Recruitment web page for additional information.

Posted: 4/2/09

Fowler & Williams Receive Education Award

Architecture professor Thomas Fowler, IV and full-time lecturer Barry L. Williams will receive an American Institute of Architects Education Honor Award for excellence in course development and architectural teaching.

The Education Honor Awards program, created in 1988, recognizes collegiate faculty achievements and contributions to education and the discipline of architecture. The Cal Poly faculty members will receive one of five awards to be presented March 27 at the 2009 Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture annual meeting in Portland, Ore.

The award jury looked for exceptional and innovative courses that deal with broad issues, particularly in cross-disciplinary collaboration; contribute to the advancement of architecture education; have the potential to benefit and/or change practice; and promote models of excellence that could be appropriated by other educators.

Fowler and Williams received their award for the Integrated Project Studio, which combines the content of a third-year building design studio and that of a building environmental systems studio.

The difficulty of synchronizing environmental systems lecture topics with building design and environmental systems studios is formidable in a 10-week term. The instructors linked and tightly choreographed these two studios by framing the coursework into thirds, to emphasize to the students that environmental content is not distinct from building design.

Posted: 4/11/09

"Research Practice" Symposium

Image containing the title of the Symposium - Research Practice Symposium - and a list of the spearkers.

When: Friday, May 8 at 1-6pm
Where: Business Rotunda: 03-213

Speakers

For additional information, visit the 2009 Spring Hearst Lecture Series web page.

Posted: 3/30/09

Alpha Rho Chi: Vern Swansen Exhibition

Alpha Rho Chi and the Art Center of San Luis Obispo are hosting an exhibition of Vern Swansen's works from Wednesday April 1st to Tuesday April 28th, 2009.  The exhibition is open to the public and the center's hours are from 11am-5pm daily except for Tuesday.

Two paintings will be available for purchase as well as calendars and prints of Vern's works.

Location: Art Center San Luis Obispo, 1010 Broad St.
Phone: (805) 543-8562
Reception: Friday, April 3rd from 6:00 to 8:30pm.
Time: Gallery hours 11am - 5pm

Posted: 4/2/09

Fowler & Williams Receive Education Award

Architecture professor Thomas Fowler, IV and full-time lecturer Barry L. Williams will receive an American Institute of Architects Education Honor Award for excellence in course development and architectural teaching.

The Education Honor Awards program, created in 1988, recognizes collegiate faculty achievements and contributions to education and the discipline of architecture. The Cal Poly faculty members will receive one of five awards to be presented March 27 at the 2009 Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture annual meeting in Portland, Ore.

The award jury looked for exceptional and innovative courses that deal with broad issues, particularly in cross-disciplinary collaboration; contribute to the advancement of architecture education; have the potential to benefit and/or change practice; and promote models of excellence that could be appropriated by other educators.

Fowler and Williams received their award for the Integrated Project Studio, which combines the content of a third-year building design studio and that of a building environmental systems studio.

The difficulty of synchronizing environmental systems lecture topics with building design and environmental systems studios is formidable in a 10-week term. The instructors linked and tightly choreographed these two studios by framing the coursework into thirds, to emphasize to the students that environmental content is not distinct from building design.

Posted: 4/2/09

Derick Lee Earns Top Honor in National Design Competition

Image of digital model of Derick Lee's winning design

Derick Lee received one of two honors awarded in the annual Green Modular Building Design Competition sponsored by the Modular Building Institute (MBI).

This year’s competition included a real-world client, Piedmont Housing Alliance and their low-income, senior housing community, The Meadows, in Crozet, Va. The competition tasked architecture and engineering students at four-year universities with designing a new community center. Entries had to utilize modular construction with sustainable features including the ability to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

Designs were judged on: thermal comfort, indoor air quality, daylighting, acoustics, energy efficiency, resource strategy, architectural excellence and economic practicality.

Lee completed the project in a third-year studio class under the supervision of Professor Margarida Yin. He will receive a crystal trophy at MBI’s convention March 28-31 in Las Vegas, Nev.

"Students are submitting innovative, exciting and thoughtful designs for commercial modular buildings. Derick Lee demonstrated the value of what may be the most environmentally responsible form of construction on our planet," said Tom Hardiman, MBI executive director.

Founded in 1983, the Modular Building Institute is the only international non-profit trade association serving non-residential modular construction. For more information, visit modular.org.

Posted: 3/23/09

Fabrications: 4/6-4/24, 2009

Image of La Tourette

An exhibition curated by Prof. David Leary, Architect, at College of DuPage, Chicago, presents student work focused on architectural precedent. Student teams created precise graphic interpretations that were transformed into highly crafted bass wood models.

Opening Reception Monday, April 6, 2009
4:00 - 6:30pm, Fishbowl, 21-105B.

Architecture's 45th Anniversary San Francisco Alumni Social

Upside-down image of three students with Perspectives ligo superimposed over the eye of one student

In celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Architecture Department, BAR Architects and the Architecture Department are sponsoring an Alumni Social during the 2009 AIA Convention.

What's Your PERSPECTIVE?
The 2009 alumni reception will celebrate the hard work, late nights and student shenanigans from the last 45 years. Share your stories of final critiques, studio pranks and crazed instructors as we reminisce with food, wine and friends. A cover charge of $20 per person is payable at the reception. Registration at the AIA Convention not required.

When & Where

Architecture Department Alumni Social
Date: Friday, May 1st, 2009
Time: 5:30 and 7:30pm
Location: BAR Architecture
543 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

To RSVP and provide your PERSPECTIVE, go to the Alumni Reception Attendance Notification Form

Tour of The Cathedral of Christ The Light

Image of The Cathedral of Chirst The Light

During the 2009 AIA Convention, a guided tour of the Cathedral of Christ The Light will be offered by alum David Diamond, (B.Arch 88, Ms Arch 89). David is Associate Director with SOM in San Francisco, CA., has worked with SOM for 14 years, and was the senior technical coordinator on the Cathedral.

When & Where

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Time: 4:00pm (Tour starts sharp at 4:30pm)
Location: 2121 Harrison Street, Oakland, CA 94612
Number of guests: 40 maximum.
Donation: The diocese suggests a donation of $5.00.
Direction: Got to Map (.pdf)

To RSVP online go to the Alumni Reception Attendance Notification Form

Posted: 3/17/09

Lectures: Goeffrey Payne and Rita Payne

In conjunction with the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP) three lectures will be offered in the Berg Gallery:

For additional information on the guest speakers, Download Geoffrey Payne's CV (pdf) and Rita Payne's CV (pdf).

Posted: 1/21/09

Speidel Named to George Hasslein Endowed Chair
for Interdisciplinary Studies at Cal Poly

Image of Elbert Speidel Interior photo of a Poly-Pod

Cal Poly’s College of Architecture & Environmental Design named Elbert O. Speidel, AIA, to the George Hasslein Endowed Chair for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental Design.

Speidel is a licensed architect with more than 40 years of experience in architecture, construction and applied research and development in the classroom. He holds a patent for the Poly-Pod, a prefabricated polymer housing unit; has worked in the U.S. and Europe on the development of polymers for the construction industry; and consulted on polymers developed for the World’s Fair in Osaka, Japan.

A 1967 graduate of Cal Poly’s architecture program, Speidel has served in an advisory capacity for CAED students while practicing as an architect and running a case goods and millwork business in San Luis Obispo.

The endowed chair was created to honor the college’s founding dean, George Hasslein, FAIA, and continue his vision of student-focused education. The post brings preeminent practitioners and scholars to the classroom to enrich and inspire the interdisciplinary environment. The endowment, administered by the college in consultation with the CAED Foundation Board, supports the selection of one primary annual scholar with provisions for additional associate scholars.

Posted: 1/5/09

Lecture: Professor Johanne Riegels Østergård

Professor Johanne Riegels Østergård from the DIS in Copenhagen will be speaking to our students about Scandinavian architecture on Monday, February 23, 2009 at 4pm in the Berg Gallery.

"Current Trends and Projects in Scandinavia."  This topic is especially timely for those students presently applying for participation in the off-campus, international programs in Denmark and Italy.  Students of all years and those who have returned from IP programs and are now in 5th year design studios are also invited to attend.  

For additional information, email Don Swearingen

Posted: 1/15/09

Architecture Program Ranks 3rd in 2009

Logo for 2009 Design Intelligence program rankings

The architecture program at Cal Poly is ranked the third best undergraduate program in the nation by Design Intelligence, The full report can be ordered at the America's Best Architecture & Design Schools, 2009 Edition web page.

For additional information go to our Architecture Program Ranking web page or to the Cal Poly News Release web page.

Posted: 1/5/09

Wiley Book Fair

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is hosting for the third consecutive year a book fair to introduce new titles and new editions that are published this year. Please stop by the Berg Gallery on Tuesday, January 20th between 8:00am and 12:00pm. Coffee and pastries will be served so come by to browse and chat! Sara Fries, the local rep, is looking forward to seeing you. If you cannot make it, please feel free to email her at: sfries@wiley.com or (559) 431-1824.

For additional information on Wiley books, go to the John Wiley & Sons, Inc. web site.

Posted: 1/5/09

Lecture: Raymond Neutra

Raymond Neutra, son of the Austrian born architect Richard Neutra will offer an informal lecture and talk about his father's hopes for the role of Brain Science in architecture and how the VDL Studio/Residences exemplify his beliefs. Title of the lecture is “Richard and Dion Neutra Studio/Residences, Significance and Survival.”

Tuesday, January 21, 2009 at 4pm in the Media Lab room 05-314

Lectures: Goeffrey Payne and Rita Payne

In conjunction with the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP) three lectures will be offered in the Berg Gallery:

Architecture Faculty Award

Professor Don Swearingen is the recipient of the 2008 Cal Poly International Educator Award.

For additional information visit: Press Release

Neil Watson

Watercolor of a train engine

Drawing by Meghan Fuson

Saturday, October 18, 2008 (a "hands-on" workshop)
The ability to draw and sketch should be an integral part of the way that we think and communicate, and understand our world. The act of drawing should be an "everyday" activity for everyone and anyone, particularly for those pursuing a life in architecture and design.

Once again, through the generous support from The James R. Bagnall and Kathryn R. McCafferty Endowment, there will be a one-day workshop held at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, to give us the opportunity to draw and share ideas on the importance of drawing. We are fortunate that Neil Watson has again offered to lead this workshop. Those of you who have met Neil on prior visits, or have had the good fortune to attend one of his workshops, know him to be an extremely interesting and talented individual who is passionate about drawing and painting. This should be a special opportunity that you wont 't want to miss. More details will follow.

On Friday, October 17, 2008, prior to the Saturday workshop, Neil will be giving a talk as one of the invited guests of the Hearst Lecture Series.

For additional information about the event, email Chuck Crotser.
Neil Watson web site
Download the Workshop Flyer (.jpg)

CAED/Vellum Furniture Competition Winners

Photo of Matt Granelli bending a sheet of steel for his chair

The 5th Annual Vellum/CAED Furniture Competition & Exhibition was another big success. The winners were chosen by a distinguished jury at the exhibition held in San Luis Obispo on November 7th & 8th, 2008. See the top winners, read about the jurors and acknowledge the event sponsors by going to the Vellum/CAED Furniture Competition & Exhibition web page.

2008 Fall Student Exhibition

Image of building model with the number 45 superimposed

Thesis students from Prof. Karen Lange's studio will design and install an exhibition featuring student work form first through fifth year.

Date & Time: Thursday, October 30 - Friday October 31, 2008

Location: Berg Gallery, room 05-105

Reception: Thursday, October 30, 2008, 5:00-7:30pm.

5th Annual Vellum Competition

Abstract graphic with the words 5th Vellum Competition

California Vellum Design Build and the College of Architecture & Environmental Design are pleased to announce the 5th Annual Vellum/CAED Furniture Exhibition of furniture designed and constructed by CAED students.

For additional information go to the Vellum/CAED Furniture Exhibition web page.

Important Dates

San Francisco Alumni Social with José Oubrerie

Drawing with the number 45

As part of the Cal Poly Architecture 45th anniversary celebration of the success of our alumni and their alma mater, you are invited to a lecture by José Oubrerie, a protégé of Le Corbusier. Oubrerie will present his work and contributions to the completion of Le Corbusier’s 1960 project for the Church of Saint-Pierre in Firminy, France.

Date & Time: Thursday, October 23, from 5:30pm-8pm

Location (Lecture & Reception): BAR Architects, 543 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

This event is co-sponsored by BAR Architects who have generously opened their office to receive our alumni and host a reception following Oubrerie’s lecture.

RSVP: Architecture Department (architecture@calpoly.edu),
or 805 756-1316

José Oubrerie

Oubrerie, French architect, author, and architect, is a twentieth century pioneer in his own right. He was a protégé of Le Corbusier between 1957-65 at the Atelier Rue de Sèvres, Paris. Shortly after Le Corbusier’s death in 1965, Oubrerie completed his studies and elected to pursue his professional and academic career between Europe and the United States. Since then, Oubrerie has completed several important buildings such as the Fondation Le Soufache for the French Cultural Center in Damascus, Syria (1977); the reconstruction as a "manifesto" of the 1925 Pavillon de L’Esprit Nouveau by Le Corbusier, in Bologna, Italy (1977), with Giuliano Gresleri; and the Miller House (1991) in Lexington, KY.

Exhibition Catalogue

Architecture Interruptus (2007) was published in conjunction with the exhibition at the Wexner Center for the Arts located on the Ohio State University campus, Columbus, OH. "The publication features documentation of the building during both its early and later phases, including hand-inked drawings from the 1960s, as well as more recent computer-generated printouts. New photographs will spotlight the completed project, contrasting with early photographs of the half-built hulk that occupied this prominent location in Firminy for many years."

Church of Saint-Pierre Article

Westwood Alumni Social with Julius Shulman

Interior photo by Julius Shulman of the Chemosphere house by John Lautner

As part of Cal Poly Architecture’s 45th anniversary, the Department has arranged a special tour of the John Lautner exhibit, Between Earth and Heaven: the Architecture of John Lautner, at the Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center to be narrated by Julius Shulman.

Julius Shulman, a pioneer of modern American Architecture photography, is known for his visionary approach to composition; an artistic humanism that uniquely captures the domestic lifestyle. It is inconceivable to view twentieth century architecture photography without the imprint of Mr. Shulman’s vision. Julius Shulman’s narration will surely yield surprising insights and personal remembrances on many of the featured photographs and we are fortunate to have him guide this tour.

Thursday, September 25, from 5:30pm-7pm.

RSVP: Architecture Department architecture@calpoly.edu,
or 805 756-1316

Fall Quarter 2008

Visiting Guest Professors

Dr. Huining Zhao of Nanjing University of Technology, China will be visiting the Architecture Department during the 2008 Fall quarter. Prof. Zhao scholarship will focus on modern American architectural design, city environmental landscape, interior environmental design, and the advance teaching technologies of U.S. universities. In addition to her research, Prof. Zhao will be offering a series of lectures covering the following topics:

We are pleased to welcome Prof. Zhoa to the Architecture Department.

2008 Honored Alumna from the College of Architecture & Environmental Design

Rebekah G. Gladson (B.S.1977; M.Arch1980) of the Architecture Department will be recognized at the Cal Poly Honored Alumni Awards Banquet on Friday, November 7, 2008 as the 2008 honored Alumna from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design.

Architecture 2006-2007 Faculty Scholarship

This publication of the Architecture Department will be soon released for purchase at Lulu.com for $26.23. (128 pages, color, Paperback)

The Passive Solar Primer: Sustainable Architecture

Architect David Wright AIA (B.Arch1964) helped pioneer the concept of passive solar architecture, and his thoughts and experiments have helped shape the evolution of solar design throughout the world. His years of exploration are distilled in a new comprehensive book, that provides simple graphics and language to illuminate concepts including greenhouse effect, heat storage, surface-to-volume ratio, ventilation, and cooling. Tips, rule-of-thumb, regional characteristics, and many other consideration are presented to help readers, from initial site selection to visionary design. Written for architects, designers, and others who seek to tap the free resources offered by earth and sun, this invaluable too will help reduce dependence on outside energy sources. You will be inspired.

David Wright, AIA, is founder of David Wright Associates, a solar environmental architecture group in California. he has won numerous awards for his innovative designs, and his work has been featured in may popular and forward thinking magazines.

David Wright web site

To purchase this book at the Shiffer Publications Ltd. web site.

Cal Poly hosts 7th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference
July 31 - August 3, 2008

Registration is now open and exhibitor/sponsorships are still available for the conference that boasts more participation from colleges and universities in the California system of higher education than any other campus sustainability event!

Visit the conference web site at http://sustainability.calpoly.edu and join us in "Putting Sustainability to Work" as we build a green workforce and work place for the state of California, the nation, and the world!

Architecture's 45th Anniversary

Image of historic San Francisco houses with the number 45 and the word Architecture superimposed

Throughout the 2008-2009 academic year, events will be organized to celebrate the Architecture Department's 45th anniversary. For additional information go to our Alumni & Friends web page.

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