DEAN’S 2007-2008 BRIEF

While severe state budget reductions are a serious challenge, as shown below, our School has continued to make important progress in our development.

CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT
In August 2007, we implemented the major curriculum revisions to our Master of Architecture Program. The changes will bring greater program clarity by better course sequencing and making better use of our personnel resources. It will take up to two years to fully implement all facets of the program so there is no adverse affect upon our existing students. To ensure all students have thoughtful, thorough academic advising, Dan Powers accepted the role as academic advisor for all SACD students.

In the fall semester, Trent Green, Vikas Mehta and Shannon Bassett did yeoman service in developing our new Master of Community Design program that was approved in December by USF’s Board of Trustees. Its implementation date will depend upon state budget conditions with the hope of beginning by August 2009. Also in the fall term, we worked with the College of Business to have a Master in Real Estate Development with a focus on sustainability. It was approved by the USF Board of Trustees. Its starting date is dependent upon budget conditions.

GLOBAL STUDIES
The 2007 summer studies in Japan, initiated by Stanley Russell, was so successful that it will be repeated in the 2009 summer. After considerable discussions and explorations, our school agreed upon a format of each summer offering two overseas study operations with the objective of rotating venues. This summer, Steve Cooke will lead SACD class in Italy and Vikas Mehta will instruct SACD class in India. In addition, Shannon Bassett will guide USF students in a field trip study of rural China and Beijing and will be leading a SACD architecture and urbanism studio in China next summer..

NEW BUILDING
The proposed new SACD building of 78,000SF is to be centrally located across from the USF library. To assist in our private fund raising efforts, Beth Bosserman worked closely with the Urban Charrette, organized a design charrette for the purpose of assisting our private fund raising. Eighteen SACD graduates and two thesis students participated.

FUND RAISING
We began the most ambitious private fund raising efforts in our school’s history. Beth Bosserman and Gerry Curts, our Development Task Force Chair, are providing important leadership as we seek to raise significant money to help pay for our new building, fund scholarships, establish an endowed chair and support school and faculty development.

DISTINGUISHED VISITING LECTURE SERIES
Through the efforts of Michael Halflants, Peter Lizon gave an interesting perspective in his lecture of Mies van der Rohe’s Tugendhat House. This was followed by two highly provocative lectures by Manual deLanda (Morphgenesis: Giles Deleuze’s Philosophy of Difference and Architecture0 and Detlef Mertins (Bio-constructivism). Jin Baek was faculty member in charge. This spring, Jin Baek and Shannon Bassett organized a set of interesting design and planning lectures that began with Single Speed Architects presenting their Boston work. Juhhani Pallasma gave a wonderful presentation of his ideas and designs. Hidetoshi Ohno of Japan spoke of a “shrinking” age while Kongijan Yu-Turenscape of China presented ideas and work of rapidly expanding landscapes.

We are working on the 2008 fall lecture series that will explore a wide range of issues and theories of sustainable design and planning

SUSTAINABLE OR “GREEN” DESIGN AND PLANNING
USF’S Board of Trustees Chair Rhea Law asked what we were doing in regard to “Green”? The response by full time and adjunct faculty shows that sustainable design and planning studies is integral to our educational program. From our beginning studios through to the thesis studios, sustainability is a focus. How the environment shapes architecture at the micro and macro environments is studied. Elective courses, like seminars “Tropical Architecture” and “Forensic Architecture” do more in-depth examinations. Faculty are supported to present “peer review” papers and learn from leading authorities on sustainability, and support is provided for class field trips and community education programs, such as, eco-lution and USF’s Green EXPO.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
SACD continues its commitment to integrate our students’ design and planning education with serving communities. Several faculty members engage in research that assists Tampa Bay and its communities. We continue to provide 9 to 14 important community engagement projects every 12 months.

Charlie
Charles C. Hight, Dean