University of Virginia School of Architecture
Encyclopedia
The School of Architecture at the University of Virginia
is a national leader in architectural education, conferring degrees in Architecture
, Landscape Architecture
, Architectural History
, and Urban and Environmental Planning
. Additionally, the school offers a Ph.D in History of Art
, a certificate in Historic Preservation
, and is one of only a few schools that offers the Doctor of Architecture
degree.
's concept for the University. Jefferson intended to use the architecture of the Academical Village
as a didactic instrument for students. Evidence suggests that Jefferson planned to instruct architecture students himself, but he died in 1826 before his vision could be realized.
It would take more than 100 years after Jefferson's death for the School of Architecture to be formed. In 1919, a School of Fine Arts was established under the direction of Sidney Fiske Kimball, for whom the University's Fine Arts Library is named. In 1954 the University dissolved the School of Fine Arts, merging the art faculty into the College of Arts and Sciences, and creating a new School of Architecture. In the nine decades since its founding, the school has grown from an initial enrollment of eleven students to some 350 undergraduate and 175 graduate students, with 54 full-time faculty members and an extensive staff.
A series of expansions have taken place during the last three years, which are part of a larger program of redevelopment at the University. These expansions added some 12,000 square feet (1,100 m²) to accommodate the school's growth over the last two decades. The South Addition, by faculty member Bill Sherman, provides office space along the south side of the building. A series of landscape interventions accompany the South Addition. The Elmaleh East Wing, by faculty member W. G. Clark, provides additional space for reviews and exhibits. The new additions were dedicated in October, 2008. The original building, by Pietro Belluschi
, was completed in 1970.
in nation by the journal DesignIntelligence in its annual edition of "America's Best Architecture & Design Schools". The survey ranked the school's graduate program as 7th in the nation in 2005; 3rd in the nation in 2006, and 5th in the nation in 2007. The survey also ranked the school's Landscape Architecture
graduate program as 5th in the nation in 2006, and 6th in the nation in 2007 (tied with Rhode Island School of Design
). Additionally, the School of Architecture was ranked 1st in the nation in the new 2007 category of Sustainable Design Practices.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
is a national leader in architectural education, conferring degrees in Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, Landscape Architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
, Architectural History
Architectural History
Architectural History is the main journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain .The journal is published each autumn. The architecture of the British Isles is a major theme of the journal, although it includes more general papers on the history of architecture. Member of...
, and Urban and Environmental Planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
. Additionally, the school offers a Ph.D in History of Art
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
, a certificate in Historic Preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
, and is one of only a few schools that offers the Doctor of Architecture
Doctor of Architecture
The Doctor of Architecture or Architectural Doctorate degree is a doctoral degree in the field of Architecture. It can be completed after either a Bachelor of Architecture , Master of Architecture degree or, in some cases, another degree. The degree is not required for state licensure, which...
degree.
History
The School of Architecture was a cornerstone of founder Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's concept for the University. Jefferson intended to use the architecture of the Academical Village
The Lawn
The Lawn is a large, terraced grassy court at the historic center of Jefferson's academic community at the University of Virginia. The design shows Jefferson's mastery of Palladian architecture...
as a didactic instrument for students. Evidence suggests that Jefferson planned to instruct architecture students himself, but he died in 1826 before his vision could be realized.
It would take more than 100 years after Jefferson's death for the School of Architecture to be formed. In 1919, a School of Fine Arts was established under the direction of Sidney Fiske Kimball, for whom the University's Fine Arts Library is named. In 1954 the University dissolved the School of Fine Arts, merging the art faculty into the College of Arts and Sciences, and creating a new School of Architecture. In the nine decades since its founding, the school has grown from an initial enrollment of eleven students to some 350 undergraduate and 175 graduate students, with 54 full-time faculty members and an extensive staff.
Campus and Facilities
The School is located in Campbell Hall, and includes studio space, lecture halls, classrooms, the Fine Arts Café, and the Arts & Architecture Store (colloquially known as the A&A) .A series of expansions have taken place during the last three years, which are part of a larger program of redevelopment at the University. These expansions added some 12,000 square feet (1,100 m²) to accommodate the school's growth over the last two decades. The South Addition, by faculty member Bill Sherman, provides office space along the south side of the building. A series of landscape interventions accompany the South Addition. The Elmaleh East Wing, by faculty member W. G. Clark, provides additional space for reviews and exhibits. The new additions were dedicated in October, 2008. The original building, by Pietro Belluschi
Pietro Belluschi
Pietro Belluschi was an American architect, a leader of the Modern Movement in architecture, and was responsible for the design of over one thousand buildings....
, was completed in 1970.
National Rankings
The School of Architecture is ranked 9th nationally in the 2010 U.S. News ranking of graduate architecture programs (the undergraduate program was not in the Top 10 according to U.S. News). The School of Architecture is consistently ranked as one of the top US Architecture SchoolsUS Architecture Schools
Architecture school in the United States refers to university schools and colleges with the purpose of educating students in the field of architecture.-Professional degrees:...
in nation by the journal DesignIntelligence in its annual edition of "America's Best Architecture & Design Schools". The survey ranked the school's graduate program as 7th in the nation in 2005; 3rd in the nation in 2006, and 5th in the nation in 2007. The survey also ranked the school's Landscape Architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
graduate program as 5th in the nation in 2006, and 6th in the nation in 2007 (tied with Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
). Additionally, the School of Architecture was ranked 1st in the nation in the new 2007 category of Sustainable Design Practices.