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Auburn University

Rural Studio Enjoys Exciting Developments Through Front Porch Initiative

The Auburn University Rural Studio and its Front Porch Initiative have made great contributions to several communities in the Southeast. By partnering with affordable housing providers throughout the region, the Front Porch Initiative has been able to support the completion of several houses and the groundbreaking for others since February. All totaled, nine homes are or will soon be under construction!
Read more:  https://aub.ie/Rural_FrontPorch

Auburn University

Associate Professor Margaret Fletcher Named Ann and Batey Gresham Chair of Architecture

Associate Professor and Associate Program Chair of Architecture, Margaret Fletcher has been named the Ann and Batey Gresham Professor of Architecture. Established in 1999 by Nashville architect Batey Gresham (BArch ’57) and his wife Ann, this endowed professorship was designed to provide financial support to outstanding faculty who exhibit a strong commitment to quality instruction, research and service, and who thus “strengthen and enhance the architecture program.”
An innovative educator who consistently brings emerging technologies and methods to her teaching, Fletcher  is a practicing architect and artist in addition to her role as faculty at Auburn’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA).  Fletcher is also the author of multiple volumes illustrating her expertise and innovations in graphic communication and representation; in 2016 Fletcher published Constructing the Persuasive Portfolio; The Only Primer You’ll Ever Need, followed by Visual Communication for Architects and Designers: Constructing the Persuasive Presentation in September 2020.  Most recently, Architectural Styles: A Visual Guide was released in November 2020.

Auburn University

Professor and Alumna named President-Elect of NAAB

Rebecca O’Neal, associate professor of architecture/interior architecture and APLA alumna, has been named President-Elect of the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB). O’Neal has served on the APLA faculty since 1999, and previously collaborated with NAAB as member of an accreditation review team comprised of educators, practitioners, regulators, and students. Read more here.

Auburn University

Architecture students in Prof. Matt Hall’s + Prof. Behzad Nakhjavan’s studio abroad installed an exhibit of work in the School of Architecture at Dudley Hall from their study abroad trip to Scandinavia. This spring marked the first semester of the new study abroad option for architecture students—an intensive 9-week program focused on Scandinavian culture, architecture, and design.  Matt Hall is an Assistant Professor of Architecture in APLA who recently received an Auburn University Faculty Award for Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence. This award recognizes outstanding teaching across the University and is awarded by a committee of retired faculty. Prof. Hall is the director of the Scandinavian Study Abroad Program and a principal and designer at Obstructures.

APLA Alum owned and operated Cakeitecture moves from Auburn, AL to a new location in Opelika, AL:

Many of the construction projects on Auburn’s campus have alumni involvement, and construction is ongoing:
https://www.oanow.com/news/auburnuniversity/no-winter-break-for-campus-construction-at-auburn-university/article_d708032a-0891-11e9-acb2-4728d1e7549e.amp.html?fbclid=IwAR1xRfFSgEWo-GyzjHCcUvI8vdMI_wroalvSH5Lf172sZrEbnRzEmNh-dEw

Rui Wang is the Outstanding Graduate Student in Landscape Architecture this year. According to her professors, Rui has demonstrated exemplary work during her time in the program. Her Alabama Lab project proposed a river boat tour which would educate citizens in Decatur about the unique ecology of the Tennessee River.

Big news!!! Rural Studio is launching a new graduate program in the fall of 2019. Join us in Hale County, Alabama while you get a Master of Science in Architecture / Option in Public Interest Design. Deadline for applications is January 31, 2019:  http://ruralstudioblogs.org/post/180595125863/big-news-were-starting-a-masters-program-at-rural?fbclid=IwAR2g8Vv94PCYOqoJd44XZEToOCcqUnSmOdYDU7Ps1PW2g6XGlTA4OwJFTDA

Read about APLA’s Rome Studio:  http://cadc.auburn.edu/architecture/news/view/616?fbclid=IwAR1sv7jmsEc5JUA21Ch-mXnFUqT36x8lYnzd_lMQLAfQY38-f5kW5hBEBOI

Corey Thomas is this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Architecture. Corey served as an ambassador ( @au_cadcambassadors ) before graduating in the spring. According to one of his former professors, he “will never let an opportunity to explore a new idea, place, or experience slip by.”

Marlon Blackwell Architects one of top 50 firms in US:  https://www.archdaily.com/905884/architect-magazine-selects-the-top-50-architecture-firms-in-the-us-for-2018?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ArchDaily+List&kth=1%2C392%2C417&fbclid=IwAR1fG8Iwx9YnS_gq-qoQ2uid4uQb3-2OKW8UIfhoBSWJ2g5iL288SiQPTYk

Congratulations to APLA Alumna Amanda Herron Loper (05 BARCH/BI.ARCH), and her firm David Baker Architects recently named a Hive 50 Innovator:  https://www.facebook.com/ArchitectMagazine/photos/a.10150809918341273/10156454918641273/?type=3&theater&ifg=1

Read about the recipients of the 2018 CADC Awards:  http://cadc.auburn.edu/explore-cadc/news/view/610?fbclid=IwAR35xkOFJji6FUdT-QkF7aVgNhnIUSU24oGhzEL9kIS3xx6gOOPkbnW6Rzc

Rural Studio featured on Yes! Magazine online:  https://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/where-homework-means-building-affordable-houses-20181101?fbclid=IwAR0TJ_3q2OmB9QiwfLusRxOzWD9sm-_7Qd4ZYstp8rAlC9WkREkJNB7PF7A

Anna Halepaska is this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Interior Architecture. She’s a fifth-year from Dallas, Texas, and has been described by professors as someone who demonstrates real “know how” and also “know why.”  A team of Auburn University architecture students led by APLA professor David Hinson recently finished building a custom-made home for Habitat for Humanity. (https://buff.ly/2OYopIE?fbclid=IwAR0Tfjq7Yf811tkLw_TU6NGFXQl9k6ugeaFXPByn5CY95ljhU0YXEbV16No)

APLA’s Prof. J Scott Finn names Associate Professor Emeritus (http://cadc.auburn.edu/architecture/news/view/609)

Fifth year BARCH student Jonathan Funk is this year’s recipient of the CADC Student Leadership Award. In addition to completing his thesis project focused on how immigration affects architecture, Jonathan manages to find time to lead the CADC Ambassadors as its President. Last summer, Jonathan was one of only a handful of students from across the country selected to participate in the 100 Fold Studio in Lakeside Montana. He helped complete a number of design-build projects which benefited the local community. #auarch #aucadc #designbuild Auburn University CADC Ambassadors 100 Fold Studio
APLA School Head Prof. Christian Dagg Named 2018 SEC Fellow (http://cadc.auburn.edu/architecture/news/view/606)

Many thanks to State Senator Tom Whatley for his community service grant supporting APLAs community outreach programs #cadc#wareagle#thisisauburn

Auburn Students Host 30th Annual Pumpkin Carve (https://www.facebook.com/AuburnUPhoto/photos/pcb.10157473747085021/10157473741855021/?type=3&theater&ifg=1)

Auburn University

Congratulations to APLA Landscape Architecture Prof. Charlene LeBleu  –  she will be serving as the 2018 president for the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA). 

The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) selected two case studies designed by Charlene LeBleu and students in the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program at Auburn University for publication on the national Landscape Architecture Foundation Case Study Investigation website. LeBleu, FASLA and associate professor of landscape architecture in Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction, led both teams. One team examined Samford Park at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, and the other researched Railroad Park in Birmingham. Both case studies are the first of their kind in Alabama to receive this national honor. Read more

Former Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) Dean Dan Bennett and Architecture Prof. David Hinson will be serving on the City of Auburn, Alabama’s newly formed Downtown Design Review Committee.  Read more here

Auburn University Architecture students work to design homes with Habitat for Humanity.

An Office of Sustainability and Campus Stormwater Committee request to design of a campus green infrastructure tour evolves into the development of a board game to re-imagine green infrastructure education created by MLA graduate students led by Charlene M. LeBleu, FASLA, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture. Follow the link to read more

L. Jane Frederick, FAIA, from AIA South Carolina, and Auburn APLA Alumna (BArch ’82), was elected 2019 First Vice President/2020 President-elect for the American Institute of Architects at the National Conference held this June 2018.

Profs Christian DaggDavid Hinson, and David Hill are part of a team working to revitalize a Historic Opelika, Alabama Neighborhood. For more, read about it here.

Profs Christian DaggDavid Hinson, and David Hill are part of a team working to revitalize a Historic Opelika Neighborhood. Watch here.

Auburn University’s Rural Studio (http://www.ruralstudio.org/) has received a lot of attention in the news the past couple months.  See the following:

The Rural Studio was featrured on Alabama Newscenter online.  Read about it here

Auburn University’s Rural Studio students are changing lives; watch the PBS NewsHour special here

Rural Studio featured on Simply Southern TV

Rural Studio in Curbed.com

Read about Auburn University Rural Studio’s 20K Initiative:  The key to affordable home ownership

Auburn University

APLA’s own David Hinson and Christian Dagg (aka Hinson + Dagg Architects) have been recognized again for the Browning residence. They received a Gold Award in the “One-of A-Kind Custom of Spec Home 1,501-2,500 sq. ft.” category at the 2017 Best American Living Awards. Read more here:  http://cadc.auburn.edu/explore-cadc/news/view/578

The Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning + Landscape Architecture undergrad program was ranked among the best in the U.S. by CEOWORLD Magazine.Read more:   http://cadc.auburn.edu/explore-cadc/news/view/576

Rural Studio’s Safe House Black History Museum is on this list of “20 Alabama African-American heritage sites on 2018 World Monuments Watch List”
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2018/01/20_african-american_heritage_s.html#incart_river_home

The APLA Spring Lecture Series begins February 12 – read more here:  http://cadc.auburn.edu/architecture/special-programs/lecture-series

Steve Jernigan, FAIA,(BARCH’81)  was appointed to Florida’s Board of Architecture and Interior Design.  Read more:  http://cadc.auburn.edu/explore-cadc/news/view/579

Auburn University

AIAS Internship Fair Registration is OPEN.  To register your firm, click the link to contact CADC representative, Crystal Jalil. For more information, read here.

Congratulations to the College of Architecture,Design and Construction on the award of their amazing HUD grant – the largest in Auburn University history.  The multi-discipliary team includes Justin Miller, chair of the Architecture program at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture; Rusty Smith, associate director of the Rural Studio program; Wesley Collins from the McWhorter School of Building Science; Christine Fleming, director of CDRPS; David Hill, chair of the Landscape Architecture program; Jerrod Windham and Shu Wen Tzeng, faculty from the Industrial Design program in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design.  For all the details, read more here.

The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture would like to say thank  you to you Niles Bolton Associates, JJCA, Architects, Lewis + WhitlockLooney Ricks KissAllard Ward Architects, and Mr. Richard S. Richard, AIA for sponsoring this year’s APLA Annual Awards Ceremony.

Rural Studio’s Newbern Library on featured on Dezeen magazine’s website, read more here.

The College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) joined Auburn’s celebration of 125 Years of Women at Auburn University and wants to celebrate all CADC alumnae (i.e., our women graduates).  CADC cordially invites all alumnae to participate and be included in a special video created by Madison Champion, a senior in graphic design. First shown at the CADC Awards Banquet, “The Women of Auburn CADC” highlights CADC alumnae from 1928 to today.  To read more, or be involved, please read more here.

Prof. and Acting Director of Rural Studio Xavier Vendrell received an FAD award in the category of City and Landscape. The FAD is one of Spain and Portugal’s most prestigious awards. Formore about the project, and award, read here

Alumnus Paul Kardous helps Auburn AIAS create travel award in an effort to build their own scholarship fund.  Read more here.

College of Architecture, Design and Construction Dean Vini Nathan was recently named 2017 Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council.  Read more here. 

Hazelbaker Rush’s Franklin Mountain House was recently recognized as one of Dezeen’s top 10 US houses of 2017. APLA and RS alum Dale Rush (BARCH ’00) is one of the founding partners.

Auburn University

A team of students from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA) won second place in the 2017 Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition at the National Organization of Minority Architects’ Annual Conference October 11_14 in Houston, Texas. The design competition challenged teams from across the U.S. to design an Academy of Architectural Design and Sustainability for 8th-12th graders. Named for the pioneering African-American architect John S. Chase, the proposed academy will provide students and residents of Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood with access to a secondary education as well as opportunities for adult educational programs and community events. Auburn’s entry, “Sunnyside Seams,” was awarded second place among 19 schools competing. 

In January 2017, Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s inclusion and diversity efforts were recognized by Metropolis Magazine in “Diversity Champions: 8 Schools that aren’t just Paying Lip Service to Diversity.“ The NOMA student design competition is one piece of this effort. For more information about NOMA, please go read here; to learn more about the 2017 Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition, read here.

Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction programs continue to be ranked among the nation’s best by DesignIntelligence Quarterly in its annual “American Best Architecture and Design Schools 2017-2018.” The rankings are based on annual surveys of leading practitioners in these fields. CADC’s undergraduate program in architecture is ranked eleventh, and its graduate program in landscape architecture is ranked twentieth. Read more here.  

The APLA Fall Lecture Series concludes with Jennifer Feltman Assistant Professor of Medieval Art and Architecture at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, Department of Art and Art History.  She will present Monday, November 13, at 3:30 pm, Dudley B6 auditorium.  

Visit the Lecture Series page for 2018 Spring Series lectures.

The Architecture Internship Fair will be on February 21, 2018; contact Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) Career Services Specialist Crystal Jalil to reserve your place.

Auburn University

Charlene LeBleu, Associate Professor and Interim Head of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, has woven outreach and service learning into her teaching and scholarship throughout her academic career. She has used her expertise in water quality issues and low impact development design to benefit communities throughout Alabama. For her distinguished record of impactful service, LeBleu received the Excellence in Service-Learning Award (Senior Level) at the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Annual Conference in Beijing, China on May 28, 2017.  Read full story here.

APLA welcomes new faculty member Emily McGlohn (BARCH ’03) – Emily is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Architecture and will be teaching 3rd Year Design Studio at the Rural Studio. Emily earned her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon where she studied common practice use of vapor retarders and air barrier systems in residential construction. Prior to joining the faculty at Auburn University, Emily was an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Mississippi State University from 2012-2017.  Recently we reported that Emily, with colleagues at MSU, won a 2017 Practice + Leadership award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) for the proposal “Integrated Project Delivery Theater,” and the 2015 National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Award for the proposal “Expanding the Agency of Architects.” Read about it here

Congratulations to Prof. Matt Hall – The September issue of Architecture & Urbanism (A+U) will be devoted to the work of Swedish architect Bernt Nyberg. Last spring Matt was invited to guest edit the issue and after a year of work they are finally going to press. The work that went into this culminates over five years of research and documentation, the majority of which was made possible through APLA support, a CADC seed grant, and the diligent assistance of many of our students.

On September 14, 2017,at the Rural Studio, “Buster’s House” 20K House ribbon cutting and opening was celebrated.

Former Executive Editor, then Editor-At-Large. at Southern Progress CorporationPhilip Morris, lost his battle with cancer on September 14, 2017. Prof. J.Scott Fin stated, “Phillip was a tireless advocate for good design in cities, and a friend and supporter of the Urban Studio (AUCAUS – Auburn University Center for Architecture and Urban Studies) since the beginning.”  Read more here.

Congratulations to Acting Director of Auburn University Rural Studio and Professor, Xavier Vendrell, who has been awarded the FAD Award in the category of City and Landscape for his professional work in collaboration with partners Claudi Aguilo and Albert Domingo (DataAE) on the project, Rehabilitació del Parc de Joan Oliver a Badia del Vallès, in Barcelona, Spain.

On September 22 and 23, the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture had three simultaneous drawing workshops happening: one at the Rural Studio with Frank Harmon, one on digital modeling organized by Prof. Valerie Friedman, Landscape Architecture, and an exciting Workshop opportunity was hosted for Auburn University’s Second-Year Architecture Studios. Coordinated by Prof. Danielle Willkens, supported by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, this workshop introduced the practice of classical architectural design with emphasis on its application in the design of new buildings and places.  This seminar was also provided  with generous support from the alumni at McAlpine.  Read more about the 2nd year ICAA workshop here.

Architectural Digest featured Rural Studio in their latest issue, read here.

Visit the Harold Washington Public Library in Chicago, Illinois and find Rural Studio project Lions Park Playscape project as part of the Design Museum Foundation’s national exhibition and education program exploring the latest thinking in playground design. The exhibition, Extraordinary Playscapes, on its final stop in Chicago, is open Sept. 21-Dec.16., 2017.

The APLA 2017 Fall Lecture series is currently underway, and there are three October lectures available:  Wednesday, October 4 features Thomas Robinson, Founding Principal, LEVER Architecture; Monday, October 16 will be Lorcan O’Herlihy, Founding Principal, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA); Monday, October 23, Coleman CokerRuth Carter Stevenson Regents Chair in the Art of Architecture, University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture and Founding Principal, buildingstudio.   To see the complete APLA Lecture Series schedule for 2017-2018, please read here.


Learn more about Auburn University here

Auburn University

CADC faculty and students exhibited their creative scholarship and work in “Showcase: The Work of Creative Scholarship” at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn, Alabama, from September 17 through October 2. The “Showcase” exhibition was held in conjunction with Auburn’s “This Research: Faculty Symposium 2016” and included works in the fields of fine art, the performing arts, creative writing, applied design and other related disciplines.

Read more, here. To view the Showcase, click here.

DesignIntelligence Quarterly has released its annual rankings “America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools 2016–2017,” and Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction programs are once again ranked among the best in the nation. These rankings are based on annual surveys of leading practitioners in these fields. CADC’s undergraduate program in architecture is ranked ninth, and its graduate program in landscape architecture is ranked eighteenth. The School of Industrial and Graphic Design’s graduate program industrial design continues be ranked third in the nation, and its undergraduate program is ranked fifth. There are no new rankings for Industrial Design this year. 

Read more, here.

Architect: The Journal of the American Institute of Architects has named Marlon Blackwell Architects “The Top Firm in Design” in its annual Architect 50 ranking. Principal and Founder Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, who is 1980 graduate of Auburn’s architecture program, is the E. Fay Jones Chair in Architecture and a Distinguished Professor in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas.

For the full story in Architect and to view a portfolio of Marlon Blackwell Architects’ work, click here.

The College of Architecture, Design and Construction celebrated the accomplishments of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends at the Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 20, at the Hotel at Auburn University. Special guests included Jane DiFolco Parker, Vice President for Development and President, Auburn University Foundation and Bill Parker; Dr. John Liu, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Research and his wife Dongya Gao; Dr. Gregg Newschwander, Witt Professor and Dean of the School Nursing; Jim Carroll, Auburn University Architect, and Kathleen Carroll; and the CADC Executive Board.

For more, read here.

Charlene LeBleu, FASLA, will serve as the Interim Head of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture effective January 1, 2017, announced Vini Nathan, Dean and McWhorter Endowed Chair in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. She will serve in this position while a search is taking place for the permanent school head.

For more, read here.

Can something as simple as placing chairs around campus improve the quality of social life? That’s what Magdalena Garmaz’s ENVD 4010 “Elements of Design Thinking and Visual Communication” class set out to discover. The Auburn Chair Project studied whether the introduction of a simple, inexpensive, and movable element—a chair—can improve the quality of life in the built environment, specifically, the Auburn campus. 

For more, read here.

Harold “Hal” Goyette, a 1950 graduate of Auburn’s Architecture program was honored with the College of Architecture, Design and Constructions Distinguished Alumni Award during the college’s annual awards banquet on October 20. The criteria for this recognition includes: a graduate of one of the CADC programs; at least 50 years of professional distinction and leadership; and support of the advancement and continued excellence of AU or their profession. 

For more, read here.

Read the Winter Issue of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture’s newsletter StudioAPLA.

APLA Fall Lecture Series, Unfolding Narratives, Continues January 23—3:30 pm with Timothy McDonald, Founding Principal of Onion Flats.  Events are held in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture at Dudley Hall, Dudley Commons Parker Auditorium, B6 and are free and open to the public.

Read about enterprising alum, Wanona Satcher, and her nonprofit, called Rejuvehere.

In the Architect’s Journal you can view a #greatdetail as described by Piers Taylor, of Invisible Studio, on the Glass Chapel at Mason’s Bend.

The 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, where the Auburn Rural Studio was a participant, has come to an end. Of note:

-The event had over 250,00 visitors

-The RS installation, the “theater of the useFULL” was taken down last week and absolutely all the materials are continuing to help two outstanding Venice organizations in their objectives of offering shelter for the winter homeless and refurbishing much needed affordable housing.

Read more here.

This is Alabama features the Rural Studio in This is Rural Studio – Auburn University.

In a past issue of StudioAPLA Danielle Willkens, Assistant Professor of Architecture, was featured as a recipient of the SAH Brooks Travelling Fellowship. Follow her discoveries and read the chronicle of her journey through monthly blog posts on the Society of Architectural Historians’ website. Read more here.

Prof. and former Head of APLA, David Hinson was profiled on THIS IS AUBURN.

Visit Auburn on StudyArchitecture.com!