The College of Architecture, Arts, and Design formerly the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech consists of four schools, including the School of Architecture. Headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, the college also has sites in Alexandria, Virginia, and Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Spread out among these three locations, the college consists of nearly 2,200 students, making it one of the largest schools of architecture in the nation.
History
1964-1967 1964: The College of Architecture was founded, replacing the College of Engineering's Department of Architecture which had been formed in 1928. Charles Burchard was named the college's first dean by Virginia Tech president, T. Marshall Hahn. 1967: Shortly after the founding of the college, Olivio Ferrari and Herbert Kramel inspired the school to draw influences from many different sources, including the Bauhaus, and the Ulm School of Design, among others. They created the "Blue book", which was a guide for faculty members, and explained the school's general philosophy.
1968-1979 1968: Ferrari and Kramel began study abroad programs in Salzburg, Austria 1969: Cowgill Hall, home to the College of Architecture, opened. It was named for Clinton Cowgill, former Head of the Architecture Department (1928–1956) 1972: Ceramics and printmaking became part of the curricula, under the direction of Ellen Braaten and Rengin Holt 1973: The name of the college was changed to the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS) 1974: The Landscape Architecture Department was founded
1980-1999 1980: The Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) was founded in Alexandria, Virginia 1991: The school purchased a building in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland, named Casa Maderni, to be used by the school for study-abroad programs 1992: The Research+Demonstration Facility opened off campus to be used for projects by faculty and research interests 1992: Casa Maderni became the Center for European Studies and Architecture and renamed, "Villa Maderni" 1994: The Industrial Design program was founded 1996: The School of Public and International Affairs was founded as a collaboration of multiple departments to develop interdisciplinary instruction 1998: Burchard Hall opened adjacent to Cowgill Hall, adding new studio and workshop spaces
2000-present 2003: The Architecture and Industrial Design programs were joined by the Interior Design program to found the School of Architecture + Design within College of Architecture and Urban Studies 2003: The Department of Art & Art History joined the College of Architecture and Urban Studies 2005: The Myers-Lawson School of Construction was jointly founded between CAUS and the College of Engineering 2007: Bishop-Favrao Hall opened, becoming the home for The Myers-Lawson School of Construction 2007: The Landscape Architecture program became part of the School of Architecture + Design 2007: The School of Visual Arts was founded 2008: The program was founded by Keith and Marie Zawistowski 2009: The college's prototype mobile/solar home, LumenHAUS competed in the 2009 U.S. Dept. of Energy's Solar Decathlon 2010: LumenHAUS won the Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 in Madrid, Spain. It also traveled to many esteemed locations, including Times Square 2012: The Center for European Studies and Architecture at Villa Maderni was renovated (5200 SF) and expanded (6200 SF) 2012: LumenHAUS won a 2012 AIA Honor Award for Architecture 2014: On June 24, 2014, the Center for European Studies and Architecture was renamed the Steger Center for International Scholarship in honor of former dean, Charles Steger. 2017: Virginia Tech's Center for Design Research finalized the design of "FutureHAUS", which began in 2015. It is planned to enter the 2018 International Solar Competition in Dubai. 2022: On July 1, 2022, the name of the college was changed to the College of Architecture, Art, and Design (AAD) including a restructuring of schools within the college. 2022: The School of Performing Arts joined the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design 2023: On February 23 Tsai Lu Liu was announced to be the new dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design effective July 1, 2023
Deans of the College of ArchitectureYearName1964-1979Charles Burchard1979-1981Julio San Jose1981-1993Charles W. Steger1993-1997Patricia Edwards1997-2006Paul Knox2006-2017A. Jack Davis2017–2021Richard Blythe2021–2023Rosemary Blieszner2023–presentTsai Lu Liu
Academics The College of Architecture, Arts, and Design offers 11 bachelor's degrees and 6 graduate degrees through its four schools; the School of Architecture, the School of Design, the School of Performing Arts, and the School of Visual Arts. Programs offered within these schools are architecture, art history, cinema, creative technologies, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, music, studio art, and theatre.
School of Architecture + Design Programs in the School of Architecture + Design include architecture, interior design, industrial design, and landscape architecture. Through the school, students can earn Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees, which are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The Bachelor of Architecture degree at Virginia Tech has been accredited by the NAAB, consecutively, since the 1957–58 academic year making it one of the oldest, accredited architecture programs in the U.S. along with Syracuse University, Cornell University, Pratt Institute, Auburn University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and University of Oregon. The School also offers professionally accredited degrees in Industrial Design (BS.IDS), Interior Design (BS.ITDS), and Landscape Architecture (BLA and MLA). Research-oriented degree programs include the Master of Science in Architecture and the PhD in Architecture and Design Research. According to the School of Architecture + Design's website, the School's mission is "to create a setting for the pursuit of theoretical, practical, and productive knowledge, embracing the duality of the education of an individual and the practice of a profession."
On the Blacksburg campus, the Architecture programs are housed in Cowgill Hall and Burchard Hall, named after the college's first dean Charles Henry Burchard. The Industrial Design Program is housed in Burchard Hall, and the Interior Design and Landscape Architecture programs are based in Burruss Hall. Architecture and Landscape Architecture studios are offered at the Nation Capital Region/Washington-DC's Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, located in Oldtown Alexandria, Virginia, and at the Steger Center for International Scholarship, the former Center for European Studies and Architecture, in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland.
On July 5, 2022, it was announced as part of a restructuring the School of Architecture + Design was split into the School of Architecture and the School of Design.
School of Visual Arts The School of Visual Arts offers programs in art history, visual communication design, and studio arts, with concentrations in visual communication design/graphic design, creative technologies, 3-D animation, modeling, painting, ceramics, animation, and sculpture. Areas of study include the studio arts (B.F.A.), the visual communication design (B.F.A.), art history (B.A.), and the creative technologies (M.F.A.). The school's administrative offices are located in the Armory, one of Blacksburg's historic buildings.6. https://www.sova.vt.edu/. School of Visual Arts. Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies
Myers-Lawson School of Construction
The Myers-Lawson School of Construction was a joint venture between the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and the College of Engineering. It was founded with a donation from A. Ross Myers and John R. Lawson II. It offers degrees in building construction and construction engineering and management. The school's programs are unique in that they blend building construction and civil engineering.
The Department of Building Construction offers a B.S. in Building Construction with two different tracks, the first track being Construction & Design, and the other track being Development, Real Estate, and Construction (which comes with a Minor in Real Estate). The department also offers a Masters of Science in Building Construction Science & Management, and a Masters of Science in Building Construction Science & Management plus an MBA. The department also hosts a PhD program.
On July 5, 2022, it was announced as part of a restructuring the Myers-Lawson School of Construction was transferred to the Virginia Tech College of Engineering.
School of Public and International Affairs The School of Public and International Affairs was established in 2003 with the intent of offering an "innovative integration of scholarship and professional instruction in policy and planning in public administration, urban affairs, environment, governance, and international relations." The school offers undergraduate students either a Bachelor of Science in environmental policy and planning or a Bachelor of Arts in public and urban affairs. In addition, the school offers master's degrees in public administration, public and international affairs, and urban and regional planning. Doctoral students may earn degrees in planning, governance and globalization or in public administration and public affairs. The School of public and International Affairs is situated in Blacksburg, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia.
On July 5, 2022, it was announced as part of a restructuring the School of Public and International Affairs was transferred to the Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
National Capital Region programs
Washington Alexandria Architecture Center
The Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) has been functioning as the urban extension of the School of Architecture and Design in the Virginia Tech National Capital Region since 1980. Since 1985 the WAAC has also housed a consortium of national and international architectural schools. The WAAC grants degrees in the M.Arch.1 program for those students with a five-year professional degree, and the M.Arch.2 program for students with a four-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree. M.Arch.3 students are able to attend the WAAC during their thesis level of study after having completed their first two years at the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. The WAAC also offers a Master of Landscape Architecture degree as a three-year program for individuals with a baccalaureate degree background. Students interested in a degree in Urban Design can apply through the Master of Science in architecture. The Urban Design concentration requires 3-4 semesters of study with a background in design; students without a design background can enter the program after a foundation year in the Landscape program. A Ph.D. in Architecture and Design Research is available to qualified candidates.About WAAC Program
Urban Affairs and Planning The Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (UAP) provides interdisciplinary teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and outreach and service in planning, public policy, and public and non-profit management to serve students, the university and society. The department's diverse programs and interdisciplinary faculty provide a wide range of professional specializations, including urban development, environment protection, economic and community development, international development, community health, housing and information technology and society. Department of Urban Affairs and Planning offers a Master of Urban & Regional Planning (MURPL) degree.About UAP Program
Research Centers Virginia Tech's College of Architecture, Arts, and Design is affiliated with multiple research centers for advancements by both faculty and students.