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An hour-long panel discussion ranging from pop culture to architectural phenomenology, from the Jonas Brothers to German philosopher Martin Heidegger, with numerous poignant and esoteric points in between filled the first episode of “talk-show,” a live webcast that aired Oct. 6 from the Texas A&M College of Architecture’s Wright Gallery. The happening, orchestrated in front of a live audience by “talk-show” host Peter Lang, associate professor of architecture, provided a roomful of College of Architecture students and faculty with a familiar pop alternative to traditional scholarly debate formats. The show’s first installment featured a distinguished panel of Texas A&M artists, architects and philosophers in a wide-ranging “interrogation into the question of otherness, the unknown and the uncanny” under the topic, “ugly/form.” Pictured above: from left, Theodore George, Joshua Bienko, Gabriel Esquivel, and host Peter Lang.
Cowboys owner receives college’s
“Visitors to the new Cowboys Stadium get an immediate sense of awe,” said Vanegas. “A sense of magic. It’s extremely beautiful and comfortable, and you can sense the energy of the people there. That’s what we want to celebrate with the Spirit of Place Award.”
College of Architecture rolls out
The new site was designed to address problems and desires articulated by site visitors in an online survey conducted last fall. Survey respondents included current, potential and former students, as well as parents, faculty and members of the larger academic, professional and service communities.
Read the full story
Research:
College of Architecture’s 11th annual The 11th Annual Texas A&M College of Architecture Research Symposium: Built, Natural Virtual will be held Monday, Oct. 19 at the Langford Architecture Center on the Texas A&M campus. The daylong research showcase, which begins at 8:30 a.m., features a series of faculty presentations previously delivered at scholarly venues around the world. This year’s symposium includes invited or refereed presentations and papers from the 2008-09 academic year.
Renowned social psychologist, author
Gosling, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, will present "A Room With a Cue: Expressions of Personality in Everyday Environments” at 3 p.m. in the Preston Geren Auditorium, located in building B of the Langford Architecture Center.
Williamson’s research eying students’
They’re working with researchers from Northwestern University, Tufts University, and the University of New Brunswick on the three-year, $684,005 project, “Students’ Attempts at Understanding the Unobservable: A Multi-Method Approach to Visualization Analysis and Design.”
Brody to facilitate HRRC projects as
Brody’s said his joint appointment to the faculty of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at the College Station campus, and to the Department of Marine Sciences in Galveston, will foster collaboration between the two research centers.
Architecture professors win grant to help
Studies have shown that problems related to exchanging information among building information modeling software used by architects and energy analysis and simulation software used by engineers causes more than $16 billion per year of unnecessary expenses. “This research will promote the inclusion of energy efficiency measures in the early design of building model development,” said Mark Clayton, professor of architecture and the project’s principal investigator.. “It is expected to greatly increase the efficiency and accuracy of energy analysis and allow building designs to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency.” Above, left to right: Mark Clayton, Jeff Haberl, and Wei Yan
Lindell, research partners developing
Plans of action for real-time utility response are difficult to design, the researchers wrote, based on the range of uncertainty and variability in the location, time, type and duration of contaminant. The researchers are planning to use agent-based models (ABM) to simulate the interactions of utility operators, consumers and public health agencies and their impact on the propagation of the contaminant.
Dumbaugh, grad student note that strip Urban planning researchers at Texas A&M discovered a notable difference in motorists’ safety around strip malls as compared to “main street” type developments. “We found urban arterials, arterial-oriented commercial developments, and big box stores to be associated with increased incidences of traffic-related crashes and injuries, while higher-density communities with more traditional, pedestrian-scaled retail configurations were associated with fewer crashes,” wrote Eric Dumbaugh, assistant professor of urban planning at Texas A&M, and Robert Rae, a former student who now works as an analyst with Kimley-Horn and Associates. Writing for The City Fix, a website focusing on sustainable urban mobility, Erica Schlaikjer quoted Dumbaugh and Rae’s conclusion that more management of mobility and access of urban arterials, relocation of retail outlets to lower-speed thoroughfares, and better land use planning can address the problem. Read Schlaikjer’s article in The City Fix
Texas Urban Triangle research
The report, issued in May 2008, researched key strategic factors shaping the future growth of the mega-region, including current and future needs for water, energy, housing, education, transportation, and other infrastructure. Pictured above: Graduate student Nathanael Proctor and Elise Bright, professor of urban planning and master of urban planning coordinator, accepted an award from the American Planning Association.
Peacock tells The National Academies of
Such a network, he said, would connect hazard scientists with policy makers and thus provide the latest knowledge and predictive understanding needed to reduce vulnerability and enhance the resiliency of individuals and communities struck by natural hazards. The network is needed, he said, “to facilitate long-term data collection, research and monitoring of the sustainability of our nation’s urban systems.”
Texas A&M Viz professors offer a In a twist on Dr. Dolittle’s talking-to-the-animals abilities, a team of Texas A&M University professors has created a virtual environment that allows humans to see and hear some of the extreme ranges of vision and hearing that animals have. Participants at the international SIGGRAPH (short for Special Interest Group on GRAPHics and Interactive Techniques) conference in New Orleans had the opportunity to experience birds’ ultraviolet vision and whales’ ultrasonic hearing, titled “I’m Not There,” by donning 3-D glasses and using a Wii controller to navigate through the exhibit.
Visualization department’s immersive SIGGRAPH, the premier international computer graphics and interactive techniques conference, featured a host of presenters from Texas A&M’s Department of Visualization during its August 3-7 run at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. One presentation involed an immersive exhibit that allowed participants to experience the world through sensory perceptions of animals. “The exhibit shows what it might be like to see with birds’ ultraviolet vision or hear with whales’ ultra-low frequency hearing,” wrote Jason Palmer, BBC News science and technology reporter, in an article on the BBC’s website. See the full story, images, and video
Ph.D. architecture student
Georgina Davis is at McMurdo Station in Antarctica studying how the design and engineering elements of the station’s buildings affect researchers’ productivity and well-being, as well as the structures’ energy efficiency.
Studio Projects:
Digitally fabricated installation creating a An student-designed and constructed architectural installation made of undulating slices of plywood has warmed the ambience at the bottom of the first-floor stairwell in the College of Architecture’s Langford A building. “Plywood Mesh #002,” a digital fabrication installed between beams on the first-floor ceiling, was the result of a spring 2009 Experimental Home Architecture studio led by Mark Clayton, professor of architecture at Texas A&M.
Student-designed building nearing
The building, designed during a spring 2008 studio by students Tommy Bett, Allison Forman, Anna Gorski, Marjorie Pirics and Emau Vega, is being built at Bakong Technical College, located in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province. Read the full story and see pictures
Viz students create videos Professionals from Walt Disney Animation studios helped visualization students at Texas A&M explore the relationship between the old-fashioned and the high-tech during the summer. Four teams of students each created a 30-second video from a story idea, provided by Disney, which involves two toy dogs: one an “old-school” puppy, the other a robot. “Disney animators walked the students through the production pipeline, starting off with the story concept, through storyboards and final animation,” said Ann McNamara, assistant professor of visualization. The students’ final projects were 30-second animations produced in the same manner that a full-feature movie is produced by Disney. See full story, photos and videos
Shipping containers form communities
In the semester warm-up event, students had to design a community in a square, 24 x 24 meter space using shipping containers commonly used to transport freight around the world. Students received their instructions at 8:30 a.m. and worked in teams of two on their designs, creating 1:100 scale models. By the 3:30 p.m deadline, the models were on display throughout the second and third floors of building A of the Langford Architecture Center. Pictured above: Kara Ritchie and her husband Christopher designed one of the charrette’s seven winning container communities.
Students creating videos
Led by Yauger Williams, assistant professor of visualization, their learning is happening in Second Life, a 3-D virtual reality community. The course, he said, is focusing on technical, aesthetic and conceptual themes of visualization, with each student exploring a concept of time related to three focus areas: light and time, time and knowledge, and modeling and time.
Students unveil designs for Health for All
“Our current facility is a major improvement over previous locations, but offers limited options for expansion to meet the rapidly growing indigent health care needs in our community,” said Derek Dictson, executive director of Health for All. “The students have been exploring alternative solutions and will be presenting ideas and design concepts for consideration.” Pictured above: Rebeca Caranza shows off her model for the new clinic
Landscape architecture students present
The students, led by Bruce Dvorak, assistant professor of landscape architecture, created the concepts in the Summer II Principles and Techniques of Land Development class. They presented to Madisonville’s city council, city and Madison County staff, business leaders and interested citizens.
Academics: New land development program
The professorship is part of the Mitchell Initiative, a $2,300,000 gift to the Texas A&M Foundation in 2006 from the Mitchell family, founders and owners of History Maker Homes. The gift supports the Sandy and Bryan Mitchell Master Builder Chair, three professorships, scholarships and a multidisciplinary studio at the College of Architecture and a fellowship at the Mays Business School.
Aggie construction science students
The student presentation to the top brass at Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc. culminated a summer 2009 capstone class led by Jose Fernandez-Solis, assistant professor of construction science. “I am so impressed, not only the obvious intelligence and training, but with the passion these students have for the industry,” said George A. Pontikes, Jr., the firm’s president and CEO, after hearing the presentations at S&P’s headquarters in Houston. “S&P may hire more Texas A&M construction science graduates than any other contractor. What I saw today only reinforces my belief in the program." Pictured above, Elizabeth Stemac, Satterfield & Pontikes business development manager, talks with construction science students before their presentations.
Students conduct facility management Graduate students in a facilities management class at Texas A&M are working closely with administrators at Houston’s Methodist Hospital to produce a study of the hospital’s Dunn Tower. During a Sept. 10 field trip to the hospital at Houston’s Texas Medical Center, John Cook, director of facilities management, gave students an overview of the hospital’s daily operations and a behind-the-scenes tour of its inner workings — boiler rooms, water chilling facilities, generators and much more. Led by Sarel Lavy, assistant professor of construction science, the students will return to the hospital to collect additional data, and then return again on Dec. 1 to summarize their findings for hospital officials. The students’ final presentations will examine key performance indicators as well as provide a condition assessment and a strategic plan for the Dunn Tower.
Students earn coveted scholarship
Apurva Gupta(pictured), pursuing a master’s degree in construction management at Texas A&M University, and Luis Martinez, pursuing a master’s degree in architecture, are headed to the Oct. 7 -9 International Facility Management Association’s World Workplace 2009 Conference and Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Klein to be feted Nov. 3 as
The Montague program, named for founding donor Kenneth Montague ’37, honors early career excellence in undergraduate teaching at Texas A&M. Klein, who specializes in the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, joined the Aggie faculty in 2006. Her current research focuses on the development of sacred architecture on the Acropolis of Athens. She is also a Faculty Fellow of the Center for Heritage Conservation.
Association of Former Students honors The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University presented David Bilbo, professor of construction science and Rodney Hill, professor of architecture with the organization’s Distinguished Achievement Award at the College of Architecture’s Aug. 21 faculty-staff meeting, which kicked off the 2009 fall semester.
See photos and video of the award presentation
Creativity is fueling innovations, Hill is a professor of architecture, but his "futures" course focuses on, well, the future — how society will look in 2030 and beyond, and what devices and services will be needed then. Hill says two-thirds of the jobs that will be available in 2020 have not yet been invented. Students are also asked to determine whether their domains will exist in 10, 20 or 30 years.
ThinkSwiss scholarship funds doctoral Julian Wang worked with the media and design lab at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich with the ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship. The research, he said, could generate some interesting possibilities and new design strategies for pursuing energy efficiency and stable indoor microclimate.
Fisk fields ‘trailblazer’ Q&A for “The simplest solutions to a lot of these things are, in some cases, is staring us right in the face,” said Fisk in Urbanite magazine’s October 2009 issue, answering a question about how to deal with water shortages.
Class Acts: Class Acts: Former students In addition to the former student news briefs listed by class year, each semester’s Class Acts section also offers more detailed features on former student activities. The college encourages former students to use Class Acts to report news of interest or professional achievements and to update their contact information so they keep abreast of college activities of interest to them. Former students can report news and update their contact information online at archone.tamu.edu. While there, please remember to enter your current e-mail address. To save funds, as well a few trees, the college is relying more and more on electronic communications. ‘Homestyles of Rich and Gated’ website David Applebaum, who earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from Texas A&M in 1984, has designed homes for Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Diane Keaton. On the website, “Homestyles of the Rich and Gated,” Applebaum opens the doors of his own Hollywood home to Francesca Bowyer, who writes and photographs the website’s features.
Aggie overseeing construction of Robert Albanese, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science in 1982, is head of construction on the Austonian, a high-rise condominium building, which will stand 56 stories tall when it’s through. “I think it’s great for Austin,” Albanese told Ben Wermund of The Daily Texan, the University of Texas student newspaper. “It’s creating a lot of jobs, a beautiful building. It really couldn’t be much more exciting.”
Former student builds airplane, A Texas A&M College of Architecture former student arrived in style at a July 2009 air show in Wisconsin — flying an airplane he built himself using an illustrated build manual. Mike Taylor, who earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from Texas A&M in 1985, has been a regular at the AirVenture Oshkosh air show since 1999. He built the plane, which he named TaylorCUB, for recreation and to assist the company he owns, Connect Communications, with marketing the aircraft. “Although I’ve been to the show several times, I only recently entertained the idea of building my own airplane,” said Taylor, whose plane was one of the aircraft on exhibit at the show.
Former student vying for Paul Alexander, who received a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from Texas A&M in 1991, is one of 7 candidates vying for the office. Alexander’s top priority is to enhance the city’s revitalization plan, focusing on the city’s northeast and southernmost areas
Former student’s home, artist retreat Ellen Cassilly, who earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from Texas A&M in 1983, and her husband Frank, built the home, which they named Cassilhaus, near Durham, N.C. on a slope overlooking a forest.
Outstanding alum, Huckaby, As senior principal and senior project designer at FKP, he has been involved in the master planning, programming and design of numerous medical center campuses with projects ranging from $20-$350 million. A recognized leader in healthcare design, Huckaby’s concepts have been emulated nationally.
Former student presents paper Leeta Mohanty presented her paper, “Urban Theories and Their Effects on Inequality and Inclusion in India Under Globalization,” August 25 at the 2009 International Sociological Association’s Research Committee 21 conference, “Inequality, Inclusion and the Sense of Belonging.”
Design contest judges like Eddie Abeyta, who earned a Master of Architecture degree in 1994 and a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree in 1991 and is now a senior vice president and associate principal at HKS Architects, hatched the idea that was among the top four entries in the Radical Innovation in Hospitality Awards contest.
TSA to honor former student for Craig Reynolds, FAIA, who earned a Master of Architecture degree from Texas A&M in 1979 and a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree in 1977, will receive the TSA’s Award for Community Service in Honor of James D. Pfluger, FAIA, during the 70th annual TSA convention in Houston Oct. 22-24.
‘Drifting Creatives,’ still roaming the Martin Hooper and Gavin Braman, who graduated last May with Bachelor of Environmental Design degrees, began their cross-country odyssey in May. They are now in round two of their adventure, traveling across America and picking up design jobs when they can. ‘We’ve been really lucky to have a ton of support from the design community and can usually find a place to stay,”Hooper told Jacoby. ‘But when we can’t, our Honda Element turns into a bed. It sleeps pretty well when the weather is cool.” Read Jacoby’s story on page 29 of Process
Deaths: Quantrill remembered as ‘architect’s “The heat and sound of this creative and complex human being have passed from us: we are blessed that the light remains,” said David Woodcock, professor of architecture and a longtime colleague and friend of Quantrill. Quantrill joined the architecture faculty at Texas A&M in 1984 and was promoted to the rank of distinguished professor in 1986, becoming the only member of the college faculty to be so honored. He retired from the faculty in August 2007 and was subsequently awarded the title of distinguished professor emeritus.
Parents say deceased BED student “We cannot express in words the gratitude we have for how you welcomed and accepted Bobby into the architecture community at A&M,” said his parents, David and Patrice Briggs, in a statement directed at classmates. “Bobby had found the kind of camaraderie and fellowship that he had been looking for his entire life.”
BED student among Michael Fountain, 40, who died at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, was memorialized during Silver Taps, a tribute to students who die while enrolled at Texas A&M, at the Academic Plaza. Fountain was honored along with Robert Warren Hofmeister, Erin Kellie Shehan, Patrick Justin Smith, Serena Chen Swanland, Jonathan Louis Urbanosky, and Andres Felipe Uribe.
Events: College celebrating 20th year A popular destination for students looking to fulfill the college’s Semester Away requirement, the center is located in the medieval hilltop town of Castiglion Fiorentino, approximately a two-hour drive north of Rome. On Oct. 30, a reception from 3 – 4:30 p.m., hosted by Jorge Vanegas, dean of the College of Architecture, will take place at Preston Geren Auditorium in Langford B.
Distinguished architects highlight The Fall 2009 Department of Architecture Lecture Series features several prominent architects and architectural scholars. The lectures, which run Sept. 21 through Nov. 16, are scheduled Monday nights at 5 p.m. in the Preston Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 979.845.0129.
See list of featured speakers and dates
Architecture-for-Health lectures to The lectures, open to the public, are held Wednesdays and Fridays at noon in the 4th floor Architecture-for-Health studio in the Langford A building on the Texas A&M campus.
See list of featured speakers and dates
Clayton to co-lead BIM workshop, design Clayton will co-teach a two-day “Revit®-BIM Teacher’s Workshop” scheduled 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Oct. 20-21 at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), with instructors from the University of Southern California and Autodesk Education Solutions.
Archaeology photo show ends Visitors to Texas A&M’s Langford Architecture center this fall got to see a photo exhibit displaying new ways of seeing archaeological sites, monuments and sculpture in the Wright Gallery. “The Creative Photograph in Archaeology: From the Traveling Photographers of the 19th Century to the Creative Photography of the 20th Century” portrayed the balance between documentation and creative vision through 76 black and white prints of Greek antiquities from the beginning of the semester through Oct. 8. The exhibition was divided into five units spanning 150 years, from the first photographic attempts of the early travelers in the 19th century through the sophisticated work of the late 20th to early 21st century.
Artists in Residence program to host “Pfaff creates exuberant, sprawling sculptures and installations that weave landscape, architecture, and color into a tense yet organic whole balancing intense planning with improvisational decision-making,” said Carol LaFayette, chairwoman of the Artist in Residence program and associate professor of visualization. Follow the college on Also, the Texas A&M College of Architecture sends out regular “tweets.” To follow us on Twitter, and keep up with the latest breaking news and events, subscribe at: http://twitter.com/ArchCollegeTAMU
Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 12 Oct. 13 Oct. 14 Sigma Lambda Chi new member meeting is scheduled 6 – 8 p.m. in Langford C111. Sigma Lambda Chi is the construction honor society that is for selected members based on their academic achievements. For more information, contact Dori Binion at doribinion@aol.com. Oct. 15 Oct. 16 – 17 Oct. 16 Oct. 19 Paul Preissner lecture: Paul Preissner, founder of Paul Preissner Architects LTD, will lecture 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 in the Preston Geren Auditorium as part of the Department of Architecture Lecture Series. As a full service architectural office Paul Preissner Architects LTD provides planning services, building design, interior design and landscape design. For more information contact Hala Gibson at 979-845-0129. Spain Study Abroad 2010 Orientation is slated 6 - 7:30 p.m., Langford C 207. For more information, contact Katy Dunn at Kdunn@archmail.tamu.edu. Oct. 20 Oct. 21 Oct. 22 Aggie SWAMP Club meets 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 22 in Langford C 307. Aggie SWAMP Club is the official filmmaking organization of Texas A&M. SWAMP stands for ScreenWriting, Acting, & Movie Production. It is a resource for Aggies interested in making movies or studying the film process. In addition to weekly meetings, there are various weekend workshops throughout each semester, weekly socials, and there’s always an independent film project going on in SWAMP in need of cast or crew. For more information, contact Carol LaFayette at 845-5691 or lurleen@viz.tamu.edu. REDA Meeting is slated 7 – 8 p.m. in Langford A 348. Real Estate Development Association, or REDA, provides opportunities for students interested in real estate development to take part in field trips, lectures and other student activities in the real estate industry. For more information, please contact Debby Bernal at 845-1019 or dbernal@tamu.edu. Oct. 26 Oct. 27 Oct. 28 Oct. 29 - 31 Oct. 29 Aggie SWAMP Club meets 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 29 in Langford C 307. Aggie SWAMP Club is the official filmmaking organization of Texas A&M. SWAMP stands for ScreenWriting, Acting, & Movie Production. It is a resource for Aggies interested in making movies or studying the film process. In addition to weekly meetings, there are various weekend workshops throughout each semester, weekly socials, and there’s always an independent film project going on in SWAMP in need of cast or crew. For more information, contact Carol LaFayette at 845-5691 or lurleen@viz.tamu.edu. REDA Meeting is slated 7 – 8 p.m. in Langford A 348. Real Estate Development Association, or REDA, provides opportunities for students interested in real estate development to take part in field trips, lectures and other student activities in the real estate industry. For more information, please contact Debby Bernal at 845-1019 or dbernal@tamu.edu. Oct. 30 Oct. 31 Nov. 2 Nov. 3 Italy Study Abroad 2010 Orientation is scheduled 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Langford C 207. For more information, contact Olga Catalena at 979.845.0544 or ocatalena@tamu.edu. Nov. 4 Nov. 5 Nov. 6 Nov. 9 Nov. 10 Nov. 11 Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Dean’s Advisory Council meets all day on Friday, Nov. 13 at the Langford Architecture Center. For more information contact Trish Pannell at t-pannell@tamu.edu. Nov. 18 – 20 Feb. 12 Feb. 20 Spirit of Place |
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For his role in the creation of Cowboys Stadium, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones received Texas A&M College of Architecture’s inaugural Spirit of Place Award, a medallion “recognizing projects that celebrate people and place,” said Jorge Vanegas, dean of the college.
The College of Architecture at Texas A&M went live 9/9/09 with the first phase of its ongoing website renovation, a project aimed at providing a more user-friendly interface combining ease of navigation with useful content that better reflects the aims and culture of the institution.
Sam Gosling, a nationally renowned researcher and author who focuses on issues related to personality and social psychology, will be the keynote speaker at the Texas A&M College of Architecture Research Symposium: Built, Natural Virtual. The 11th annual symposium will be held Oct. 19 at the Langford Architecture Center on the Texa A&M campus.
Dr. Kenneth Williamson III, associate professor and associate head in the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M, is co-principal investigator with his wife, Dr. Vickie M. Bentley-Williamson, senior lecturer in chemistry at Texas A&M, who is principal investigator, in a National Science Foundation-funded study to determine how individual differences among students might influence the effectiveness of visualizations for learning perceptually difficult concepts.
Urban planning professor Sam Brody, the new holder of the George P. Mitchell ‘40 Chair in Sustainable Coasts at Texas A&M University at Galveston and a faculty fellow with Texas A&M’s Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, is facilitating the center’s expansion to the university’s Galveston campus, putting the center at the doorstep of one of its major research areas.
A team of architecture professors at Texas A&M is aiming to improve buildings’ design and energy efficiency by providing standards for data exchange among disparate building design software systems through research from a national engineering society’s 15-month, $175,000 grant.
A professor of urban planning at Texas A&M is partnering with civil engineering and public service scholars to research the development of emergency procedures for water utility operators.
“Texas Urban Triangle: Framework for Future Growth,” a 140-page report researched by Texas A&M urban planning students, was named Best Student Project by the Central Texas section of the American Planning Association during a July 17 banquet in Bastrop.
Participants at the The National Academies’ Sept. 23 sustainability forum heard Walter Gillis Peacock, a Texas A&M urban planning professor, lecture on the resiliency and vulnerability of Texas coastal communities and make a pitch for the creation of RAVON, a proposed Resiliency and Vulnerability Observatory Network.
The research interest of an architecture Ph.D. student has taken her literally to the end of the earth; her experiences there can be followed online on her blog, “
Construction of a community center and cafeteria, designed by second-year environmental design students at Texas A&M, will begin soon at a Cambodian college that aims to lift people out of subsistence living through education.
The beginning of the long semester brought Texas A&M architecture students together in a department-wide daylong charrette to focus on a single design problem.
Students in a time-based media class at Texas A&M are spending part of their semester meeting as avatars in a virtual representation of Aggieland and other past and future worlds, creating videos relating their online experiences.
Students in Texas A&M’s Architecture-for-Health design studio have teamed with Health For All, a nonprofit health clinic in Bryan, to research and design a sustainable medical facility that will expand health care services for low income, uninsured individuals in the Brazos Valley.
After listening to suggestions from residents and performing a site inventory and analysis, a group of Texas A&M landscape architecture graduate students presented a series of design concepts aimed at improving Madisonville’s downtown square and its environs July 30.
Geoffrey John Booth, program coordinator of the Master of Science in Land Development program at Texas A&M, has been designated the Nicole and Kevin Youngblood Professor in Residential Land Development.
Texas A&M undergraduate construction science students dazzled construction industry executives with an Aug. 5 presentation of their plans for building a LEED certified $20 million Johnson Space Center office building.
Two Texas A&M graduate students recently earned highly sought scholarships to attend an October facility management conference in Florida.
Nancy Klein, assistant professor of architecture at Texas A&M, has been named a 2009-10 Montague-Center for Teaching Excellence scholar.
Rare is the college class that requires students to sign non-disclosure agreements before they can attend its lectures, but that’s the case for anyone enrolling in the Texas A&M University “futures” course taught by Prof. Rodney Hill.
With help from the Swiss government, a Texas A&M architecture Ph.D student conducted research in Europe last summer, further developing new digital technologies for sustainable building environments.
A Baltimore publication asked Pliny Fisk, associate professor of architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning, to detail his current and past sustainable building efforts.
Catch up with your old classmates in the archone. newsletter’s Class Acts section, a regularly updated list of recent activities reported by former students of the Texas A&M College of Architecture. Class Acts highlights professional achievements, as well as marriages, births, retirements and just about anything College of Architecture graduates care to tell their old friends.
He’s the “Architect to the Stars,” designing residences for some of Hollywood’s biggest names, but the home of the Aggie architect was itself the subject of a recent online article and photo spread.
An Aggie is overseeing the construction of a building that is fundamentally changing Austin’s skyline.
San Angelo’s next mayor might be a graduate from the College of Architecture.
A Texas A&M College of Architecture former student’s home in North Carolina, which also serves as a gallery for her art collection and a studio to host artists in residence, was featured in the July 8 issue of the New York Times.
Edward Huckaby, FAIA, an Outstanding Alumnus of Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, has been named to the board of directors of Houston-based FKP Architects. He earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree in 1973.
A Boston architect who earned a Master of Architecture degree from Texas A&M in 2002 presented a paper addressing India’s urban problems at a sociology conference this summer in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“The Cliffhanger,” a former student’s concept of a hotel that can be strapped to any dramatic, vertical site, was a finalist in a 2009 worldwide competition for innovative hospitality ideas.
A Texas A&M former student and principal with Brown Reynolds Watford Architects will be honored by the Texas Society of Architects for his efforts to improve the public schools in Dallas.
“So,” asked Process writer Michelle Jacoby, “what do two young guys, fresh out of college and starting their careers, do when boredom begins to set in? Two words: Road trip.”
Malcolm Quantrill, distinguished professor emeritus at Texas A&M’s College of Architecture, was remembered for his love of family, architecture and creativity at a funeral Mass Sept. 29 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in College Station.
Bobby Briggs, a freshman environmental design major who died Sept. 20 in his Aston Hall dorm room, was laid to rest Sept. 29 in his hometown of Maple Valley, Wash.
A Bachelor of Environmental Design student who succumbed to heart failure July 26 was among the honorees Sept. 1 during one of Texas A&M’s most hallowed traditions.
There will be two decades of memories to share at a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Texas A&M’s Santa Chiara Study Center hosted by the College of Architecture Oct. 30 and 31.
The Fall 2009 Architecture-for-Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” features lecturers from the allied healthcare professions discussing relevant issues related to the general public, the healthcare profession, sustainability and healthcare facility design.
Participants at the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture’s fall conference in Chicago, “ACADIA 09: reForm(),” will learn about Building Information Modeling in a workshop led, in part, by Texas A&M architecture professor Mark Clayton.
The Artist in Residence program at the Texas A&M College of Architecture will feature world-renowned artist Judy Pfaff and show advance screenings of a PBS show about the arts during the Fall 2009 semester.
Since launching last year the 
“Senior Living Trends,” a lecture featuring Ronald B. Blitch, of Blitch/Knevel Architects in New Orleans, is set for noon, Friday, Oct. 9 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
“Health by Design,” a lecture featuring Kirk Teske, principal and chief sustainability officer with HKS in Dallas, is set for noon, Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Hunter Goodwin of Oldham Goodwin Group will be a guest lecturer for the REDA lecture series. The lecture is slated 7 – 9 p.m. in the Wright Gallery. Real Estate Development Association, or REDA, provides opportunities for students interested in real estate development to take part in field trips, lectures and other student activities in the real estate industry. For more information, please contact Michael Miller at 
“On the Ground in South Africa,” a lecture featuring Glenn Mills, professor and head of the Department of Architecture at Texas A&M University, is set for noon, Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
“Design and Health,” a lecture featuring Alan Dilani, Ph.D., general director of the International Academy for Design and Health in Stockholm, Sweden, is set for noon, Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
“Healthcare Architecture in the Great White North,” a lecture featuring Bruce Raber, vice president and healthcare practice leader, and Ray Pradinuk, principal and leader of healthcare research and innovation, both with Stantee Architecture in Vancouver, British Columbia, will follow the previously listed noon lecture, Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Italian Study Abroad Reunion: Texas A&M is celebrating 20 years of Aggies studying under the Tuscan Sun. Current and former students who studied at Texas A&M’s Italian venues, including La Poggerina and the Santa Chiara Study Center, are invited to join Paolo Barucchieri, Santa Chiara director, for a reunion on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. Interested parties are urged to hold the dates as details will be forthcoming. A reception will be held Thursday, Oct. 29 and class reunions and an evening banquet are in the works for Friday, Oct. 31. Participants can stick around for Saturday to watch the Aggies beat the hell out of Iowa State. A block of tickets will be reserved for those attending the reunion. Event details and updates will be posted on the event website: 
“Hospital Design: Lessons Learned as a Medical Student,” a lecture featuring Diana Anderson of WHR Architects in Houston, is set for noon, Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Indian music concert: Renowned Indian musician, Sanjay Subramaniam, a master of the Carnatic style of Indian music, will perform 5 - 9 p.m. in the Preston Geren Auditorium. Indian musicians S. Varadarajan and Neyveli B. Venkatesh will accompany Subramaniam. The concert is sponsored by the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPICMCAY). Indian Carnatic music is a musical style commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. In contrast to Hindustani music, the main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in gāyaki (singing) style. Admission is free! 
Alex Pincus lecture: Alex Pincus, a principal at Bureau V and a partner at an art production agency in Los Angeles called XV, will lecture at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 in the Preston Geren Auditorium as part of the Department of Architecture Lecture Series. Pincus, an architect and educator, has taught architecture at Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently a visiting professor in the Design Energy Inititive at the University of Kentucky School of Architecture. Prior to founding Bureau V, Pincus worked at Eisenman Architects, Archi-Tectonics and most recently, Asymptote Architecture. As a senior designer for Asymptote, he led the design of the international competition winning Budapest Bank Towers in Hungary, the Strata Tower in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and the Volkswagen Knowledge Gate in Wolfsberg, Germany. For more information contact Hala Gibson at 979-845-0129.
“Sustained Health,” a lecture featuring Don Taylor, president of Team Integrated Engineering, Inc. in San Antonio, is set for noon, Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
“Sustainable Design for Healthy Hospital Environments and Positive Human Outcomes,” a lecture featuring Debra Harris, president and CEO of RAD Consultants in Austin, is set for noon, Friday, Nov. 13 at the 4th floor, Architecture-for-Health studio in Langford A. The lecture is part of the Fall 2009 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, “Toward a Sustainable and Healthy Future in the Context of Health Reform,” sponsored by the Center for Health Systems & Design, the CHSD Health Industry Advisory Council, Student Health Environments Association, Global University Programs in Healthcare Architecture, the Department of Architecture, the Department of Architecture and the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
