Former Student Open House

Former Student Open House Celebrates
100 Years of Aggie Architecture
   


Special exhibits, an art auction, classes taught by longtime professors, a necktie parade and a Texas-style barbecue, are all part of the College of Architecture’s April 2 Former Student Open House — a very special event kicking off a yearlong Centennial Celebration honoring 100 years of architectural education at Texas A&M University.

“On Sept. 1, 1905, Texas’ first formal architectural education program was established at what was then the Agricultural Mechanical College of Texas,” said Tom Regan, dean of the College of Architecture. “In the ensuing century, Aggie architects, landscape architects, urban planners, land developers, constructors and visual designers have left an indelible mark on the world’s built and virtual environments. The April 2 Former Student Open House,” he continued, “will be the first for many public Centennial Celebration events scheduled throughout the year to honor the myriad achievements of the College of Architecture’s former students and faculty.”

The open house begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 2 at the Langford Architecture Center on the Texas A&M campus. A $15 registration fee covers all open house events and a barbecue lunch. Registration forms are available online at:
< http://archone.tamu.edu/college/centennial/ >.

“The open house will give former students an opportunity to get reacquainted with their classmates and professors, tour the college, and learn about the many marvelous developments that have ensued since their graduation,” Regan said. “As a special treat, many of the college’s longtime professors have agreed to lead short classes and studios especially tailored for former students.”

The open house includes a special presentation by the Department of Architecture’s Visualization Laboratory and exhibits of student work including an interactive digital labyrinth, architectural documentations by the Historic Resources Imaging Laboratory, and a photo and model exhibit featuring the Cambodian Land Mine Museum project in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Many former students will likely recall the significance of the necktie, which at one time in the college’s history was required dress for students making final presentations of their studio work. To commemorate this link to the past, the college has distributed 100 white neckties to former students who have transformed the ties into unique design statements. A tie parade featuring the fanciful and sometimes humorous results of this project will highlight the open house event.

Additionally, more than 20 works of art donated by College of Architecture faculty and students and nationally recognized artists and architects will be auctioned in live and silent auctions during the open house. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the student architecture lecture series and the Brazos Valley Arts Center.

Coinciding with the open house is the biennial College of Architecture faculty art exhibit at J. Wayne Stark Galleries in Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center.

“We have planned the Former Student Open House to be fun and informative, and to kindle a sustained interest in the college’s yearlong Centennial Celebration,” said Regan. “In the coming year, as we pay tribute to those who’ve made us one of the preeminent design, planning and construction schools in the world, we will also look to the future, examining the role Aggies are yet to play in developing a sustainable, livable and aesthetically pleasing tomorrow.”

— The End —

March 30, 2005

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