Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
The Texas A&M Foundation's blog has entries about the university's Architecture-for-Health studio and the story behind the establishment of a design chair held by George Mann, the professor who's led the studio since 1967.
Joseph Sprague '70, senior vice president and director of health facilities for HKS Inc., and Ronald Skaggs '65, chairman emeritus of HKS, both of whom were Mann's students at Texas A&M, established the Skaggs-Sprague Endowed Chair in Health Facilities Design.
"It was only natural to honor professor Mann through an endowed professorship, since he had the greatest early influence on my career development, an influence that continues today," Skaggs told foundation blogger Martin.
Sprague '70, told Gray that because of Mann's studio, Texas A&M has the most recognized health care architecture program in the world.
"Architecture professor George Mann literally invests in his students, using funds from his endowed chair to do so," wrote Martin in a separate blog entry about the studio. "Mann’s studio class exposes today’s Aggies to healthcare architecture and the expectations of professional architects."
During his tenure at Texas A&M, she wrote, Mann and his students have participated in more than 700 projects.
One project generated “a fresh perspective and creative thinking" about expanding Health For All, a free clinic in Bryan, said executive director Derek Dictson. Student ideas, wrote Martin, included placing the clinic in a Walmart, incorporating sustainable design concepts, and creating rooftop gardens for patients and staff to enjoy.
To see Martin's blog about the studio, visit blogs.texags.com.
Martin's blog about the Skaggs-Sprague chair is at giving.tamu.edu.
- Posted: Jan. 21, 2010 -
