University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation

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Welcome to the Architecture Program at the University of Maryland

Why select our program over the more than 100 accredited architecture programs in North America? As the Director of the Architecture Program, I believe it is because we have a clearly defined mission - as well as a commitment to develop an architecture and urbanism for a sustainable future.

While there are many excellent schools of architecture in North America, few compare with our proven achievements, dedicated faculty, staff and students - as well as our numerous resources and advantages just miles away from the nation's capital.

Our program is committed to developing future leaders with a strong foundation in history, theory, and the practical integration of technology and design.

Just to give you some insight into our program, I'd like to share with you some recent events that have been defining moments for the Program, School, and University.

The months of September and October 2007 have been extremely exciting for the Architecture Program at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. For many of us the activities and successes that were packed into this time frame have equaled or surpassed entire academic years! If these two months are any indicator, the 2007-08 academic year will be an unprecedented journey for the Architecture Program.

In late September the Architecture Program teamed up with faculty and student colleagues in Planning, Historic Preservation, and Real Estate Development to participate in a project called Greener Greenbelt. The project was the brainchild of Maryland alumni Carl Elefante, AIA, LEED and Melanie Hennigan, AIA-Potomac Valley President along with Urban Studies and Planning Program Director Jim Cohen. Greener Greenbelt was the AIA-Potomac Valley contribution to the American Institute of Architects 150th birthday celebration program, Blueprint for America. Greener Greenbelt focused on the historic New Deal era town of Greenbelt, Maryland. Greenbelt was designed and built in the 1930s as a self-contained new town to house modest-income Federal employees. Team members focused on the themes of livability, sustainability, affordability, and historic preservation to ensure that Greenbelt will remain a viable community well into the future.

Following closely on the heels of Greener Greenbelt, two design projects from the Comprehensive Studio authored by Maryland students Brian Essig and Florence Ho were recognized for excellence in design by AIA Maryland at its annual awards banquet. Just days later, we learned that students in the graduate-level Advanced Technology course, taught by Professors Deborah Oakley and Carl Bovill, took the top three places in Storm Housing 2007, an international competition sponsored by the Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) and Portland Cement Association (PCA). The competition, held in September, challenged students to creatively solve the problem of replacing large volumes of single-family housing for lower-income people in regions hardest hit by recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile back in the Comprehensive Studio, students are collaborating with members of the New York office of Grimshaw Architects to develop their studio projects. This year marks the first time that a firm was appointed to serve in the role of Kea Distinguished Professor. The Grimshaw office approach to integration of technology and design parallels the ideals of the Comprehensive Studio. Members of the Grimshaw firm have traveled to College Park and students have made the trip to New York City to gain deeper insights into comprehensive design. The Grimshaw team will deliver a lecture as part of the School's Fall 2007 Lecture Series and present an exhibition in the Kibel Gallery.

As if all of that wasn't enough excitement, after two years in the making, University of Maryland students led by Associate Professor Amy Gardner, AIA competed in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2007. This extraordinary event, held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, challenged teams from 20 universities to design, build, and operate a fully functioning off-the-grid solar house. The project was monumental in its scope and aspirations.

LEAFHouse, the University of Maryland's entry, was a product of intense collaboration between students in the Architecture Program and their counterparts in the Clark School of Engineering, and it paid off! LEAFHouse took second place in the overall competition, narrowly edged out of first place by Technische Universität Darmstadt. With bragging rights to "top solar house in America," the LEAFHouse team also garnered the People's Choice Award (determined by the thousands of visitors who viewed the houses on the Mall), the ASHRAE award for technological innovation, and the National Association of Home Builders award for "curb appeal." Just to put the icing on the cake, the AIA-Potomac Valley presented LEAFHouse with a special AIA Honors Award at its 2007 annual awards banquet.

Our participation in the Solar Decathlon has benefited us in many ways. Just as the Apollo program challenged NASA to develop new technologies during the 1960s, LEAF House propelled us to confront the challenges of designing and building a sustainable future. When we began the project we were enthusiastic about sustainability and solar energy, but our knowledge paled in contrast to what we know and are able to do today. I invite you to join us in our journey toward a sustainable future.

Please visit our campus to learn more about our programs and meet faculty and current students. If you have questions, please contact us!

Madlen Simon, AIA
Associate Professor
Interim Director, Architecture Program

Information:
Architecture Graduate Program Factsheet (PDF)
301.405.8000
arcinfo@umd.edu

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