The University’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts remains one of the most prestigious programs in the county in terms of sustainable design education, according to the latest rankings from architecture journal DesignIntelligence.
 
“America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2011 Edition,” the 12th annual survey of its kind, placed both the University’s department of architecture and its interior design program in the top tier of more than 150 programs nationwide in regards to the quality and rigor of sustainability education. Overall, the accredited undergraduate architecture program on campus was ranked 14th, defending its place in the top 10 percent of similar accredited programs nationwide. According to the National Architectural Accrediting Board, there are some 154 accredited architecture programs in the U.S.
In terms of interior architecture, the University’s specialized undergraduate and graduate programs in the field secured a sixth-place ranking.
The special report also gave an illustrious nod to Frances Bronet, dean of the University’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts, as one of the year’s most admired and prodigious architectural educators. Of the survey’s 25 top-ranked architecture professors and educators, Bronet joined the company of faculty from other architecture and design powerhouses like Louisiana State University and Texas A&M University. The 2011 selections were based on extensive input from hundreds of design professionals, academic department heads and students from architecture, interior design, industrial design and landscape architecture programs across the county.
“Architecture and interior architecture have distinguished themselves again as strong and critical programs where exceptional students and faculty are creatively defining the future of the built environment,” Bronet said in a University Media Relations press release. “AAA’s sustainability leadership comes from decades of innovation, integrated and excellent design, rigorous work and many partnerships and collaborations among students, faculty, and internal and external constituents.”
Bronet boasts a background in architecture and engineering and has been AAA dean since 2005, placing a special emphasis on cross-disciplinary education. She is also the former president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and has used her role to branch out to Oregon’s design industry, as well as to various governmental and educational organizations.
Head of the architecture department, Christine Theodoropoulos, said the school’s distinction is not surprising, considering how vigorously it pushes sustainable building design.
“Sustainable design and green building are deeply integrated into our programs,” Theodoropoulos said. “Faculty with national and international distinction in sustainable design research also teach design studios. There is a shared commitment among students and faculty that every project must be sustainable, in theory and in practice.”
Despite AAA’s prestigious placement, University junior and architecture major Stephanie Johnson feels DesignIntelligence’s rankings actually lowball the school’s status and said the University’s architectural programs could give any comparable school in the country a run for its money in the realm of sustainable design.
“I really think that our architecture program does not get enough credit from the school,” Johnson said. “Everyone knows (AAA is) number one in the country for sustainable design by architectural record.”
DesignIntelligence is published monthly by the Design Futures Council, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank instilled with the task of exploring trends, changes and innovations in the architecture, engineering and construction industries.
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