Monday May 7 2012

AYAC needs more members!

The A-school’s Young Alumni Council (AYAC) is looking to recruit several new members to the inaugural 14-person council.  The mission of the AYAC is to facilitate and strengthen the connection between the UVa School of Architecture of and its young alumni. If you graduated from the A-school’s undergraduate or graduate programs within the last 10 years and would like to get more involved  - send in an application!

The objectives of the AYAC are to:

  • Develop a business, social, and academic network for the School of Architecture young alumni community.
  • Aid young alumni in the transition from UVa to the workplace or graduate school.
  • Encourage young alumni to engage the School of Architecture through increased participation in financial support, as well as through visits, volunteering, student interactions, and networking.
  • Promote stronger communication between the School of Architecture and its young alumni.

AYAC members serve a two-year term (with option to renew) and are encouraged to attend an annual meeting in the Fall in Charlottesville.  Read more about the AYAC’s activities this year in their first newsletter. If you would like more information or an AYAC application, contact Kim Wong, kimwong@virginia.edu.  The deadline to apply for the Fall 2012 incoming class is JUNE 1st.

Tuesday May 1 2012

Congratulations! 20x30x40 Spring Challenge surpasses goal!

In the month of April, A-school friends, parents and alumni came together and blew our 20x30x40 Spring Challenge out of the water! What started out as a $20,000 matching challenge, quickly grew to $30,000 thanks to two of our most generous donors. By the end of the challenge, we surpassed even that, raising a total of $48,293! We had incredible showing from our friends and alumni, with 192 households making a Challenge gift in the 30-days of April.

Thank you to everyone for helping to surpass our $30K match goal. All pledges must be fulfilled by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2012, to be matched. If you have yet to make a gift to the A-school Annual Fund, it is not too late! Thank You!

Thursday Apr 26 2012


3 Cheers – William P. Lecky, FAIA (BSArch ’60)

McLean, Virginia architect and School of Architecture alumnus William P. Lecky, FAIA (BSArch ’60) has authored a new book to be published next month.  The book, titled “Designing for Remembrance, An Architectural Memoir,” deals with the personal, political, financial and artistic challenges involved in designing a national memorial.

As the Architect-of-Record for important memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial in Wahsington, D.C., Lecky offers unique insight into the process of designing a memorial.  In addition to the new book, Lecky will also lead tours of his Washington, D.C. memorials as part of the upcoming AIA National Convention in May.

Look for Lecky’s new book next month!

Cheers!

Sunday Apr 15 2012


recap: DC AYAC event at Studio27

Thank you to all the young alumni who came out to the DC A-school Young Alumni Council (AYAC) reception on April 5, 2012 at Studio 27 in Washington DC. The event featured three 20×20 presentations (20 slides, 20 seconds each) by local young alumni on the research theme “Design and Community Engagement”.

Ryan Moody (M. Arch + M.L.A. 2007); Moody Landscape Architecture
Project: “Abandoned cars to Easter bunnies” – the story of the Green SEED community garden

Kate Lafsky (BSArch 2007); Hartman-Cox Architects
Project: CANstruction, an annual design competition in which architects and engineers construct buildings and objects out of cans, and the cans are then donated to the local food bank to help those in need.

Renee Pean (MArch 2010 + MUEP 2011); Barnes Vanze Architects
Project: Architecture in Schools Program in Washington DC

About 40 young alumni and prospective graduate students attended the event.  Many thanks to the DC Area AYAC members, the Office of Graduate Admissions,  the UVa School of Architecture Foundation, as well as everyone at Studio 27, especially Ben Hoelscher BS ’09, Todd Ray BSArch ’94, and Katie Floersheimer BSArch ‘07, for hosting us!

Tuesday Apr 10 2012



DC Alum – Bill Hellmuth (BSArch ’75) to give keynote talk at Catholic University

Washington DC alumnus and President of HOK, Bill Hellmuth (BSArch ’75) will be giving the keynote address at the TRANSelement symposium to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, April 11th at 5:30PM at Crough Center for Architectural Studies at Catholic University of America in D.C.

For more information and to register to attend go to the TRANSelement website: http://www.transelement2.com/

Tuesday Apr 10 2012

The Inaugural James A.D. Cox Lecture

Dr. Vikramaditya Prakash delivered the Inaugural James A.D. Cox Lecture on March 20, 2012 at the School of Architecture.  The Cox Distinguished Lectureship is intended to attract scholars and professionals from outside the United States to promote a more diverse learning environment at the School.  This Lectureship is named after Professor Emeritus, James A.D. Cox, a former professor of Architectural History who came to the School of Architecture from England.  Professor Cox initially came to the School from 1961-1962 as a Visiting Professor before returning in 1967 until his retirement in 1990.

The lecturer, Dr. Prakash, is known for his research on urbanism in globalizing India and his role as the director of the Chandigarh Urban Lab.  His lecture gave insight into the group’s work in Chandigarh and their collaboration with local architects, landscape architects, urban planners and government officials as the city develops.

You can watch Dr. Prakash’s lecture here.

Many thanks to Professor Cox’s friends and classmates that have given generously to make this first Cox Lecture possible!  Funding is still ongoing.  If you would like to learn more about making a gift to the Cox Fund, please contact Kim Wong at 434.982.2761 or kimwong@virginia.edu.

Dr. Prakash and Phoebe Crisman