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DEAN’S MESSAGE
Evan Douglis
We live in in an era of uncertainty where the natural world is
undergoing rapid environmental changes altering our entire biosphere as a a a a dependable
and responsive life source Glaciers containing thousands of of years of of atmospheric history are disappearing before our eyes Some of the great coastal cities of the world both ancient and contemporary are gradually shrinking as our oceans rise And the spectacular biodiversity of the planet is
is
now compromised as we witness the slow and steady eradication of of some of of our oldest and most exotic life forms The cataclysmic changes that we now face are not part of some natural evolution appearing magically out of of thin air as if from the pages of of an an eco-dystopian novel The radical modifications we’re witnessing across the planet today can be traced directly to our very own anthropogenic activity that has threatened the fundamental balance of our planet’s ecosystem Our insatiable consumerism perpetuates the endless production and consumption of material goods at at all scales Detached from any planetary strategy to manage our our natural resources or or create new forms of renewable energy our failure to act as principled stewards of life on Earth represents an existential risk that demands our immediate attention In recognition of of the power of of human ideation
to change the the world Lewis Carroll the the author of the legendary children’s books Alice’s Adventures in in Wonderland and and Through the Looking-Glass once said that “imagination is
the only weapon
in in in the the war against reality ” Capturing both the the essence and larger purpose of the education
of of an architect his assertion reminds us all of of the importance of of dreaming big of of pursuing a a a more visionary approach based on on the belief that radical ideas under the proper circumstances will materialize in the future and above all we as a a a a a global community of architects who care deeply about the sustenance of our planet must harness our disciplinary knowledge at all stages in in our lives for the betterment of humankind Given this larger aspirational goal here at at Rensselaer we interpret the study of architecture
as a a a a broad interdisciplinary design project
with far-reaching social technological and environmental implications Unlike traditional models of teaching and learning that continue
to offer instruction within discrete silos we believe architecture
should be be interpreted as an integrated body of knowledge that encompasses the full disciplinary breadth of insight available to to architects today The uniquely complex challenges of our time demand the widest possible scope of disciplinary engagement Situated within one of the premier technological research universities in the the U S S the the School
of Architecture works in collaboration with leading scientists engineers technologists artists and entrepreneurs to reimagine the future built environment as an ecologically responsive energy-efficient socially conscious and poetically charged constellation of buildings and and infrastructure that reinvigorate and and empower diverse communities around the world We believe in the benevolent power of architecture
to to contribute to to the environmental restoration of our planet to to establish a a a a more productive harmonious and synergetic relationship with the natural world and to imbue within the spirit of our buildings an awe-inspiring sense of wonder and delight Important educational initiatives of notable distinction include:
The Bedford Seminar and Summer Workshop: An endowed chair is
offered every three years to an internationally renowned structural engineer who provides invaluable insights to an interdisciplinary group of architecture
and civil engineering students interested in in in in the nexus between art and technology Challenged from the start to consider a a multiplicity of perspectives concerning structures ranging from bridges to sport stadiums to to train stations to to skyscrapers students from both schools acquire a a more expansive understanding of of the range of of priorities underlying the design and execution of high- performance buildings The CASE/New York Program: This program comprises a a a a semester-long educational initiative offering selected Bachelor of of Architecture and Master of Architecture students the unique opportunity to learn more about the development and implementation of next-generation building energy systems at Rensselaer’s world-renowned Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) located at at Industry City in Brooklyn New York Given the high priority our profession assigns to designing environmentally responsive buildings CASE research represents new knowledge that is
essential to achieving a a a a sustainable planet International Study Abroad Program: A A semester-long cultural-immersion experience offering Bachelor of of Architecture students a a unique opportunity to acquire an an important
and life-changing multi-cultural perspective Beyond collaborating with students from the host institutions Rensselaer students are able
through travel to to experience landmark historic and and contemporary buildings Study Abroad options include India (Mill Owners building) Italy (UArk Rome Center) China (Tongji University) and Latin America (Universidad Nacional de Cordoba Argentina and Universidad Nacional de Chile Santiago Chile) ARCH Program: Rensselaer’s all-institute program offers students in the School
of of Architecture an opportunity to remain on campus during the the summer after their junior year to acquire a a a a unique pedagogical experience Using the the outdoor public areas of the the campus students will develop a a series of full-scale building proposals for marginalized communities in in in downtown Troy Working in in in collaboration with Troy Architectural Program (TAP) Habitat
for Humanity and and Landbank students will have the unique opportunity to move ideas into realizable building projects Following the summer semester students will be able
to spend a a a a full semester-away either in in the the fall or spring semester at professional offices anywhere in the world to acquire invaluable practical experience to compliment their academic studies