Back to school means back into the lecture hall to hear from practitioners and scholars. Architecture schools across the U.S. have shared their events calendars for the fall 2024 semester, programming which is rounded up here. Mark your calendars for lectures, book signings, exhibitions, and symposiums on a range of topics from architecture and landscape to climate and social justice, and more.
University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design
At University of Pennsylvania this fall, the schedule is stacked. Hear from photographer Virginia Hanusik about her poignant works at the intersection of landscape design and the built environment. Louis Kahn lovers will be excited to know that a talk is scheduled about the recently published Louis I. Kahn: The Last Notebook. Visitors can also learn about the practice and work of Lina Ghotmeh from Ghotmeh herself.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture
Carol Ross Barney, Chicago architecture and urbanism heavyweight and AIA Gold Medal 2023 winner, is among the headliners at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s School of Architecture this fall. Barney, an alumnus, will give a talk and also sign books.
Columbia GSAPP
At Columbia, over the next eight months, a series of talks that are part of the school’s Actioning Summits will convene activists, architects, artists, designers, developers, ethnographers, historians, planners, policymakers, politicians, thinkers, and community organizers about how to action a reset, via the built environment, of a world that is seemingly broken. Other speakers partaking in talks this fall include SCAPE founder Kate Orff and architect Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Rice University School of Architecture
Sean Canty, Farshid Moussavi, and Sebastian Adámo are among the architects and designers speaking about their practice and work at Rice University this fall semester.
University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture
To coincide with its exhibition, The Black Home as Public Art, University of Texas at Austin will also host a symposium. The program takes a look at the “creative notions of the Black home in the United States during the postwar period.” Other speakers this fall at the school include architecture-trained visual artist Olalekan Jeyifous and Rice University professor Jesús Vassallo.
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning
A range of individuals from various backgrounds headline the fall semester events calendar at University of Michigan this fall. Regular AN contributor Peggy Deamer will discuss the book she helped bring to life, The Organizer’s Guide to Architecture Education. Also tune in for a talk from Bjarke Ingels and Forensic Architecture’s Eyal Weizman.
Harvard Graduate School of Design
Eric Höweler, a professor at GSD, will host a talk this fall. Later in the semester, landscape architect Signe Nielson will give a lecture about the design and impact of Little Island. Film buffs may be excited to attend a screening of Wim Wenders’s Perfect Days, which follows the life of a Tokyo bathroom cleaner.
Yale School of Architecture
This fall at Yale, Josephine Minutillo of Architectural Record will give a talk titled “Media Matters.” Other speakers this fall include Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects.
Cooper Union
A few highlights from Cooper Union’s academic lecture calendar this fall include architects Dorte Mandrup and Farshid Moussavi. Cooper alumnus Shigeru Ban will give attendees a look back at his career spanning over 30 years. He will highlight his works and detail his disaster relief efforts.
University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design
AN contributor Matt Shaw is slated to speak at the University of Arkansas this fall. Shaw is joined by a robust lineup of architects and designers who will speak about their approach to practice and how their projects contribute to the built environment, these speakers include local architect Marlon Blackwell, Sara Zewde, and Julie Bargmann.
Syracuse University School of Architecture
Lawrence Scarpa of Brooks + Scarpa will give a talk about the power of beauty. Other speakers will include Katherine Hogan Vincent Petrarca of Katherine Hogan Architects as well as artist and architect James Wines.
Pratt School of Architecture
Pratt School of Architecture has a number of events planned to coincide with climate week in New York City. Topics include a conversation about making energy transitions in the city a just and equitable process and environmental projects in North Brooklyn. Other lecture highlights include a talk and exhibition about architect Debora Reiser, who passed away last fall.
