school of planning and architecture thesis

80+ years of Shaping the future

Come shape buildings to shape change

Relearn to repurpose resource

Enrich the Everyday by Innovation

Sublimate individuality to act for the collective good

Collaborations

Innovations.

• UG Date-sheet for examination May, 2024
• Important Notice for Candidates who could not attend the Interview for PG Admission 2024-25 from 15th April, 2024 to 19th April, 2024
• PG FOURTH SEMESTER DATESHEET EXAMINTION MAY 2024
• PG SECOND SEMESTER DATESHEET EXAMINTION MAY, 2024
• General Queries PG Admissions 2024-25
• Extension Of Last Date Of Receipt of Applications For PG Courses
• Seat Matrix For The Year 2024-25
• DETAILS OF ADMISSION FOR THE SESSION – 2024-25
• SPA New Delhi Prospectus 2024-25

About SPA New Delhi

The School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (SPA New Delhi) is a Institution of National Importance imparting education in planning, architecture, and design. SPA New Delhi provides training at various levels, in different aspects of human habitat and environment. The School offers highly sought after academic programmes in specialised fields at a Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral level. The School, in striving for excellence has always been in the lead in extending education and research to new frontiers of knowledge. Human habitat and environment being the basic concern of the School, the spectrum of academic programmes is being continuously extended by providing programmes in new fields and emerging areas.

• 2 Under-graduate Programmes
• 11 Post-graduate Programmes
• 30 Acres campus
• 105 Full-time Faculty
• 200+ Visiting Faculty
• 450+ Hostel Seats
• 1100+ Students and Scholars

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Documentation and publications unit.

The School of Planning Architecture Library maintains well-stocked libraries in both Planning and Architecture campuses. Together these libraries are arguably one of the richest storehouses of books/documents in the fields ofplanning and architecture in the entire Asian region. The library has been acting as a crucial resource center to meet the information needs of its users and is equipped with computer and electronic facilities to support teaching, learning and research activities of the School.Library has subscription to 81 print and e-journals and databases such as JSTOR with access to more than 2065 archived e-journals and India stat, the most comprehensive e-resource for accessing the secondary level socio economic statistical information about India and its 6 geographical regions, 31 states and 19 sectors . The other e-resources such as World e-Book Library, South Asia Archive and other research reference of the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), V-IDEO are also available online. For convenience of the users, off-campus remote access facility has been provided to access electronic resources from anywhere at anytime. Library Online Public Access Catalogues (OPAC) facility is available for browsing and searching the databases of books, thesis/dissertation reports, new additions and check-out by the users. The Web-OPAC is available on intranet and can be searched from anywhere within the School campus.

The members of the library has been provided single bar-coded card for borrowing books from the library. The Library is member of the Developing Library Network (DELNET). This has given the facility of access to union catalogue of 6839 member libraries and other online resources. It has also strengthened the Inter-Library Loan (ILL), Document Delivery Service (DDS) and resource sharing activities in meeting the requirement of users related to books, articles etc. Moreover, to update the members, Library brings out a monthly list of new addition, contents of current periodicals and relevant information from the newspaper dailies and is being made available electronically to the members. Photocopying services are provided to users of reference materials, articles, reports etc. The library is being headed by Mr. Narendra Singh Dhami, Library and Information Officer. Prof. Dr. Ranjana Mital is the Chairperson of the Library Advisory Committee.

Computer Center

CASS plays an important role in Imparting IT services in academics and administrative work of the School functioning since 1986. It has been developed as the main State of Art CAD/ BIM and GIS Centre and communication Centre of the School. It is equipped with servers, workstations, scanner, printers etc. In addition, a number of tasks are performed by the Centre. Some of the important tasks include:

• Facilitate technical support and assistance in conducting classes
• Conduct training programmes in software application for faculty, students and staff.
• Providing internet facility to all departments of Planning and Architecture Blocks and Girls hostel and Maharani Bagh campus including Girls and Boys hostel.
• Maintaining School Website
• Employee Attendance Management
• Mail Management for faculty, staff and Employees and Staff.
• Providing technical and maintenance support to all the Departments of Studies/Centres/ units in their day
• to day functioning of computer related activities.
• Server Management
• Ensuring virus free environment in the School.
• Providing technical support in admission to the UG/PG programmes.
• Providing census related data to students for research.
• Managing Social media account of the School.

The GIS Lab was established in July 1999 to provide facilities for conducting GIS classes for students belonging to different Department of Studies of the School. It conducts training programme from time to time for students and faculty members on

• Arc GIS Desktop, Arc View 10.0 and Arc Info 10.0 Universal Lab Kits with extensions (spatial analyst, network analyst, 3D analyst).
• ERDAS Imagine 2011 and Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS) 2011
• Auto Desk 2019 Master Suite includes Raster Design, Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, Auto CAD Inventor Professional Suite, 3DS Max, Design, Maya.
• CFP-Anti-plagiarism software in addition, the Centre has high end hardware equipment’s. Head-CASS is in charge of GIS Lab.

The Material Workshop at SPA provides a range of training and maintenance services to the SPA students. The students are trained in basic carpentry and metal work and have access to workshop facilities for making architectural models.

The workshop is fully equipped for all categories of carpentry, machine tooling and so on. Major responsibility for routine repairs and maintenance of various campus buildings also rests with the workshop. The Head of the Department of Industrial Design looks after the Workshop.

The Sports Cell of the school organises the annual sports meet ’ATHLOS’ for the students and the annual sports meet of the staff members of the school. The Sports Cell coordinates participation of student’s teams in various, national and inter-SPA sports meet.

The Sports Cell has been organising International Yoga Day on 21st June every year. Coaching in various government run coaching schemes at different sports complexes across the Delhi NCR is facilitated by the School. The School offers sports facilities for basketball, badminton, volleyball, garden gym, table tennis and billiards. The Sports Cell has also been encouraging informal sports activities such as cycling city tours inter–class matches of improvised cricket. School aims to provide a wholesome sports opportunity that contributes significantly to the personality development of the students.

Chairman Sports Cell

Prof. Dr. Mayank Mathur

Dean (Student Affairs)

Coordinator

Dr. Shuvojit Sarkar

Assistant Professor

Department of Architecture

Student Advisors

Dr. nilanjana dasgupta sur.

Student Advisor PG

Student Advisor UG (Architecture)

Piyoosh Singh

Student Advisor UG (Planning)

The School has VERY LIMITED HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION, which is offered only to outstation students based on the availability of seats and in accordance with hostel rules framed by the School from time to time.

• Many outstation students may not get hostel accommodation and will have to make their own arrangements for stay outside the School campus.
• There are many student accommodation providers in the city of Delhi and parents/ students are encouraged to explore these and use the same.

The School has two canteens one in the Architecture Building and one in the Planning Building. Equipped with clean and hygienic kitchens the canteens serve hot and cold drinks, snacks and vegetarian meals to the students and staff of the School. Recognizing the needs of a fraternity which hails from all parts of the country, the canteens serve regional specialities as well. During summer fresh fruit and fruit juices are part of the menu to ensure healthy eating. Other than cooked food the canteens have a good stock of packed foods and drinks as well. The canteen also caters to specific events like student festivals, conferences, workshops and juries.

Stationery and Printing

The School has two commercial outlets one in the Architecture Building and one in the Planning Building which sells stationery items and also undertakes all necessary printing works for student submissions. Students of the School work 24x7. Recognizing this, there is a third outlet in the Maharani Bagh residential complex which is open during the night hours to meet student demands.

Stationery needs of students of architecture and design are niche items, often not readily available in general stationery shops. Thus, its presence in the three campuses ensures that students need are met on a day-to-day basis. First year undergraduate students are the biggest beneficiaries as the shops meets the immediate needs of students who are yet to become familiar with the city.

The print shops undertake printing of all student drawings and reports of the 12 academic departments of the School. Good quality printing including color printing is available at a cometitive price. As the shops have internet connectivity students can send their work via email and are able to collect the printed material in a timely manner.

The Audio Visual Unit provides audio and visual services like still photo shoots, video filming etc. for covering various academic activities of Departments of Studies of the school such as special lecture talks, jury examinations, digital slides preparation etc. In addition, it also provides necessary technical support service for school events such as Annual Convocation, Foundation Day, student events, workshops, seminars, conferences etc. held from time to time. It is also involved in providing support input for school publications such as the school’s annual prospectus, journals, newsletters etc. Head-CASS is in charge of A.V. Unit.

Documentation and Publications Unit looks after the publication of SPA’s quarterly journal called SPACE. The printing of various research materials are required by the departments of studies and administrative sections of the School. These requests are compiled with by the DPU. Compilation, preparation and printing arrangements leading to the publication of the School’s annual reports for submission to the Parliament, both in Hindi and English are also done by the DPU. The unit works under the supervision of a senior faculty member. The Documentation and Publication Unit is being headed by Dr. Bharti Vats.

• SPACE Journal Vol 23 No 1-2   Click Here
• SPACE Journal Vol 22 No 1-4   Click Here
• SPACE Journal Vol 21 No 3-4   Click Here
• SPACE Journal Vol 21 No 1-2   Click Here
• SPACE Journal Vol 20 No 1-2   Click Here
• SPACE Journal Vol 20 No 3-4   Click Here

Student Work

Coming soon !!

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Theses and Dissertations

View all past theses and dissertations on DSpace@MIT .

Theses and Dissertations in HTC

Thesis and Dissertations in HTC

https://architecture.mit.edu/history-theory-criticism

Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy Theses

Permanent uri for this collection.

This collection is made up of doctoral and master theses by research, which have been received in accordance with university regulations.

For more information, please visit the UCD Library Theses Information guide .

Recent Submissions

• Publication Retrofit for Purpose? A Transaction Cost Analysis of Policy Delivery Constraints in the Home-Energy Retrofit Sector ( University College Dublin. School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, 2022 ) O'Donoghue, Cillian   A considerable body of literature argues that energy efficiency upgrades through the retrofit of dwellings have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of the residential built environment. Several countries have set policy objectives targeting energy efficiency improvements across their housing stock, with European Union member states at the forefront of such commitments. However, many national contexts present a particularly challenging pathway to fulfilling such retrofit targets. Ireland represents such a case, where several constraints to delivering 500,000 deep energy retrofits in the residential sector by 2030 are evident. Furthermore, existing programmes incentivising retrofit in Ireland, as in other jurisdictions, have experienced disappointing levels of uptake thus far. For homeowners, a range of barriers are evident that may discourage their engagement with such programmes, including transaction costs. However, consideration for the links between scheme compliance criteria and specific transaction costs, as well as such costs acting as a barrier for the supply-side and contractor engagement, appear sparse. This thesis synthesises international evidence for transaction costs as barriers to retrofit uptake. It then builds on this evidence through a national case study of transaction costs in Irish home-energy retrofit programmes, including field research, that emphasises the under-researched perspective of contractors and their engagement to support ambitious retrofit targets. Perspectives on transaction costs associated with engagement in the Irish home-energy retrofit market are analysed. Results indicate that a significant constraint on the delivery of long-term retrofit targets is presented by transaction costs. In particular, the impact of these costs on market capacity for retrofit services supply appears poorly considered from a policy context. Strikingly, strong indications are provided that the costs of conducting home-energy retrofits through publicly administered schemes for contractors far outweigh those associated with alternative renovation works. From a commercial value perspective of scaled-up retrofit delivery this appears to suggest that, without targeted intervention to reduce the transaction costs associated with contractor engagement, Ireland’s policy objectives for retrofit are unlikely to be delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner.   155
• Publication Performance evaluation of buildings and their envelopes in Saudi Arabia's hot climate ( University College Dublin. School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, 2022 ) Ayad, Essam al   ; 0000-0003-4843-2358 Increases in global temperatures will be most pronounced in the mid-latitudes. TODAY, the GCC countries face harsh climatic conditions, and these conditions are getting more severe. In addition, development and building design have changed in recent decades, replicating the homogenous western design. Residential building energy consumption in the GCC countries is exceptionally high and increasing. Cooling interior spaces in severe climates requires a high energy load that is primarily generated by fossil fuels. The buildings built today will, throughout their lifetime, have a considerable impact on the environment. Retrofitting inefficient buildings to improve their performance and improving new building designs are urgently needed. This work aims to critically analyse typical residential building construction in the Gulf Region. It identifies thermal weaknesses in the construction leading to poor building performance and proposes simple corrective solutions. The analyses were conducted using numerical modelling, experimental monitoring and whole building simulation. This work also investigates inherent thermal mass and evaluates if this can provide an effective solution in current designs. In order to develop a holistic picture of residential building performance impactors, a range of envelope components are evaluated. Results show that current construction styles are substandard and fail to meet regulatory performance standards. As revealed, the most important factor that affects the building’s thermal performance is thermal bridging due to structural elements and mortar joints which is responsible for the maximum ratio of decreasing the energy performance of the building. Moreover, passive design solutions, such as thermal mass, are shown not to offer considerable savings, where cooling is intermittently active. Furthermore, this thesis provides a novel approach to measuring the impact of thermal mass on the building’s energy consumption. In addition, the Saudi Building Code lacks methods of analysing and calculating the thermal deficiencies of the building. Also, the effect of solar gain ingress through the building’s envelope is high and needs deep analysis depending on the building location. Therefore, these studies can significantly contribute to informing current and future building envelope design and construction practices. It can also act as a guide for future regulation revision across a large geographical area characterised by increasing population and development. Finally, the provided novel methodologies can be used to improve and inform future simulated estimation by researchers, architects and energy analysts.   457
• Publication Andy Devane and the Architecture of the Modern Irish Office Block, 1963-1979. The Demanding Art of Orderly Development ( University College Dublin. School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, 2022 ) Pollard, Carole   ; 0000-0001-8302-3360 In 2017, a small cohort of the architectural profession quietly marked the centenary of Andrew (Andy) Devane’s birth, an event that was eclipsed by the news that permission had been granted to demolish his seminal building, AIB Bankcentre in Ballsbridge. The coincidence of the two events polarized the realisation that his work was not duly recognised and that his legacy was under threat. This project began as a shared initiative between Robinson Keefe & Devane (RKD) and the author. It has been funded by the Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership Scheme with close collaboration between the author in the role of academic researcher, RKD as the enterprise partner and the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy (APEP) at University College Dublin as the academic partner. The raw and vast RKD archive is the foundation for the research undertaken. Other strands of investigation include the Devane family archive, oral history, extensive analysis of secondary sources and visits to Devane’s buildings. The thesis focuses on Devane’s three Dublin office buildings which were designed and built within the years 1963-1979. It closely examines the conditions for architectural practice in the period and presents a thorough architectural biography of an Irish twentieth century architect. This thesis enriches our understanding of Devane and his work, Dublin and its twentieth-century development, and the architectural culture of the time.   49
• Publication Aporia In Architectural Design ( University College Dublin. School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, 2022 ) Kostić, Aleksandar   ; 0000-0002-7596-7748 This project is concerned with the nature of knowledge in architectural design. Despite the increasing variety of approaches to design practice and design studies, the nature of design inquiry remains controversial. The primary aim of this project is to cast a new light on the nature of design inquiry by combining the concept of aporia with design inquiry. Traditionally, the term aporia denotes a perplexing state of mind and a problem at hand caused by equally plausible but mutually exclusive propositions. Thus understood, aporia is either a searching or a stopping device in an inquiry, or both. We situate aporia within the previous accounts to detect if aporia is compatible with them and if it can supplement these accounts. We analyse concrete examples of situations in architectural design when, due to an emerging contradiction, a shift in inquiry becomes necessary. In these aporetic situations, designers lose traction in their inquiry because they discover equally good reasons to think two or more things, such that these reasons stand in an apparent contradiction to each other. The project explains that, on the one hand, encountering aporia in architectural design enables and generates the inquiry by establishing the necessity for a shift in design approach. On the other hand, aporia specifies the elements in the design situation that must be changed, supplies the direction, and propels the inquiry. We demonstrate that to understand the nature of design inquiry fully, at its best, and to claim that design inquiry can lead to knowledge, it is necessary to suppose that aporia (as traditionally understood) occupies an important place in such an inquiry. The project examines the reasons for design inquiries to be aporetic and considers the consequences of this on epistemological claims in architecture.   296
• Publication Developing an adaptive thermal comfort model for passenger terminal buildings situated in hot climates ( University College Dublin. School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, 2020 ) Abalkheil, Fahad   This study evaluates the use of international thermal comfort standards currently being used in the south terminal of the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA). The airport is located in Jeddah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study was prompted by the hypothesis that the hot climate experienced in KSA, the acclimatization of those in the region, coupled with the widespread wearing of traditional clothing, justifies a unique model of thermal comfort. The south terminal of KAIA currently uses set points of 20-24 °C (ASHRAE-based comfort model). Most international thermal comfort standards are based on experiments that were conducted in moderate climates. These studies have two particular shortcomings in the context of those living in hot climates: they fail to consider that people in other climatic regions could have different thermal expectations and preferences, and many disregard the role of outdoor temperature on thermal comfort. The international standards prescribe temperature set points that are often too low for people who live in extremely hot and humid climates. Keeping the temperature at the international set point requires excessive amounts of energy and is wasteful and expensive. Public policy demands that the thermal control strategies in public buildings be evaluated to ensure that they are operating efficiently. Airports are of particular concern because they have HVAC systems that consume a disproportionate amount of energy relative to their size. This study, based on passenger surveys and energy simulation, considers the effectiveness of developing a model of thermal comfort as an alternative control strategy for the KAIA terminal and assesses its energy impact. In order to determine new temperature set points that might better serve the needs of the passengers and maximize energy efficiency in KAIA, this study: a) Conducted detailed surveys of passengers in the airport terminal; b) Obtained measurements of both physical and personal variables; c) Recorded behavior patterns of passengers; d) Collected all relevant data on the conditions inside and out of the terminal; e) Considered the impact that traditional garments may have on thermal comfort; f) Used the data from the surveys to create a new model of thermal comfort; g) Used computer simulation programs to test and compare a developed thermal comfort model with the set point currently used in the building. The results of the survey demonstrate the unsuitability of the ASHRAE-based comfort model (set temperatures of 20-24 °C) currently used in the airport. The data from the survey is used to derive new models of thermal comfort using regression analysis. Computer simulation demonstrated that the new set comfort temperatures obtained from created models could significantly increase the operational efficiency of the terminal. Implementing these models would also reduce the operating cost of the KAIA, lower the CO2 emissions and improve the comfort of passengers. More particularly, the results of the research demonstrate the unsuitability of employing generic comfort models and suggest that a more climate-appropriate strategy should be adopted globally. The Gulf Region Countries do not currently have climatic-specific thermal comfort standards nor intensive field studies that would support their development. Moreover, a vast majority of thermal comfort research is focused on Australia, Europe and the USA and some areas of Asia. This thesis offers an integrated system and methodological approach to evaluate, measure, and analyze both environmental and personal variables of thermal comfort as well as verifying the results and virtually testing the implications on occupants and the building. The objective of carrying out such a study is based on the challenge of achieving acceptable levels of occupant thermal comfort while optimizing the energy efficiency of buildings.   491
• 1 (current)

B.Arch Thesis: JASHN-e-PUNJAB By Harkunwar Singh Kanwal, School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

• June 2, 2018

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A culture rejuvenation center to celebrate the gallantry and valor of Sikhs as a warrior community and the living culture of Punjab.

The idea behind this architectural intervention in the city of Amritsar is to hit the psychological nerve of the people and make them spiritually aware about the rich culture they belong to and rejuvenate the socio-cultural essence of the city and the state. This proposal is foreseen to add to the already booming tourism of the city. It showcases Indian culture, crafts and sports on a global level and exhibits culture of rural India with all its colours and vigour.

Being in the centre of the city, the area has the potential of turning into a landmark, which can connect, visually, to other important tourist spots. At the urban level the goal is to create a permeable urban space that is versatile and democratic in nature. This public space will thereby create a safe, active and entertaining environment; and enhance the area and its surroundings in terms of an active pedestrian friendly zone.

Project Facts Title of Thesis: Jashan-e-Punjab Students Name: Harkunwar Singh Kanwal Location : Delhi Name of Institute: School of Planning and Architecture Thesis Guide : Ar. Manish Gulati and Ar. Sambuddha Sen Submission Year : 2018

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• Architecture education , B.Arch Thesis , Completed , Delhi

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Beyond Design: Challenges and Opportunities in the Indian Architectural Profession

Vinod Gupta, of Opus Indigo Studio reflects on the evolution and challenges of the Indian architectural profession, emphasizing the need for architects to reclaim responsibilities beyond design to revitalize the industry’s trajectory.

The Native Pulse of Andaman and Nicobar Islands by Ar. Suneet Paul

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a haven of natural beauty and historical significance, offer a serene escape amidst lush rainforests and pristine beaches. Ar. Suneet Paul writes about these islands which embrace a tranquil atmosphere, despite having a tumultuous past.

Integrating Crafts in Built Forms | Studio Lotus and Collective Craft on Krushi Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

The third article in the series, ‘Looking beyond the architect’, by Deepika Srivastava, focuses on how indigenous crafts can be integrated within built forms by looking at the collaboration between Studio Lotus and Collective Craft to create Krushi Bhawan, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment of Odisha.

Within Cuboids, Pune, by Alok Kothari Architects

With a focus on simplicity and connectivity with nature, Alok Kothari Architects design a cost-effective 3-bedroom residence, blending exposed brick, verdant courtyards, and panoramic views of the Sahyadri mountains.

Plot 33, Rajkot, by playball studio

‘Plot 33’ is nestled between a university campus and a small public park, gracing Rajkot’s urban landscape. Spanning 10 x 24 meters, the design prioritizes climate-responsive orientation, with cavity walls shielding the east and west, and a south-facing circulation core for harmony.

Carving Architecture into Graphite | Pencil Lead Carving

Embarking on a journey where ordinary pencils become extraordinary artworks, Vipul Gupta explores the transformative art of Pencil Lead Carving, rediscovering beauty in detail.

An Architect Eats Samosa

ArchitectureLive! continues with Alimentative Architecture – The fifth in a series of articles by Architect-Poet-Calligrapher H Masud Taj interfacing architecture with food via geometry.

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2022 Landscape Architecture Thesis Prize: Liwei Shen’s “The Echoes of Sky River – Two Pre-modern and Modern Atmospheric Assemblages”

by Liwei Shen (MLA I ’22) — Recipient of the Landscape Architecture Thesis Prize. The…

Sergio Lopez-Pineiro, Faculty Advisor

Spring 2022

2022 James Templeton Kelley Prize: Isaac Henry Pollan’s “This Is Not A Firehouse”

by Isaac Henry Pollan (MArch I ’22) — Recipient of the James Templeton Kelley Prize,…

Sean Canty , Faculty Advisor

2022 Clifford Wong Prize in Housing Design: Brian Lee’s “People’s Park Complex: Repairing the Modern City”

by Brian Lee (MArch ’22) — Recipient of the 2021 Clifford Wong Prize in…

Grace La and Jenny French , Faculty Advisors

2022 Peter Rice Prize: Hangsoo Jeong’s “Upon Concrete: Retrofitting Architecture with Malleability”

by Hangsoo Jeong (MArch ’22) — Recipient of the Peter Rice Prize   Upon Concrete:…

Mark Lee, Faculty Advisor

2022 Digital Design Prize: George Guida’s “Multimodal Architecture: Applications of Language in a Machine Learning Aided Design Process”

by George Guida (MArch II ’22) — Recipient of the Digital Design Prize. This thesis…

Andrew Witt and Jose Luis Garcia del Castillo Lopez , Faculty Advisors

2022 Urban Design Thesis Prize: Rogelio Cadena’s “How Are ‘We’ Living? Reevaluating the Chicago Boulevard System”

by Rogelio Cadena (MAUD ’22) — Recipient of the Urban Design Thesis Prize. At its…

Stephen Gray , Faculty Advisor

2022 Design Studies Thesis Prize: Allison Hyatt’s “Priorities in Building Decarbonization: Accounting for total carbon and the time value of carbon in cost-benefit analyses of residential retrofits”

by Allison Hyatt (MDes ’22) — Recipient of the Design Studies Thesis Prize. Energy consumption…

Holly Samuelson , Faculty Advisor

2022 James Templeton Kelley Prize: Qin Ye Chen’s “Fluid Permanence – A Shotengai-Archive in Tokyo”

by Qin Ye Chen (MArch I ’22) — Recipient of the James Templeton Kelley Prize,…

Mohsen Mostafavi , Faculty Advisor

2022 Design Studies Thesis Prize: Nicole Piepenbrink’s “HERE LIES DARBY VASSALL: Rendering the obscured and concealed history of slavery at Christ Church Cambridge”

by Nicole Piepenbrink (MDes ’22) — Recipient of the Design Studies Thesis Prize. The material…

Susan Snyder, George Thomas and Krzysztof Wodiczko , Faculty Advisors

2022 Landscape Architecture Thesis Prize: Lucy Humphreys Chebot’s “Reciprocal Optimism: Projecting Terrestrial Analogues”

by Lucy Humphreys Chebot (MLA I ’22) — Recipient of the Landscape Architecture Thesis Prize.

Danielle Choi , Faculty Advisor

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Rescheduled: Masters of Architecture Thesis Open House

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Shattuck Hall 1914 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR

Free and open to the public

[email protected]

Rescheduled to June 13th

We're inviting the professional and alumni community to see students' work on June 13th (specific time TBD) in an open-house gallery-style display. 

The School of Architecture students pursuing the Master of Architecture degree engage in a yearlong investigation in which they select a topical issue, develop a body of research both within and outside the discipline of architecture, and create a complete and detailed architectural design response to the topic. Master of Architecture thesis projects at Portland State range from community-focused public interest design concepts to explorations of architectural materiality and sustainability, from the poetic to the concrete and everything in between. The thesis program culminates in oral presentations to a panel of invited jurors, followed by producing a commemorative book detailing the student's research, design process, and inspiring results.

• arts, culture & entertainment

• Undergraduate
• Dual Degree
• Financial Aid

$460K Awarded to Faculty, Staff, Students From New Do Good Campus Fund

MAPP Commencement Spring 2024

UMD Program to Help Maryland’s Rural Counties Cut Carbon

Congratulations to the Class of 2024

On Saturday, May 11, The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture recognized its 2024 graduates at its 111 th commencement ceremony . The celebratory occasion took place in the newly renovated Hogg Memorial Auditorium and featured a commencement address by the architect and historian Luis E. Carranza. In his address, Carranza encouraged graduates to live in the present, embrace the journey, and to consider momentous occasions and small moments alike as stops and waylays along the path of a bigger story. 

As he concluded: “Do not live in the past or in regret of a future that could have been. Live to grow old, beautifully and transcendentally. Live intensely, totally and eternally in the present. This present. Every present. Because it is only you, dear graduate, dear class of 2024, who can define your future. Our possible futures.”

Congratulations to all our graduates – We cannot wait to see what your future’s hold and all the ways you will go on to change the world! 

Below is the list of students, faculty, and staff, who were recognized with awards as part of the ceremony. To watch the entire commencement ceremony, including Dean Heather Woofter’s remarks and Carranza’s full address, visit the School of Architecture’s YouTube channel .

STUDENT AWARDS

Aia medal for academic excellence.

The AIA Medal for Excellence recognizes the top graduating students with a Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, or Doctor of Architecture from schools accredited by NAAB or CACB  Jenna Hussain

BRONZE ALPHA RHO CHI MEDAL

Judged by the faculty of the school, this medal is presented to one graduate who has shown ability for leadership, performed willing service for the school, and who has promise of real professional merit through their attitude and personality.   Stephen Patrick McCann

OBLESBY PRIZE

Nominated and chosen by the faculty, the Oglesby Prize is awarded to a Bachelor of Architecture or Mater of Architecture student based on merit in architectural design.   Stephen Patrick McCann

PETER O. COLTMAN BOOK PRIZE IN ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

Recognizes students from the Architecture and Community and Regional Planning Programs for their exemplification of diligent scholarship and high regard for the role of design and planning in environmental sustainability and civic responsibility.   Janice Hagerman, Master of Community and Regional Planning   Hannah Hill, Master of Architecture   Amy Vaughan, Bachelor of Architecture

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENT

Recognizes exceptional attainment in the study of planning by a student graduating from a Planning Accreditation Board-accredited program.   Abigail Valentine Jackson

AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING THESIS OR PROFESSIONAL REPORT IN COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING

Awarded by the Central Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association in recognition of achievement in the study of planning.   Shawn Lee

COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING ENGAGED PRACTICE

Decolonial Planning Class | Instructor: Bjorn Sletto   Luciana Barretto Lemos   Samira Binte Bashar   Noah Cohen   Joseph El Habr   Reeana Keenen   Rodrigo Leal   Rami Mannan   Sergio Morales   Katherine Perez Quinones   Seth Allen Pilger   Evan Mathis Waring

COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING COMMUNITY DESIGN

Environmental Justice Practicum | Instructor: Miriam Solis   Lama Ab Shama   Noah Coehn   Janice Hagerman   Freddie Kirk   Shawn Lee   Kathleen Lu   Jamie Davian Mandujano   Adrian Montoya   Sergio Morales   Katherine Perez Quinones

OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION IN COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING

“We Are Not Planning for Equity: An Analysis of Contemporary Comprehensive Plans”   Adam Ogusky

OUTSTANDING RESEARCH PAPER IN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

“Khufu’s Men: Defining Meaning of the Logbook of Merer”   Clinton G. Ilenstein III

ASID CERTIFICATE OF HONOR AND MERIT

The American Society of Interior Designers present a Certificate of Honor and a Certificate of Merit to graduating students in interior design.    Hattie Zapalac, Honor Award   Madeleine Wilson, Honor Award

ASLA AWARD OF HONOR AND MERIT

The American Society of Landscape Architects presents an Award of Honor and an Award of Merit to graduating students in landscape architecture. Faculty nominate candidates based on overall preparation to enter the profession, and selections are determined by a jury of members from the central Texas ASLA.   Hayley Brant, Honor Award   Kesari Fleury, Merit Award

FACULTY RECOGNITION PRIZE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Awarded to a graduating Master of Landscape Architecture student in recognition of academic excellence.   Kesari Fleury

FACULTY RECOGNITION PRIZE FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Awarded to a graduating Master of Landscape Architecture students in recognition of sustained excellence in design.   Elizabeth Geer

OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

“Investigation of Sustainability and Community Participation in the Urban Design of UT Austin’s West Campus”   Katherine Claire Alston

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN URBAN DESIGN

Awarded to a graduating urban design student in recognition of academic excellence.  Sukriti Gandhi

URBAN DESIGN ACADEMIC COUNCIL AWARD FOR ADVOCACY IN URBAN DESIGN

Awarded to a student who has exhibited strong agency and potential for leadership in the field of urban design.   Vatsal Bhavesh Shah

STUDENT EMPLOYEE, FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS

Outstanding teaching assistant.

Melanie Ball

OUTSTANDING GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Maeve McHugh

OUTSTANDING STUDENT EMPLOYEE

Outstanding scholarship.

Charles L. Davis II   Professor

OUTSTANDING SERVICE

Elizabeth Danze   Professor

OUTSTANDING TEACHER [LECTURE]

Larry Speck Professor

OUTSTANDING TEACHER [STUDIO]

Liang Wang   Assistant Professor

OUTSTANDING STAFF

Sarah Wu   Assistant Director of Research

DEAN'S COMMENDATION

Kelsey Stine   Communications Coordinator

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Professor Emeritus David Lanning, nuclear engineer and key contributor to the MIT Reactor, dies at 96

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David Lanning, MIT professor emeritus of nuclear science and engineering and a key contributor to the MIT Reactor project, passed away on April 26 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts, at the age of 96.

Born in Baker, Oregon, on March 30, 1928, Lanning graduated in 1951 from the University of Oregon with a BS in physics. While taking night classes in nuclear engineering, in lieu of an available degree program at the time, he started his career path working for General Electric in Richland, Washington. There he conducted critical-mass studies for handling and designing safe plutonium-bearing systems in separation plants at the Hanford Atomic Products Operation, making him a pioneer in nuclear fuel cycle management.

Lanning was then involved in the design, construction, and startup of the Physical Constants Testing Reactor (PCTR). As one of the few people qualified to operate the experimental reactor, he trained others to safely assess and handle its highly radioactive components.

Lanning supervised experiments at the PCTR to find the critical conditions of various lattices in a safe manner and conduct reactivity measurements to determine relative flux distributions. This primed him to be an indispensable asset to the MIT Reactor (MITR), which was being constructed on the opposite side of the country.

An early authority in nuclear engineering comes to MIT

Lanning came to MIT in 1957 to join what was being called the “MIT Reactor Project” after being recruited by the MITR’s designer and first director, Theos “Tommy” J. Thompson, to serve as one of the MITR’s first operating supervisors. With only a handful of people on the operations team at the time, Lanning also completed the emergency plan and startup procedures for the MITR, which achieved criticality on July 21, 1958.

In addition to becoming a faculty member in the Department of Nuclear Engineering in 1962, Lanning’s roles at the MITR went from reactor operations superintendent in the 1950s and early 1960s, to assistant director in 1962, and then acting director in 1963, when Thompson went on sabbatical.

In his faculty position, Lanning took responsibility for supervising lab subjects and research projects at the MITR, including the Heavy Water Lattice Project. This project supported the thesis work of more than 30 students doing experimental studies of sub-critical uranium fuel rods — including Lanning’s own thesis. He received his PhD in nuclear engineering from MIT in fall 1963.

Lanning decided to leave MIT in July 1965 and return to Hanford as the manager of their Reactor Neutronics Section. Despite not having plans to return to work for MIT, Lanning agreed when Thompson requested that he renew his MITR operator’s license shortly after leaving.

“Because of his thorough familiarity with our facility, it is anticipated that Dr. Lanning may be asked to return to MIT for temporary tours of duty at our reactor. It is always possible that there may be changes in the key personnel presently operating the MIT Reactor and the possible availability of Dr. Lanning to fill in, even temporarily, could be a very important factor in maintaining a high level of competence at the reactor during its continued operation,” Theos J. Thompson wrote in a letter to the Atomic Energy Commission on Sept. 21, 1965

One modification, many changes

This was an invaluable decision to continue the MITR’s success as a nuclear research facility. In 1969 Thompson accepted a two-year term appointment as a U.S. atomic energy commissioner and requested Lanning to return to MIT to take his place during his temporary absence. Thompson initiated feasibility studies for a new MITR core design and believed Lanning was the most capable person to continue the task of seeing the MITR redesign to fruition.

Lanning returned to MIT in July 1969 with a faculty appointment to take over the subjects Thompson was teaching, in addition to being co-director of the MITR with Lincoln Clark Jr. during the redesign. Tragically, Thompson was killed in a plane accident in November 1970, just one week after Lanning and his team submitted the application for the redesign’s construction permit.

Thompson’s death meant his responsibilities were now Lanning’s on a permanent basis. Lanning continued to completion the redesign of the MITR, known today as the MITR-II. The redesign increased the neutron flux level by a factor of three without changing its operating power — expanding the reactor’s research capabilities and refreshing its status as a premier research facility.

Construction and startup tests for the MITR-II were completed in 1975 and the MITR-II went critical on Aug. 14, 1975. Management of the MITR-II was transferred the following year from the Nuclear Engineering Department to its own interdepartmental research center, the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory , where Lanning continued to use the MITR-II for research.

Beyond the redesign

In 1970, Lanning combined two reactor design courses he inherited and introduced a new course in which he had students apply their knowledge and critique the design and economic considerations of a reactor presented by a student in a prior term. He taught these courses through the late 1990s, in addition to leading new courses with other faculty for industry professionals on reactor safety.

Co-author of over 70 papers , many on the forefront of nuclear engineering, Lanning’s research included studies to improve the efficiency, cycle management, and design of nuclear fuel, as well as making reactors safer and more economical to operate.

Lanning was part of an ongoing research project team that introduced and demonstrated digital control and automation in nuclear reactor control mechanisms before any of the sort were found in reactors in the United States. Their research improved the regulatory barriers preventing commercial plants from replacing aging analog reactor control components with digital ones. The project also demonstrated that reactor operations would be more reliable, safe, and economical by introducing automation in certain reactor control systems. This led to the MITR being one of the first reactors in the United States licensed to operate using digital technology to control reactor power.

Lanning became professor emeritus in May 1989 and retired in 1994, but continued his passion for teaching through the late 1990s as a thesis advisor and reader. His legacy lives on in the still-operational MITR-II, with his former students following in his footsteps by working on fuel studies for the next version of the MITR core. 

Lanning is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Gloria Lanning, and is survived by his two children, a brother, and his many grandchildren .

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Rhode Island School of Design Grad Show 2024 to Open at the Rhode Island Convention Center on May 23

May 9, 2024

Graduate student work representing 19 disciplines featured in exhibition and digital publication

PROVIDENCE, RI – May  9, 2024 – Thesis work by students completing master’s degrees at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will be on display at RISD Grad Show 2024 , RISD’s annual graduate thesis exhibition. Celebrating the creativity RISD’s newest graduate alumni will bring to the world, the exhibition and digital publication includes work by students in Architecture, Ceramics, Design Engineering, Digital + Media, Furniture Design, Glass, Global Arts and Cultures, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, Jewelry + Metalsmithing, Landscape Architecture, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Teaching + Learning in Art + Design and Textiles. Work can be viewed digitally at risdgrad.show , beginning May 22.

The exhibition will be on view at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Halls C & D from May 23–June 1, 2024. The show is free and open to the public daily from 12–5 pm (10 am–3 pm on June 1, the day of RISD’s Commencement), with a public opening reception on May 22 from 6–8 pm.

RISD Grad Show 2024 invites viewers to experience an expansive range of exploratory work by emerging artists and designers. The work selected represents the culmination of each student’s experience in RISD’s dynamic and diverse graduate programs. As in years past, the 43,000-sf space will be custom-constructed, with more than 2,000 linear feet of walls forming a network of smaller galleries. The unique configuration of the large, flexible space provides remarkable opportunities for graduate students to show multiple pieces or large installations from final thesis projects representing two or three years of research, experimentation, critical thinking and production.

Graduate study at RISD brings together artists, designers and thinkers from around the world to research, experiment, create and push the possibilities of practice. About Rhode Island School of Design RISD (pronounced “RIZ-dee”) is a creative community founded in 1877 in Providence, Rhode Island. Today, we enroll 2,538 students hailing from 60 countries. Led by a committed faculty, they are engaged in 44 full-time bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and supported by a worldwide network of over 31,000 alumni who demonstrate the vital role artists and designers play in today’s society.

Beyond facts and figures, what is the spirit of this community? Through a cross-disciplinary curriculum of studio-based learning and rigorous study in the liberal arts, RISD students are encouraged to develop their own personal creative processes, but they are united by one guiding principle: in order to create, one must question. In cultivating expansive and elastic thinking, RISD seeks to activate a critical exchange that empowers artists, designers and scholars to generate and challenge the ideas that shape our world. RISD’s mission, at both the college and museum, is not only to educate students and the public in the creation and appreciation of works of art and design, but to transmit that knowledge and make global contributions. Visit risd.edu to learn more. Contact: Jaime Marland Senior Director, Public Relations / RISD [email protected] 401 427-6954