Panel: Architectural Education Goes Virtual

From Architectural Record’s 2020 Innovation Conference

Presented by Martha Thorne and Branko Kolarevic

Learning Objectives:

Discuss how the current pandemic has challenged architectural colleges and universities
List ways how successful architectural programs have responded to the current pandemic
Explain how new collaborative technology may provide opportunities to expand education to lower-income and minority students
Discuss some of the persistent challenges present when embracing remote or hybrid instruction for architectural students.

Credits:

1 AIA LU/Elective

This test is no longer available for credit

Two leaders in digital teaching and design will analyze the impact of remote learning during the COVID pandemic and look at how such adaptations could change architectural education going forward, with the potential for wider access and addressing inequalities. Martha Thorne, dean of the Madrid-based I.E. School of Architecture and Design, has deep experience in hybrid learning and practical applications for her students, while Branko Kolarevic, dean of architecture at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, is bringing advanced tools of digital design to pedagogy, accelerating change and technological innovation in education.

Martha Thorne, Dean, School of Architecture, IE University, Madrid, Martha Thorne is Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design, part of the innovative IE University in Madrid/Segovia, Spain. She also is Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, a position she has held since 2005. From 1995 to 2005, she worked as curator in Department of Architecture at The Art Institute of Chicago. She has written numerous articles for books and journals on contemporary architecture and the city. She served on the Board of Directors of the International Archive of Women in Architecture and the Graham Foundation for Fine Arts. She has participated on juries for the new National Museum of Chinese Art, Zaryadye Park in Moscow and the international jury for ArcVision – Women and Architecture Prize. Ms. Thorne received a Master of City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Affairs from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She undertook additional studies at the London School of Economics.

Branko Kolarevic, Dean, College of Architecture and Design, NJIT is Dean of the Hillier College of Architecture and Design at NJIT in Newark. He has taught architecture at several universities in North America and Asia and has lectured worldwide on the use of digital technologies in design and production. He has authored, edited or co-edited several books, including “Mass Customization and Design Democratization” (with Jose Duarte), “Building Dynamics: Exploring Architecture of Change” (with Vera Parlac), “Manufacturing Material Effects” (with Kevin Klinger), “Performative Architecture” (with Ali Malkawi) and “Architecture in the Digital Age.” He was elected and served as president of several organizations: Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), and Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA). He is a recipient of the ACADIA Award for Innovative Research in 2007 and ACADIA Society Award of Excellence in 2015. He holds doctoral and master’s degrees in design from Harvard University and a diploma engineer in architecture degree from the University of Belgrade