The Director of the School of Architecture & Environment (SAE), Stott Chair, and Professor, Uli Dangel, joined 25 of the top architecture school leaders, including deans, directors, and chairs, to talk the future of design education. With a world and profession in flux for the foreseeable future, it is up to schools to prepare the next generation of designers that reflects the conditions of the moment and the interests of incoming students. During the sit-down with Archinect, the educators' conversations saw a number of themes emerge from adaptation, interdisciplinary collaboration, emerging technologies, research, housing, climate resilience, and public engagement, alongside more fundamental questions about the discipline itself. Dangel's, and by extension SAE, believes the mission and goals are draws for students looking to make a difference in the built environment through its curriculum and specialized labs.
"The University of Oregon School of Architecture & Environment’s curriculum is closely aligned with the pressing social and environmental challenges facing our communities today. Students are drawn to our programs because of our deep commitment to community engagement, affordable housing, sustainable urban development, and renewable materials, particularly innovations in mass timber. Our mission is to prepare graduates to be problem solvers and effective implementers who can translate well-intentioned policies into meaningful, lasting outcomes," said Dangel.
"In this context, we are especially excited about the upcoming completion of the Oregon Acoustic Research Laboratory (OARL) in Portland. A lack of acoustics testing capacity is widely recognized as a significant barrier to advancing affordable mass timber multifamily housing across North America. This state-of-the-art facility will provide critical testing capabilities for mass timber assemblies, supporting the continued growth of the mass timber industry throughout the Pacific Northwest while contributing to more sustainable and affordable housing solutions."
SAE has been devoted to providing students a rigorous education and unique, real-world experiences since its inception in 1914. The school is nationally recognized for its innovation and sustainability research, including the design of buildings, interiors, landscapes, and communities, with a passionate commitment to the principles of civic responsibility, environmental sustainability, international understanding, and interdisciplinary education. SAE is located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene and in Highland Hall on our northeast Portland campus.