NAAB Architecture Program Report (APR) 2013 - Tulane School of ...

Tulane UniversityArchitecture Program ReportSeptember 2013space near the Pantheon. This facility is leased from the Pantheon Institute, an entity run by an Italian-American (Romolo Martemucci) who was previously a tenured full professor at Penn State University.The facility includes a desk for each student, classrooms, review space, wireless network, printers,scanners, and an office for the faculty. We have used this space for three years now, and it works verywell for our purposes. Students live in the neighborhood of Trastevere with easy access to publictransportation. This semester long program which occurs during the fall semester of the fourth year forundergraduate students, fall semester of the third year for graduate, MArch I students, includes anumber of field trips throughout Italy to destinations such as Venice, Florence, Siena, Berlin, andVienna. Student take a Fall Break excursion to a location outside Italy, and are afforded additional timeduring the course of the program for individual travel.The required curriculum of the Rome Program comprises an advanced level design studio (DSGN4100, Architecture Option Studio), an architectural drawing course (AVSM 3310), a history of the citycourse (AHST 6350), a course in international practices (APFC 4242), and a course in contemporaryRoman culture (AHST 4510).Japan Program – Summer 2013Through classroom and study-tour curriculum, students compare Kyoto and New Orleansfrom historical, architectural, and cultural perspectives in order to gain a deep appreciation forJapanese contributions to art and architecture. By comparing traditional and modern buildings andsites, students gain cross-cultural insights that lay the foundation for future collaborations and artisticapplications. This course is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Japan FoundationJapan-America Collegiate Exchange Travel Program, subsidizing 2/3 of the travel expense.II.2.3. Curriculum Review and DevelopmentThe Associate Dean of Academics has primary oversight of the curriculum, working in closecollaboration with the School’s Curriculum Committee, the other Associate Deans and the Dean.The TSA Curriculum Committee meets on a monthly basis and considers all key curriculum issues onbehalf of the faculty. There are student members on the Curriculum Committee as well. When issuesare recommended by this Committee, they move up to the full faculty for consideration, first readings,and second readings with votes.The Studio-Walk-Through – For a long time, the Tulane School of Architecture has conducted daylongevents to give the faculty a comprehensive overview of the studio curriculum each semester. Typicallythese begin with presentations by studio coordinators for each of the core years and professorsteaching required courses in any given semester. The faculty also looks at Option Studios and Thesis.Students are invited to this open presentation and discussion. The faculty then walks through the entirebuilding, with student work clearly organized on each desk. Following this, the faculty meets for severalhours to discuss findings. This has been an invaluable tool for gaining crosscutting understanding ofstrengths, weaknesses and opportunities for the program. We have made a number of improvementsbased on this process, and the faculty involvement has been extensive.Curriculum Committee Membership2013-2014Bruce Goodwin, RAJudith Kinnard, FAIAByron Mouton, AIAWendy Redfield, AIA (Associate Dean of Academics)Carol Reese, Ph.D. (Architectural Historian)Scott Ruff68