10.13.2014
Barry Bergdoll will be at the University of Miami today to give a SoA Currents lecture titled, “Constructing Latin America.” Bergdoll is a professor of Architectural History at Columbia University and the Phillip Johnson Curator of Design and Architecture at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), in New York City. His involvement with the school, comes through a collaboration with Jean François Lejeune, who is teaching a course on Modern Architecture in Latin America from 1945-1980. This survey course provides students with the knowledge of Latin American architecture and urbanism during the discussed period, but as an additional benefit, allows students to document and construct a model based on one of the buildings reviewed in the course (model 1 is based on El Colegio de Mexico, pictured above, by Teodoro de León Gonzalez). These models will play an important role next year for the 60th anniversary of the 1955 Latin American Architecture exhibition. MoMA will revisit this landmark show to offer a complex overview of the positions, debates and architectural creativity from Mexico and Cuba to the Southern Cone between 1955 and the early 1980’s. The research and models produced, will be on display from March 29 to June 12, 2015. Rafael Tapanes will assist students in developing six wood models for the exhibit. Two other models, previously created in Allan Shulman’s Tropical Architecture class, will also be on display.

SoA's historical Golf Tournament, launched by Tom Spain, reached its 8th year anniversary with the largest turnout ever! Over 100 players and numerous top sponsors enjoyed the golf  course at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. This annual event is a vital  fundraiser for our school's Rome Program whose proceeds have created scholarships for students to spend a semester in Rome. The Golf Tournament was made possible by the dedication and support of Dean el-Khoury, the members of the Golf Committee, which is made up of faculty and alumni, and our Development office. A stellar group of students such as, Emma May, Hiwot Tefera, Ali Babowice, James Harris, Zach Anderson and Tom Makowski assisted throughout out the day with the event.

Allan Shulman and Joanna Lombard were competition jurors for the annual UM Hillel Sukkah Competition. The competition is sponsored by the University of Miami Hillel with support from the School of Architecture and the School of Engineering.  The Sukkah Competition inspires student teams to build a make shift dwelling place on the 'Green' in front of Otto G. Richter Library. Other jurors included alumnus Chloe Keidaish of Studio X in Miami. Winning Team members include Owen Berry, Jules Romier, Sammy Schneider, Colby Gallagher, Sarah Potter and Matthew Stankard. Other team participants include Crystal Leon, Maddie Levy, Octavio Camara, Alex Briel, Brandon Leung, Hector Castaneda, Jaimee Friend, Wendy Torres, Samuel Wyner, Marissa Gudiel, Erron Estrado and Yating Yang.

The AIAS completed its second site visit this semester, the tour of the new addition at the Frost School of Music on October 7. Looking ahead toward Halloween and Homecoming, the AIAS will be sponsoring a Pumpkin Carving Competition. The artwork created from this competition, will be used as center displays during the Homecoming Reunion on Friday, October 31, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the SoA courtyard. Email questions to um.aias2014@gmail.com. Follow AIAS on Facebook and Instagram (@um_aias).

The USGBC movie night series ends this Thursday, October 16. Past films include The Red Balloon, Midnight in Paris, and Ratatouille. The last film begins at 7:00 p.m. in the SoA courtyard.

Adib Cure and Carie Penabad are lecturing at Auburn University today. “Analogous Thoughts" will discuss the work and research being produced in their office, Cúre & Penabad Architecture and Urban Design: "While uniformity has become a global epidemic and placelessness is now an integral part of our everyday lives, the projects we will show are conceived otherwise. We are exploring the potential to create drawings, spaces and buildings of cultural specificity where tradition and invention, the colloquial and the academic, the regional and the universal, participate in the composition and construction of the contemporary city."

Joachim Perez was recently selected to serve a one-year term on the Board of Directors for the Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation serving on two sub-committees on Education, Family and Health, and Arts & Creative Industry. 

Sonia Chao recently participated in the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit coordinated by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, a partnership between Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, their municipalities and the Institute for Sustainable Communities.  To learn more, visit the Green U site.

Assistant Dean and Director of Academic Services Ana Santana was inducted to the University of Miami’s chapter of Golden Key International Honor Society. The mission of the Golden Key is to enable members to realize their potential through academics, service and leadership. Ana received an honorary membership recognizing her as an advocate for student success and for her outstanding job in the capacity as an educator. Membership is extended by invitation only. 

October 13 SoA Currents series lecture, "Constructing Latin America" by Barry Bergdoll of MoMA. Glasgow Hall in Perez Architecture Center, 6:30 p.m.

October 13 Applications for The Rome Program are due! Email Carmen Guerrero if interested.

October 13 The American Institute of Architects and the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation present “Urban Acupuncture,” a lecture by architect and urbanist, Jaime Lerner at the Miami Center for Architecture & Design, 100 NE 1st Ave, Miami, 33132. During his three terms as mayor of Curitiba, Brazil in the 1970's and ’80's, Jaime Lerner transformed his city into a model of sustainable living. From its pioneering Bus Rapid Transit system to parks that minimize flooding and city zones reserved for pedestrians, Lerner has been the visionary behind a host of innovative urban projects. In Urban Acupuncture (Island Press, September 2014), he celebrates initiatives from cities around the world that uplift their communities, from Barcelona’s bustling La Boquerón market to Seoul’s revitalized Cheonggyecheon River.  This event is made possible with the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Center for the Living City. 

October 19-21 Rocco Ceo will be moderating a session on Robert Winthrop Chanler at the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens Symposium. This  three-day symposium will bring leading curators, scholars, conservators, and preservationists from around the country to present and discuss the work of Robert Winthrop Chanler. Professor Ceo's session will be held on October 20 and will focus on Chanler at Vizcaya with a discussion on access and interpretation of the work and site. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is located at 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami, 33129.

October 20 The School of Architecture presents the exhibit La Magia de Cartagena: The Architectural Preservation of Cartagena, Colombia. Opening night will begin with a lecture at 6:00 p.m. in Glasgow Hall in the Perez Architecture Center; followed by a review of the exhibit and a reception in the Korach Gallery. The exhibit is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

October 31 Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury invites all SoA alumni, students, faculty and staff to SoA's Annual Homecoming Reunion.  This year the event will be on Halloween evening from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the SoA Courtyard. Admission is $25.00 per person, with corporate tables for $225.00 (includes corporate name displayed on table and ten tickets).  Student tickets are $15.00 per person. To RSVP, contact Julia Pizarro in the Academic Services office at (305) 284-3731.

November 3 SoA Currents series lecture by Vicente Guallart, Chief Architect, Barcelona City Council. Glasgow Hall in Perez Architecture Center, 6:30 p.m.

November 5 SoA Agenda - Call to Order series lecture, “Alternative Destinies” by 2A + P/A. Glasgow Hall in Perez Architecture Center, 6:30 p.m.