Key issues, questions, and observations

Scope of conversations

Meetings with:
Faculty and Dean at UNC-G Interior Architecture program; PTP committee; Jim
DeCristo/NC School of the Arts; Adam Arney/UNC-G (serious gaming); Carol Strohecker/director of the Center for Design Innovation; Tony Graham/NC A&T; Bob Powell/NC A&T; Alton Thompson and Ken Murray/NC A&T; Dennis Carroll and Carole Stoneking/High Point University; architects’ focus group representing Winston-Salem and Greensboro practitioners; Don Vaughan/North Carolina state legislator; Rosemary Wander/UNC-G; Herb Burns/Forsyth Tech; Don Kirkman/PTP president; Steve Patton/Guilford Tech; David Crawford/NC AIA; Harold Martin/UNC General Administration; Steven House/Elon University; Robin Abrams/NC State architecture program; architects from AIA Raleigh; Ken Lambla/Dean, UNC-Charlotte; Dave Perrin/Provost, UNC-Greensboro; Oliver Evan/President, Kendall College of Art and Design; Marvin Malecha/Dean, NC State; Alton Thompson/Provost, NC A&T; Phil Freelon and Durham architects

Upcoming meetings with:
Appalachia State, Benjamin Briggs, Piedmont Triad foundations


Key issues, questions, and observations arising from the discussion.

How can the professional community support a program?
Stronger mentoring for students and interns, funding, program participation as instructors/jurors/critics. Individual architects clearly support the development of an accredited program. The profession, as either a professional association or foundation or some other form of institution, has not yet been identified as demonstrating support.

How can we demonstrate economic need for more architects in the region?
This will be the strongest argument for a new program with the UNC system in the current economic climate.

How can a new program serve the industry in a way that current programs do not?
Possibilities include community development, historic preservation (including local industrial buildings), professional collaboration, changes in architectural practice.

How can a new program support the diversity agenda promoted by the national AIA?
The demographics of the profession should be closer to the overall demographics of the population.

Support for an accredited program is the strongest at the highest academic levels of administration at UNC-G, NC A&T, Elon University, and High Point University. There has not been, to date, any demonstrated interest from Wake Forest University, and, NC School of the Arts is focused on the performing arts.

Steps on the way to developing an accredited program can include support for existing programs such as the Boston Architectural College low residency degree; the development of a schedule of education events (sponsored lectures, exhibitions, etc.); the establishment of a design center and/or an institute for the study of some subject matter critical to the profession (examples might include the center for architecture in Alexandria VA, the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in NY, and the Center for Classical Architecture).