Florida International University School of Architecture
Encyclopedia
The FIU School of Architecture is the architecture school at Florida International University
, located in Miami, Florida
in the United States
. It is one of the university's 26 schools and colleges and is a school within the College of Architecture and the Arts. The school was founded in the 1980s.
The FIU School of Architecture is known for interdisciplinary structure and course work. The School of Architecture currently offers graduate degrees (for undergraduate and graduate students) in Architecture
, Interior Design
, and Landscape Architecture
, the most popular being the professional Master of Architecture
degree. Admissions to the School of Architecture is separate from that of the university admittance, making it one of the most competitive schools in the university. The school is home to about 552 undergraduate and graduate students with over 55 faculty members in 2009.
The FIU School of Architecture is the most competitive architecture school in Florida, with the lowest admission rate in the state at 14% (2011).
Undergraduate students in the School of Architecture can participate in the on-campus housing program known as the Arts and Architecture living and learning community in the Lakeview Hall South residence hall.
In 1995, the school began its Master of Architecture
program. In 2001, the school began construction on its new home, the Paul Cejas Architecture Building, and in 2003 the school moved from its decades-long home on the second floor of Viertes Haus to the Paul Cejas Architecture Building. Viertes Haus only provided enough space for classrooms and no studio spaces for the students. The Paul Cejas Architecture Building was inaugurated on April 11, 2003. The building is named after former FIU trustee Paul L. Cejas, who years ago, as a member of the state Board of Regents, championed the creation of the school and later made a significant philanthropic gifts to FIU totaling $2 million in support of the School of Architecture.
In 2008, the school converted all its undergraduate bachelors degrees to their graduate Masters
equivalents. Previously, an undergraduate student would get a Bachelors of Arts in Architecture, and then upon graduation, would apply for the 2-year Master of Architecture
professional degree. Now, all undergraduate students start in their masters
program beginning their freshmen year, and graduate in either 5 or 6 years.
In 2011, the School of Architecture's namesake, Paul L. Cejas donated his building at 420 Lincoln Road
in South Beach
to the FIU School of Architecture. The new building provides the School of Architecture studio, research, classroom, and exposition space on Miami's busiest pedestrian shopping street. Graduate architecture design studio and research classes were first held at 420 Lincoln Road in September 2011 for the Fall 2011 semester. 420 Lincoln Road marks the second FIU academic space in South Beach
, along with the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum.
Department of Architecture:
Department of Landscape Architecture:
Department of Interior Design:
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, located in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is one of the university's 26 schools and colleges and is a school within the College of Architecture and the Arts. The school was founded in the 1980s.
The FIU School of Architecture is known for interdisciplinary structure and course work. The School of Architecture currently offers graduate degrees (for undergraduate and graduate students) in Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, Interior Design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
, and Landscape Architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
, the most popular being the professional Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
degree. Admissions to the School of Architecture is separate from that of the university admittance, making it one of the most competitive schools in the university. The school is home to about 552 undergraduate and graduate students with over 55 faculty members in 2009.
The FIU School of Architecture is the most competitive architecture school in Florida, with the lowest admission rate in the state at 14% (2011).
Undergraduate students in the School of Architecture can participate in the on-campus housing program known as the Arts and Architecture living and learning community in the Lakeview Hall South residence hall.
History
Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
program. In 2001, the school began construction on its new home, the Paul Cejas Architecture Building, and in 2003 the school moved from its decades-long home on the second floor of Viertes Haus to the Paul Cejas Architecture Building. Viertes Haus only provided enough space for classrooms and no studio spaces for the students. The Paul Cejas Architecture Building was inaugurated on April 11, 2003. The building is named after former FIU trustee Paul L. Cejas, who years ago, as a member of the state Board of Regents, championed the creation of the school and later made a significant philanthropic gifts to FIU totaling $2 million in support of the School of Architecture.
In 2008, the school converted all its undergraduate bachelors degrees to their graduate Masters
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
equivalents. Previously, an undergraduate student would get a Bachelors of Arts in Architecture, and then upon graduation, would apply for the 2-year Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
professional degree. Now, all undergraduate students start in their masters
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
program beginning their freshmen year, and graduate in either 5 or 6 years.
In 2011, the School of Architecture's namesake, Paul L. Cejas donated his building at 420 Lincoln Road
Lincoln Road
Lincoln Road is a pedestrian road running east-west between 16th Street and 17th Street in Miami Beach, Florida, United States. Once open to vehicular traffic, it now hosts a pedestrian row of shops, restaurants, galleries, and other businesses between Washington Avenue and Alton...
in South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
to the FIU School of Architecture. The new building provides the School of Architecture studio, research, classroom, and exposition space on Miami's busiest pedestrian shopping street. Graduate architecture design studio and research classes were first held at 420 Lincoln Road in September 2011 for the Fall 2011 semester. 420 Lincoln Road marks the second FIU academic space in South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
, along with the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum.
Degrees
The FIU School of Architecture is unique amongst architecture schools in the United States in that it offers only graduate degrees for both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate freshmen students begin in their graduate programs in their first semester at FIU. The school's current degrees are:Department of Architecture:
- Undergraduate Master of ArchitectureMaster of ArchitectureThe Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
, 5-year or 6-year plan for undergraduate students - Master of ArchitectureMaster of ArchitectureThe Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
, 2 or 3-years with bachelors degree - Master of Arts in Architecture, 1-year post-professional degree
Department of Landscape Architecture:
- Undergraduate Master of Landscape ArchitectureMaster of Landscape ArchitectureThe Master of Landscape Architecture is a professional and academic degree dealing with the manipulation of outdoor and public spaces to achieve socio-behavioural, environmental, and/or aesthetic outcomes.-Curriculum and Requirements:...
, 5-year or 6-year plan for undergraduate students - Master of Landscape ArchitectureMaster of Landscape ArchitectureThe Master of Landscape Architecture is a professional and academic degree dealing with the manipulation of outdoor and public spaces to achieve socio-behavioural, environmental, and/or aesthetic outcomes.-Curriculum and Requirements:...
, 2 or 3-years with bachelors degree - Master of Arts in Landscape Architecture, 1-year post-professional degree
Department of Interior Design:
- Undergraduate Master of Interior Design, 5-year or 6-year plan for undergraduate students
- Master of Interior Design, 2 or 3-years with bachelors degree
- Master of Arts in Interior Design, 1-year post-professional degree
Admissions
applications or other unique situations.The FIU School of Architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board
National Architectural Accrediting Board
The National Architectural Accrediting Board is the sole authority for accredited US professional degree programs for architecture in the United States, developing standards and procedures to verify that each accredited program meets standards for the appropriate education of architects...
.
Applicants applying as high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
seniors and transfer students apply for the school's Undergraduate Masters programs. To be admitted students must first apply and be accepted by FIU, and must then apply to the School of Architecture separately by submitting their application, résumé
Résumé
A résumé is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education...
, portfolio
Portfolio
Portfolio literally means "a case for carrying loose papers," ....
, and transcripts to their program of choice. Applicants applying as graduate students apply to the FIU Graduate School as well as the School of Architecture. Admission to both is required for admittance into the program.
For Fall 2009, first-year students, the average high school GPA was 3.98. Over 1,000 students applied to the freshman class of the School of Architecture, with 60 being accepted. This gives the FIU School of Architecture a 6% admissions rate. The FIU School of Architecture is the most competitive in Florida, with the lowest admission rate in the state at 14% (2011).
Paul Cejas Building at University Park
The SoA is located in the Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture Building on the northern side of the University Park campus. The entire SoA complex was designed by Bernard TschumiBernard Tschumi
Bernard Tschumi is an architect, writer, and educator, commonly associated with deconstructivism. Born of French and Swiss parentage, he works and lives in New York and Paris. He studied in Paris and at ETH in Zurich, where he received his degree in architecture in 1969...
who returned to the school to lecture during the Spring 2008 semester. The 102000 square feet (9,476.1 m²) facility was built in 2003 and is home to the multi-media lab, workshops, and metal/wood shops. The building is named after Ambassador Paul L. Cejas
Paul L. Cejas
Paul L. Cejas , a native of Cuba who arrived in Miami, Florida in 1960, is chairman and chief executive officer of PLC Investments, Inc., a wholly owned company that manages portfolio investments, as well as investments in real estate, health care and venture capital projects. He also served as...
, who has been one of Florida International University’s leading champions over the past two decades. Cejas has also been a leading force behind the establishment of the FIU School of Architecture as well as making significant philanthropic gifts to the University in support of the School of Architecture.
The School of Architecture's library is located on the fifth floor of the Green Library.
FIU Architecture on Lincoln Road
In early-2011, the FIU School of Architecture received a donation from US Ambassador, and longtime FIU SoA donator, Paul L. Cejas. Cejas donated his building at 420 Lincoln RoadLincoln Road
Lincoln Road is a pedestrian road running east-west between 16th Street and 17th Street in Miami Beach, Florida, United States. Once open to vehicular traffic, it now hosts a pedestrian row of shops, restaurants, galleries, and other businesses between Washington Avenue and Alton...
in South Beach
South Beach
South Beach, also nicknamed SoBe, is a neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida, United States. It is the area south of Indian Creek and encompasses roughly the southernmost 23 blocks of the main barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.This area was the first...
, Miami to the School of Architecture. The building was remodeled for studio space for FIU Architecture graduate students and classes officially opened at 420 Lincoln Road in September 2011. Design studio classes from the architecture, landscape architecture and interior design departments are offered at 420 Lincoln Road, as well as research and exposition space. The new site brings the FIU School of Architecture closer to many design, art, historic and cultural facilities in the heart of the city.
Genoa Study Abroad
The School of Architecture also has a branch campus in Genoa, Italy. Students can opt to take a complete semester of courses with a focus on urban studies and Italian architecture and history in Genoa. Classes are taught by faculty at the University of GenoaUniversity of Genoa
The University of Genoa is one of the largest universities in Italy.Located in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, the university was founded in 1471. It currently has about 40,000 students, 1,800 teaching and research staff and about 1,580 administrative staff.- Campus :The University of Genoa is...
and FIU Architecture's Professor Matthew Rice. Study abroad is offered every fall and spring semesters at facilities within the historic Santa Maria di Castello
Santa Maria di Castello
Santa Maria di Castello is a church and religious complex in Genoa, Italy. Administrated by the Dominicans, it is located in the Castello hill of the city, where was an Roman castrum existed. The church is flanked by the large Tower of the Embriaci.The church, in Romanesque style, was erected...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Genoa's historic center. Classes are taught in conjunction with the University of Genoa
University of Genoa
The University of Genoa is one of the largest universities in Italy.Located in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, the university was founded in 1471. It currently has about 40,000 students, 1,800 teaching and research staff and about 1,580 administrative staff.- Campus :The University of Genoa is...
and Genoa's Facoltà di Architettura.
Housing is offered in various private, rented apartments scattered throughout the historic district radiating from the Facoltà di Architettura. Architecture students go in the fall semester of their fourth year, whereas interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
and landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
students go in the spring semester.
Festival of the Trees
Since 1986, the School of Architecture has hosted the annual "Festival of the Tree". The festival is hosted by the interior design department and showcases a variety of designs of treeTree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s, topiaries, and particularly, Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
s, as the festival marks the beginning of the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
season. The festival is open to the public, but is primarily a fund raiser for the interior design department. Since 1986, the festival has raised over $100,000 for the interior design department.
Walk on Water
Rite of passage
A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures....
within the School of Architecture. On average, 85% students manage to make it across the lake.
Since 1989, over 1,500 FIU architecture alumni have competed in Walk on Water. The winner receives a $500 prize and an A on the project. The oldest person to cross the lake was 67 years old in 2009. The youngest was 9 years old who walked in place for his mother in 1998. The slowest time to cross the lake has been over 15 minutes.
Recent Walk on Water records
| Year | Winning student(s) | Time to cross the lake |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Alex Quiñónez and Esther Monterrey | 1:03 (All-time record) |
| 2010 | Cristina Fernández | 1:13 |
| 2009 | Cristina Fernández | 1:30 |
| 2008 | Brian Vázquez and Ana Costanzo | 1:30 |
| 2007 | N/A | 1:31 |
| 2005 | N/A | 1:23 |
Faculty
Architecture- John Stuart, Architecture Chair
- Alfredo Andia
- Nathaniel Belcher
- Malik Benjamin
- Claudia Busch
- Jaime Canavés
- Jason Chandler
- Adam M Drisin, Associate Dean
- Eric Goldemberg
- Nicolay Nedev
- Marilys Nepomechie
- Winifred Elysse Newman
- Eric Peterson
- Nicolás Quintana
- Gray Read
- Matthew Rice, head of the Genoa study abroad program
- David Rifkind
- Camilo Rosales
- Thomas Spiegelhalter
- Shahin Vassigh
Landscape Architecture
- Roberto Rovira, Landscape Architecture Chair
- Ebru Ozer
- Marta Canavés
Interior Design
- Janine King, Interior Design Chair
- Philipp Abbott
- Sarah Sherman
- Katie Rothfield
See also
- Architecture school in the United States
- Florida International University College of Engineering and ComputingFlorida International University College of Engineering and ComputingThe College of Engineering and Computing at Florida International University, located in Miami, Florida in the United States is one of the university's 26 schools and colleges and was founded in 1965...