Accreditation Update

As part of the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accreditation process, a peer review team visited campus in the spring for its periodic review of UDM's School of Architecture. For four days, the team reviewed evidence and met with people to assess whether the UDM program meets the NAAB's conditions for continued accreditation.

Student performance, the most important and in-depth condition, includes 34 criteria that the School had to demonstrate as being met by the curriculum, using student work as evidence of achievement. Following a detailed assessment of the student performance criteria as well as the other conditions, the visiting team sent its report and recommendation to the NAAB.

According to Dean Stephen Vogel, the visiting team noted the "vitality and enthusiasm" of the School in "the commitment of the faculty, the dedication of the talented students and the participatory decision-making process encouraged by the School's administrative leadership." The team gave the School a very unusual 100 percent grade on student performance criteria.

AIA Michigan awards DCDC for post-Katrina rebuild efforts

The American Institute of Architects - Michigan presented UDM's Detroit Collaborative Design Center with a 2008 Building Award for its work on the St. Joseph's Recovery Center in New Orleans. The presentation was made at the AIA Michigan Honor Awards and Recognition Gala, May 2. This is the fourth AIA award the Design Center has received for its work in New Orleans.

UDM honors USKH Inc.

UDM honored its Cooperative Education Employers of the Year at a gathering before the Fall Career Fair, Oct. 21. Jerry Neubert '70, director of Architecture for USKH Inc. accepted the Co-op Employer of the Year award on behalf of his Alaska-based firm. Neubert and USKH have actively supported UDM architecture students for several years.

USKH established an endowed scholarship in 2006 and Neubert regularly returns to UDM for career fairs to recruit co-op students. Neubert intends to retire in 2009, but plans to continue his involvement with UDM.

At the Fall Career Fair (from left): Stephen LaGrassa, UDM professor of Architecture; Jerry Neubert, director of Architecture for USKH Inc.; Sheryl McGriff, dean, UDM's Career Education Center; Jared Vanderweele, UDM co-op student, USKH Inc.

Battaglia

Ron Battaglia '70, receives lifetime achievement recognition

Architecture alumnus Ron Battaglia '70, managing principal of Flynn Battaglia Architects, PC, has been awarded the State's Gold Medal Award, presented by the New York AIA at its annual convention. The award recognizes his lifetime of service to the profession, the community and his design work.

Design Center selected by Skillman Foundation to develop neighborhood designs

The Skillman Foundation recently awarded the Design Center a grant to produce visual representations for the six neighborhoods in Detroit where the foundation is focusing its efforts. The neighborhoods include Southwest Detroit (Vernor and Chadsey/Condon), Brightmoor, Osborn, Central and Cody/Rouge.

A rendering of the proposed Chadsey/Condon neighborhood

The designs will be constructed in a collage format with the purpose of creating excitement and intensity to a master plan or development strategy. Created in 1960, The Skillman Foundation is a private philanthropy whose chief aim is to help develop good schools and good neighborhoods for children.

Though grants are made throughout Southeast Michigan, most grants are directed at six Detroit neighborhoods and toward innovative and successful schools throughout the city of Detroit. Work by the Design Center has already begun on the Chadsey/Condon neighborhood design.

Student Scholarships

Five UDM students accepted scholarships during the All-School Assembly in May:

Adrian Latona (left) received the School of Architecture Alumni Endowed Scholarship.

Frank Majewski (left) was awarded the SmithGroup and Alumni Endowed Scholarship. He also received a scholarship from the Michigan Architectural Foundation at another event.

Kaija Wuollet (left) was awarded the DeMaria Building Company Endowed Scholarship from School of Architecture Dean Stephen Vogel.

Kenyotta Brown (left) accepted the Hamilton Anderson Associates Expendable Scholarship from Rainy Hamilton, Jr. '79.

Krista Wilson (left) received the Paul Reehil Endowed Scholarship from Dean Vogel.