The School of Architecture will have a unique curriculum based upon four related subjects:

Design Studio
Culture (including histories, material culture)
Technology (including ecology, sustainability, structures)
Professional Practice (including work-terms for credit)
Design Studio

Unique features of the program:

·         Extensive practical applications through Design Studio;

·         Ongoing Design-Build and Community-Design projects;

·         Inclusion of individual cultural backgrounds, including Ontario Francophone, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students and communities;

·         Access to an Elder-in-residence, while several courses will cover aboriginal knowledge and teachings;

·         Within the new building, spaces and rooms specifically designed to enhance the cultural and spiritual experience of students;

·         26 week (two 13-week blocks) practical co-op internship experience;

·         A brand new facility comprised of 4 buildings that will offer unique teaching opportunities regarding long-term building performance and sustainability;

·         Enrolment is limited to 70 students per year.

Unique aspects of the School of Architecture

The School will conduct many of its design studio projects in communities that invite us to explore real issues. This will focus on hands-on learning, through Design-Build and Community-Design projects that will make the School become known in the wider architectural community.

The School will offer a co-operative educational model where students first work in related industries on paid work-terms, followed by a 4 month work-term in an architecture office in the undergraduate program and a longer 8 month work-term during the graduate program in architecture offices locally, nationally, and internationally. The mix of industry and architecture co-op terms will be unique to our program. Integrating education and professional practice for academic credit produces stronger young architects who are exposed to theory and practice in measured ways.

The School will place particular emphasis on the Francophone student experience through having a Francophone design studio group each year, electives and internships in French, etc. Regarding the FMNI student experience; there will be First Nations Art courses, an Elder in residence, Aboriginal faculty, and a curriculum that addresses contemporary Aboriginal culture.  The idea is to create synergy among diverse cultural groups, not cultural silos. Special positions such as an artist in residence and an elder in residence are about mentoring students throughout the program as an integral part of their education.

The School will be downtown, and therefore will have direct links with other downtown businesses and related services in food, housing, supplies, etc. Connecting the School to the LU campus is critical, and this will begin with first year students taking general electives on campus. Our buildings and events will draw campus students to the downtown as well on a regular basis.

The School will aim to have consistent and sustained environmental practices within the daily life of the School, starting with the building design.