Fay Jones at work in his office in the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Center, mid-1950s. Photo courtesy Ernie Jacks.

The University of Arkansas School of Architecture ranked 20th in the nation in the 10th Annual Survey of America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools, a study conducted by the Design Futures Council and published in the November/December 2008 issue of Design Intelligence. The School of Architecture ranked 20th among the top 20 undergraduate architecture programs, sharing this honor with Cooper Union, Oklahoma State University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The School of Architecture also was included with a rank of “notable distinction” in a new, comprehensive list of America’s World-Class Schools of Architecture compiled by James P. Cramer, editor of Design Intelligence. Cramer’s report listed programs that have distinguished themselves over time on the basis of rankings by professional firms, architecture deans and chairs and student evaluations, among other criteria.

This marks the first time that the University of Arkansas School of Architecture has been included on the top 20 list, although past issues of Design Intelligence have noted the number of national awards won by the school’s faculty.

“It’s nice to be recognized as one of the best schools in the country,” said Jeff Shannon, dean of the School of Architecture. “I’m glad that our faculty, students and staff are getting national recognition for their work.”

Shannon believes that the school has long merited inclusion in the survey, but was probably overlooked up to now because the survey tends to favor schools with a large alumni base in urban areas.

The survey, conducted in mid-2008, queried design professionals across the United States about the programs they considered best in preparing students for professional success. They were also asked to cite programs they considered best in educating and training for specific skills. The survey tapped more than 200 of the leading firms in the United States and had a response rate of more than 85 percent of the largest architecture and design firms in the nation. The survey also included high-caliber small- and medium-sized firms; deans and chairs from more than 100 academic programs, and more than 900 architecture students who completed surveys about their design education experience.

Bryan Rachal, a reporter with local NPR affiliate KUAF 91.3 FM, interviewed architecture department head Tim de Noble about the ranking. Listen in.

The Community Design Center's 43-unit development for Habitat for Humanity has been selected as a pilot project for LEED Neighborhood Development certification.

The University of Arkansas Community Design Center, an outreach program of the School of Architecture, has won three national awards for a sustainable neighborhood that they designed for the Washington Co. chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Porchscapes has won a 2009 American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design; a Progressive Architecture Award in the 56th Annual Progressive Architecture Awards program, sponsored by Architect magazine; and a 2008-09 ACSA/AIA Housing Design Education Award sponsored by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the American Institute of Architects. These latest awards bring recognition for the project to a total of seven regional and national awards.

Located on Huntsville Road, adjacent to transitional housing for Seven Hills Homeless Center, the 10-acre parcel is currently in the engineering phase. Habitat for Humanity plans to launch a fundraising campaign for Porchscapes this spring. Read more about green features of the project.

Roger Boothe, AIA (B.Arch. '71), has won the 2009 AIA Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture, which recognizes excellence in architectural advocacy in three categories; Boothe has been recognized for his work in the public sector. As the director of urban design in Cambridge, Mass. for the last 30 years, Boothe has guided a major transformation of the city. According to the AIA release, Boothe has worked with more than 100 architecture firms to develop more than 20 million square feet within Cambridge, notably implementing plans and guidelines in four major project areas: Harvard Square, Central Square, Cambridgeport/MIT and the East Cambridge waterfront. He will be honored at the 2009 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in San Francisco.

Allison Architects, led by principal John Allison (B.Arch. '71) was named "Best Architectural Firm of 2008" by Arkansas Business magazine. Other alumni in the firm are Sallie Overbey (B.Arch. '81), Matthew Cabe (B.Arch. '03), Chris Hartsfield (B.Arch. '97), Bradley Prater (B.Arch. '06) and Christopher Smith (B.Arch. '98).

Karen Stair, executive assistant to Dean Jeff Shannon, has won Employee of the Quarter at the University of Arkansas. The letter of submission noted that "Karen is the heart of the School of Architecture . . . She has a natural ability to bring people of differing perspectives together toward a common goal, and to accomplish high volumes of work with seemingly little stress." Dean Shannon summed it up with the comment: "Karen is literally the one indispensible person in the School of Architecture. . . She is a jewel in our staff and deserves whatever recognition she receives."

Congratulations, all!

Craig Curzon (B.Arch. ' 93) with the Fayetteville office of Polk Stanley interviews Liz Huff at the 2008 career fair.

Need new talent – or looking for your first professional position? Plan to join us for this year's Design Career Day. Held in the spring since 1998, the school's career fair offers design firms first crack at new talent and gives students a chance to land their first job or internship. This year interior design students will participate, expanding the talent pool for visiting firms.

This year's Career Day will take place from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 in the Arkansas Union Ballroom. The School of Architecture will host a Portfolio Preview from 5:30 - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 in the second floor gallery of Vol Walker Hall.

Employers may register online.

Students may post resumes online.

Questions? Contact Tracy Cookson.

Section of water tower at Heifer International Headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., one of two projects to share top honors in 2008. Designed by Reese Rowland, B.Arch. '90, with Little Rock firm Polk Stanley Rowland Curzon Porter Architects Ltd.

It's not too late to submit your work to the 2009 Alumni Design Awards. Winners of this year's awards will be announced at the Celebration Banquet on April 4, part of the weekend of special events celebrating the school's new name. And of course, we will publish the top projects in Re:View magazine and on the school's web site.

Please note that we've made some changes this year. Prizes will be awarded in two categories: architecture and landscape architecture and planning. The total number of awards, and level of recognition, will be determined by the jury.

We've also made submission easier by creating a PowerPoint template. To download the template and guidelines, visit Alumni Design Award Submission Guidelines.

Deadline: Submissions must be postmarked no later than February 27, 2009.