arch 442 professional
practice
arch 453 urban design
studio
arch 480 architectural
internship
Architects must learn to both support
and lead efforts to make our communities and cities better
places in which to live. This is the purpose of the Urban
Design Internship in your education.
This award-winning
program is broken down into three classes which account
for 14 units. These classes divide the quarter into two
integrated five week sessions over the course of the regular
ten week quarter.
The first five week session is a collaborative urban design
studio that addresses city wide issues through a design
project. In conjunction with this design project there
are multiple tours and events that serve to introduce
the students to the city life and to orient them in the
urban context of San Francisco.
The second five week session is primarily focused on the
architectural internship. Each student will be assigned
to a firm of respected design stature within the San Francisco
design community to aquire the neccessary experience to
smoothly transition from the academic world into the professional
world. Concurrent with the internship is a very detailed
professional practice class that addresses the issues
experienced each day in the internships. This pairing
provides a strong connection to the subject matter and
makes the material "real."
ARCHITECTURE 442: This is the most valuable class
that you may ever take at Cal Poly if you ever intend
on starting your own architectural firm. It is a comprehensive
course that will cover types of firm structure and delivery
methods all the way through the legal contracts that govern
relationships in the building industry.
This may sound like dull material and admittedly it is,
but when paired with the architectural intership, the
material becomes "real." You will identify these
issues actually in practice at the internship firms and
you will be able to talk about them intelligently with
your mentors.
Grades for architecture 442 are based on class participation,
attendance, several assignments, and any other governing
rules pursuant to University Policy as stated in the current
Cal Poly Catalogue. The final exam will be 90% of the
grade and 10% will be attributable to the other factors.
ARCHITECTURE 453: Through acollaborative
studio with the San Francisco Department of City Planning
or other urban planning group, we will be "learning
by doing" how architects can take an active part
in shaping the environment and in fact "become leaders"
in the community. The interdisciplinary value of this
effort will be extremely helpful to you understand which
other design disciplines and values are vital to a comprehensive
approach to urban design. This is a unique opportunity
for you to contribute to an important prototype design
effort.
This is a typical design studio interms of having a project
and the amount of effort and standard of care required.
The main difference is that the project will be an urban
design project. Often we work with the San Francisco Planning
Department to develop real projects that are needed in
the city. In return the planning department provides critics
and relavent information (maps, documents, etc.). This
is an exiciting opportunity to deal with real urban issues
with real constraints. It is also an opportunity to understand
the inner workings of a planning department, who will
undoubtly be making approvals on your future projects.
Check out the problem statement for Spring
2001.
The other main difference is that this studio is compressed
into the first five weeks but still requires the same
level of work. Typically we meet as an entire class 9:30
to 3:30pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.Tours or individual
meetings are reserved for Tuesdays and/or Thursday. Other
times are announced as opportunities or needs arise. Assume
a studio commitment of at least 30 hours per week in structured
work with a heavy commitment of remaining hours necessary
for individual work and progress.
Grading is in accordance with the University's standards
printed in the current Cal Poly catalogue. Late work will
receive a one letter grade DROP for each day it is late.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then
is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle
ARCHITECTURE 480: My goal in founding this program
is to assist your 40+ year career and final study at Cal
Poly. This program begins a mentor relationship and
critical contacts for your future, giving you a competitive
edge. You must make this happen!! Now
is the time to take an active role in shaping
your professional education.
Check out the internship in greater
detail.
