Stuart Weitzman School of Design
102 Meyerson Hall
210 South 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Pressing Matters VIII provides a glimpse of a very transformative year. Thanks to the generosity of Stuart Weitzman, PennDesign became the Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Mr. Weitzman’s generosity has expanded our capacity to offer student scholarships while also facilitating the expansion of our Robotics Lab, under the Advanced Research and Innovation Lab (ARI).
Last fall we had the pleasure of hosting Sir Peter Cook for a public lecture and three-day studio workshop. Over 80 first-year students presented drawings and models inspired by the Penn Museum’s collection to Peter. These designs evolved into elaborate, full-scale pavilion installations that were exhibited in the Penn Museum. In the spring we hosted the Architectural Theory Now? Symposium, which brought together a group of impressive scholars and attracted large crowds.
We just launched a brand new MSD program in Robotics and Autonomous Systems [RAS], which joined the existing MSD programs in Advanced Architectural Design [AAD] and Environmental Building Design [EBD]. The MSD-RAS will start in Fall 2020 under guidance of Director Robert Stuart-Smith. Robert and Masoud Akbarzadeh are also finalizing the fabrication of a Nomad House that will be built on the Pennovation grounds this summer. This project was initiated and supported by alumnus Hanley Bodek, while the experts at Cemex R&D Lab assisted and sponsored the concrete research and fabrication of the house. This is a great example of how the Department promotes working with experts in the field, and collaborates with manuafacturers, governments, and developers, that often generously support the students’ work.
The Department of Architecture is part of a multi-disciplinary school and an exceptional research university, allowing us to offer a multitude of certificates and dual degrees in a range of disciplines. As always, Pressing Matters was printed using recycled paper and non-toxic inks and will be available online as an e-book. Please contact the Department for a student discount.
Winka Dubbeldam, Assoc. AIA
Miller Professor and Chair
Department of Architecture
Designed by WSDIA
Published by ORO Editions
Editors: Winka Dubbeldam, Ivy Gray-Klein, Scott Loeffler
Purchase Pressing Matters VIII
Please contact the department for a student discount.
Pressing Matters VIII on ISSUU