The AIA announced on July 24 that three schools of architecture—Boston Architectural College, Iowa State University, and University of Cincinnati—are the recipients of grants through an inaugural effort to develop Practice Academy pilot programs. The Practice Academy results from a new collaboration among the AIA, the architecture academy, and architecture firms to provide a framework for a rigorous internship for students and architecture interns. The Practice Academy intends to stimulate lifelong learning for architecture professionals—beginning with internship—through the partnership of academics and practitioners. The grant program totals $90,000; each of the selected schools will receive $30,000 over the next three years to support their program development.

“The expectation is high for the three selected programs, as the future of the practice academy programs will be determined by the success of these pilot programs,” says Andrew Pressman, FAIA, Practice Academy Advisory Committee member. “We look forward to working with them over the next three years to help them achieve excellent results.”

Following are brief outlines of the programs.

Boston Architectural College (BAC) tackles BIM
The BAC will undertake a Practice Academy devoted to understanding and teaching current developments in computer-aided design technologies, also known as Building Information Modeling (BIM). Len Charney, BAC director of practice, says, “Building Information Modeling is much more than simply technology; it lies at the heart of a fundamental cultural shift involving an ability to lead the AEC industry in a highly-integrated design and project environment . . . The incorporation of BIM as a powerful digital simulation tool not only validates the design program and intent; it confirms the architect’s role as the single party in the entire building process who most broadly understands the needs and linkage between all constituencies.”

Because the BAC already supports a program that integrates practice and education, the advisory committee expressed confidence that this was the right forum for the BIM exploration. “Not only will we be able to see the development of a robust program that integrates practice and education, but we will also get an idea of how BIM may affect the academy and how architecture is taught in schools across the country,” explains Practice Academy Advisory Committee member Ann Chaintreuil, FAIA. BAC will distribute its findings to other schools of architecture.

"The BAC has historically built long-term mutual understandings between educators and practitioners about how students can be best educated by combining academic and practice-based learning,” says Ted Landsmark, Assoc. AIA, BAC president and ACSA president.

”This AIA grant enables us to assess how emerging BIM technologies can enhance three-dimensional learning as professional design education evolves for the 21st century."

Iowa State University
Iowa State University’s program seeks to engage practitioners, students, and faculty in contributing to projects in the local community. Jason Alread, assistant professor at Iowa State University and Nadia Anderson, lecturer at Iowa State University, explain that “to become successful architecture practitioners, emerging professionals must do more than master a set of skills . . . The goal of the Iowa State University Practice Academy is therefore not simply to incorporate elements of architecture practice into architecture education, but rather to develop a model that moves in both directions between education and practice to create a network of understanding that will become a foundation for future growth and learning in its graduates.”

Practice Academy Advisory Committee member Marjorie Callahan, AIA, says, “We understand that there are other community-based programs in the country, but this proposal stood out as unique as it includes all of the players—students, faculty, interns, practitioners, and the community. Now there will be an opportunity for every student to build a relationship with a firm.”

University of Cincinnati
A practitioner-led workshop series called “Jump-Start” forms the heart of the proposal from the University of Cincinnati. The advisory committee was excited by this proposal from a university with a long-standing history for a strong co-op program. “Tomorrow’s architect must be a reflective practitioner, with the capacity to analyze and effect change to better address the needs of stakeholders, and to adapt to rapidly changing conditions,” says Barry Stedman, associate professor at the University of Cincinnati. “This foundation is also essential for students, particularly as they make the transition from academic institutions to architectural practice.”

“Expanding access to architecture education to those without an architecture background and bringing them up to speed quickly to be able to participate fully in an architecture degree program is a laudable goal. This program greatly expands the possibility of multidisciplinary backgrounds for architects,” says Tom Mathison, FAIA, Practice Academy Advisory Committee member. Cincinnati’s program also will serve as a model for other schools of architecture seeking to engage practitioners in education.

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