Architecture (buildings), landscape (spaces between buildings), and interiors (spaces within buildings) organize and shape the contexts for all our activities and relations. Students in this multidisciplinary program study all three of these spatial design fields within a single, integrated curriculum. At the core of the program are six comprehensive studio courses that address potentially real-world projects sited in Los Angeles and other cities. Support courses address the materials and methods of building, landscape, and interior construction; physical and digital communication skills and media; and the history and theories of spatial design. Each year, A/L/I seniors design and build a full-scale spatial environment in their final semester.
Student Work
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Produce three-dimensional spatial designs that address social, cultural, aesthetic, and utilitarian aspects of human occupation.
- Associate and apply design history and theory to develop and critically assess design solutions.
- Recognize and address human effects upon and sustainable use of the earth through designs for responsible and resilient architecture, landscapes, and interiors.
- Produce three-dimensional spatial designs that effectively and creatively incorporate fundamental structural considerations, structural systems and materials, and non-structural (finish) materials.
- Produce three-dimensional spatial designs that effectively and creatively incorporate principles of anthropometry, health, safety, and welfare.
- Create, analyze, and evaluate both physical and digital sketches, diagrams, orthographic drawings (plans, sections, elevations, paraline drawings), renderings, presentation boards, multi-page monographs, and three-dimensional models.
- Effectively compose and express ideas and information visually, verbally, and in writing.
- Operate effectively within participatory and collaborative environments.
Assessment Measures
Student learning in A/L/I courses is assessed using evaluations by individual faculty members of presentations, papers, projects, reflections, and the capstone senior installation. These evaluations, combined with group discussion of projects and learning outcomes at an annual assessment meeting, allow us to determine the level and quality of education attained by our students.