Southern California Institute of Architecture

Infobox_University
name =Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
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established =1972
type =Private
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director =Eric Owen Moss
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students =500
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city =Los Angeles
state =CA
country =USA
campus =Urban
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nickname =SCI-Arc
affiliations =
website =http://www.sciarc.edu

The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), was founded in 1972 by Ray Kappe. Thom Mayne was among its founding instructors and Michael Rotondi among its first students. [Barrie-Anthony, Steven. [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/valley/la-hm-timeline7jul07,1,5914658.story?coll=la-editions-valley "Landscape of constant change."] Los Angeles Times. July 7, 2005. Accessed on 15 January 2007.] It is an independent institute granting undergraduate and graduate degrees in Architecture. Originally located in Santa Monica, the school moved in the 1990s to an area of Los Angeles situated among Marina del Rey, Westchester, Culver City, and what would become Playa Vista. In 2000 the school relocated again, this time to the Arts District (formerly the Toy District) east of Downtown Los Angeles. The move was overseen by the then director of the school, Neil Denari.SCI-Arc is widely regarded as one of the most avant-garde U.S. architecture schools, with a reputation for pushing the boundaries of academic study. [Giovannini, Joseph. [http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/BTS/archives/adaptiveReuse/03_sciArk/overview.asp "An architect transforms a freight depot for his alma mater and employer in a quarter-mile-long structure"] 19 sept 07.] Historically, the school has close links with the wider community and conducts numerous projects that engage with the most under-privileged members of the city.

The school now occupies the 1907 Santa Fe Freight Depot building designed by Harrison Albright in the industrial area just east of Downtown Los Angeles.

History

Founded in 1972, the school dedicated itself to the pursuit of architecture as a tool for both artistic and social experimentation. Originally called the New School, and based on the concept of a “college without walls,” the institute started in a leased industrial building in Santa Monica, California. [SCI-Arc. [http://www.sciarc.edu/portal/about/history/index.html History] 19 sept 07.] In 1976, the B.Arch and M.Arch received initial accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The same year, Ray Kappe received an Excellence in Education Award from the California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (CCAIA) and the students and faculty received an Honor Award for their renovations on the original building. ["Volume5". [http://www.volume5.com/sciarc/25_years_of_sci-arc_1.html "25 Years of SCI-Arc 1972-1979"] 19 sept 07.] By 1980, the school received full accreditation from NAAB. ["Volume5". [http://www.volume5.com/sciarc/25_years_of_sci-arc_1.html "25 Years of SCI-Arc 1972-1979"] 19 sept 07.] After many years of growth and changes, US News & World Report lists SCI-Arc as 12 out of 20 top M.Arch programs in the country. ["Volume5". [http://www.volume5.com/html/25_years_of_sci-arc_3.html "25 Years of SCI-Arc 1990-1997"] 19 sept 07.]

References

External links

* [http://www.sciarc.edu Southern California Institute of Architecture school site]
* [http://architettura.supereva.com/files/20020106/ Interview with former director of SCI-Arc, Neil Denari]