Boston Architectural College
Encyclopedia
Boston Architectural College (also known as The BAC), formerly known as the Boston Architectural Center, is New England's largest independent college of spatial design
. It offers first-professional
bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture
, interior design
, landscape architecture
, and design studies
(non-professional). The college offers continuing education credits and certificates through the BAC Continuing Education (CE) Program, The Landscape Institute (LI) at the BAC (formerly affiliated with Arnold Arboretum), and The Sustainable Design Institute (SDI) at the BAC (online graduate-level courses). It also hosts the BAC Summer Academy (for high school students) as well as a variety of other ways for the general public to explore spatial design
. It exhibits student work in its McCormick Gallery and frequently hosts conferences and
symposia on spatial design.
The BAC is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC), National Architectural Accrediting Board
(NAAB), Council for Interior Design Accreditation
(CIDA, formerly FIDER) and the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board
(LAAB, candidacy status; review in 2010). The BAC is a member of the ProArts Consortium.
Learn By Doing
Experiential learning is the cornerstone of the BAC education. We believe our approach is the best way for students to become critical thinkers and accomplished designers. Our students work in professional design environments in the day and attend academic classes in the evening. Students explore an ever-changing career landscape in the design disciplines, and decide which practice experiences to pursue. BAC students graduate with in-depth exposure to the field of design. They are trained to be lifelong learners who accomplish their professional goals.
Learn Through Experience
From matriculation to graduation, Practice is integrated into the curriculum and academic requirements. Students earn credits in Practice by spending time in a supervised professional setting, and their progress is measured by attainment of professional and interpersonal skills. Because of this unique combination of skills and experience, BAC students graduate not only with degrees, but with the ability to become leaders, critical thinkers, and innovators.
. The Club held annual public exhibitions and published illustrated catalogs.
The BAC began its formal educational program under the joint leadership of H. Langford Warren and Clarence Blackall
. The school was organized to offer an evening education in drawing, design, history, and structures. Like its informal predecessor, the BAC soon developed into an atelier affiliated with the Society of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in New York. The BAC's design curriculum, teaching methods, and philosophy closely resembled those of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
.
In 1911, the Club acquired a building at 16 Somerset Street on Beacon Hill. The BAC building contained a two-story Great Hall (designed by Ralph Adams Cram
), as well as other spaces used for lectures, meetings and exhibitions, a library, and several studios. The newer facilities attracted more students, and the course of instruction became increasingly defined and formal.
In the 1930s most American schools of architecture broke away from the Beaux-Arts tradition and began to establish their own curricula and teaching methods. Without the support of a university structure, The Club struggled with the pains of growth and adjustment. The BAC appointed Arcangelo Cascieri
to serve as dean. Cascieri brought the BAC through its philosophical transition without sacrificing the atelier teaching method. The BAC began to draw its faculty from nearby architectural schools and the extended local community of related professionals.
By 1965, the BAC had developed a continuing education program to serve the broader community. By the mid-60's, the Somerset Street building no longer sufficed to serve the needs of the growing school, and the BAC purchased a brick building at 320 Newbury Street. A national design competition was held in 1964, and the winning entry, by Ashley, Myer & Associates, houses the BAC to this day.
The National Architectural Accrediting Board
(NAAB) made a formal visit in 1971. In an unprecedented decision, the BAC's concurrent learning program (which made working in the architectural profession a formal and concurrent part of the program) was accredited in accordance with the standards used for traditional degree-granting institutions. The report read in part, "The BAC shall receive accreditation as a professional school of architecture, based on the proven worth of its programs over many years, the spirit of the administration, faculty and students, and the attainments of distinguished graduates."
In 2007, The BAC acquired 951/955 Boylston Street — the former home of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston — for $7.22 million. The 25423 square feet (2,361.9 m²) complex currently houses studios on the second and third floors and a lecture hall on the ground level. Work continues on the first floor which will house a gallery.
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC), National Architectural Accrediting Board
(NAAB)
Head of School: Jeffrey Stein, AIA
Degree Programs
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC), Council for Interior Design Accreditation
(CIDA)
Head of School: Crandon C. Gustafson, AIA ASID, IIDA
, LEED AP
Degree Programs
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC), Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board
(LAAB, candidacy status; review in 2010)
Head of School: Kevin Benham
Degree Programs
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(NEASC)
Head of School: Don Hunsicker
. The Introduction to Design Communication course was established to provide additional support and a smoother transition into college for students in need of such a track.
(CLD), landscape design history (CLH), landscape preservation (CLP), and planting design (CPD) and is the longest running certificate program of its kind.
The Landscape Design Program was established through the Radcliffe
Seminars in 1970. It was the result of positive feedback from a 1968 lecture at Radcliffe, "The Intellectual History of Garden Art." The institute moved to Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum in 2002 and would later become a part of the BAC in 2009. Though now a institute of the BAC, the Landscape Institute curriculum still involves partnerships with the Arnold Arboretum in addition to partnerships with The Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, Historic New England
, and the Wakefield Trust. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Landscape Institute, the BAC will host a landscape symposium on November 5, 2010. The current director of the Institute is Heather D. Heimarck, ASLA
.
, sustainable community planning and design, sustainable building design and construction, and sustainable residential design. Many courses are accepted for AIA
Sustainable Design/Health, Safety, Welfare Learning Continuing Education Units, many have been approved as part of the US Green Building Council’s Education Providers Program, and offer continuing education credits for LEED
AP’s, and most are accepted by the Royal Institute of British Architects
for Continuing Professional Development.
, Design Computing
, Decorative Arts, Historic Preservation
, Kitchen & Bath Design, Planting Design, and Sustainable Design
(on-site; online through the Sustainable Design Institute at the BAC).
The BAC is a registered AIA
provider for Continuing Education.
McCormick Gallery is a showcase for exhibitions, and a visual means to teach, engage and educate. Prominantly located on the corner of Newbury Street and Hereford, in the BAC's main building, the Gallery engages passersby and the lively BAC community within. All come together in this space for public opening receptions and exhibition related lectures.
to compete in the 2009 Solar Decathlon
in Washington, DC.
With the exception of access-regulated thesis studios in 100 Massachusetts Avenue, there are no 24-hour access spaces at The BAC. Administrators have also explored, at various times, the idea of investing in student residences.
320/322 Newbury Street
Classrooms, Meeting Spaces, Studios, Workshops, Academic & Technology Resources, Education Center, P.A.C.E. (Practice Advising & Career Education) Center, Learning Resource Center, BAC Library, Memorial Library, The Loft (Student Lounge), McCormick Gallery, Cascieri Hall (Lecture Hall/Flexible Space)
320 Newbury Street is a Brutalist building designed by the firm of Ashley, Myer & Associates in 1966 and renovated in 2000 by Silverman Trykowski Associates. The design intended for the building "... not to depend on a sense of weight to achieve importance" but rather, through the energy of form, to evoke a sense of aliveness and contending." The design uses cantilevered, suspended masonry masses and accentuated vertical "slits" in the exterior by which some of the building's core functions can be seen from the outside. Open studio floors allow students to look in on one another's classes and studios, and its ground floor, open to Newbury Street invites the general public into the McCormick gallery.
The program for the new building had specified capacity for 200 students with 30 to 50 square feet (4.6 m²) of space allocated to each student. Several floors were designed to be rented until the school required them. Growth of the student body, however, proceeded more rapidly than anticipated, and the number of students gradually increased to as many as 650 in 1974. The "extra floors" were never rented, and the expanding student body and staff needed to support them quickly placed demands on all existing space.
In the late 1980s, to accommodate its growth, the BAC purchased the adjoining building at 322 Newbury Street, a former carriage house.
The west elevation of the building is articulated with a mural by the artist Richard Haas
, which was completed in 1975. The trompe l'oeil
mural of a Classical-style building and dome provides a contrast to the Brutalist style of the building.
951/955 Boylston Street
Studios, AOP Program Offices, 955 Hall (Lecture Hall/Flexible Space)
100 Massachusetts Avenue
Masters Thesis Studio Spaces, Administrative Offices, Art Studios, Classrooms
ATELIER, Student Government - "Atelier's mission is to foster communication between the BAC administration and the student body, to emphasize and promote professional and social aspects of student activities on and off campus, and to foster fellowship, cooperation, and unity between and among BAC students and organizations. Atelier is one of the best ways to get involved in the school's happenings, connect with other students, and learn the inner workings of the school and of your education."
The BAC Interior Design Society (ASID & IIDA) - Slogan: "'Bringing ASID & IIDA to you!' The BAC Interior Design Society facilitates the needs of BAC Interior Design students by enhancing their educational experience and networking opportunities. It also functions as a bridge and network between ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), IIDA (International Interior Design Association), the BAC, and the students. It provides interior design students at the BAC a community in which to find creative and professional support, offering opportunities for education outside the classroom and interaction with other designers. In addition, it returns the support to the community through volunteer events. To join the BAC Interior Design Society, students must become a student member of ASID and/or IIDA."
NOMAS - "NOMAS is an increasingly influential voice, promoting diversity in architecture and the quality and excellence of future design professionals. The local chapter, BACNOMAS, is committed to being active in the design community, participating in national design competitions, mentoring local high school students, and participating in a variety of other educational and recreational activities. The BAC Chapter of NOMAS is about the spirit of inclusion, and participation is welcomed whether you consider yourself a minority or not. Get involved! In addition, all members of NOMAS receive free membership to the Boston Society of Architects."
Photo Club - "The Photo Club is here to support students' growth as a design professional by providing workshops, trips to galleries, and resources to enhance BAC students' ability to photograph their work on-site or at a studio."
SASLA - "The BAC's SASLA Chapter connects landscape architecture students to each other, to the local community and nationally as well. Participate to learn more about the field of landscape architecture, understand related skills, and be involved in a forum for landscape architecture students."
Studio Q - "Your resource to the BAC's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & questioning community. Studio Q's mission is to strengthen the LGBT community within the BAC and throughout Boston through various social events and political activism."
For information about student groups and activities see The BAC Student Development Blog
First Fridays
Student Lecture Series
The Bee
The bee
is somewhat of an informal mascot of the BAC, the roots of which can be traced to the "Cascieri Beehive," a nickname for a sculpture by Dean Arcangelo Cascieri
titled "Selfless Labor" depicting bees working together in a beehive
. It is featured on the BAC class ring, the Selfless Labor Award (awarded to Cascieri Lecturers), and has become the name of the BAC's weekly running club, the BAC Bees.
Spatial design
Spatial design is a relatively new discipline that crosses the boundaries of traditional design disciplines such as architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and landscape design as well as public art within the Public Realm....
. It offers first-professional
First professional degree
A professional degree prepares the holder for a particular profession by emphasizing competency skills along with theory and analysis. These professions are typically licensed or otherwise regulated by a governmental or government-approved body...
bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
, landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
, and design studies
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
(non-professional). The college offers continuing education credits and certificates through the BAC Continuing Education (CE) Program, The Landscape Institute (LI) at the BAC (formerly affiliated with Arnold Arboretum), and The Sustainable Design Institute (SDI) at the BAC (online graduate-level courses). It also hosts the BAC Summer Academy (for high school students) as well as a variety of other ways for the general public to explore spatial design
Spatial design
Spatial design is a relatively new discipline that crosses the boundaries of traditional design disciplines such as architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and landscape design as well as public art within the Public Realm....
. It exhibits student work in its McCormick Gallery and frequently hosts conferences and
symposia on spatial design.
The BAC is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC), National Architectural Accrediting Board
National Architectural Accrediting Board
The National Architectural Accrediting Board is the sole authority for accredited US professional degree programs for architecture in the United States, developing standards and procedures to verify that each accredited program meets standards for the appropriate education of architects...
(NAAB), Council for Interior Design Accreditation
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
The is an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for interior design education programs at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada...
(CIDA, formerly FIDER) and the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board
American Society of Landscape Architects
The American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing landscape architects, with more than 17,000 members in 48 chapters, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 42 countries around the world, plus 68 student chapters...
(LAAB, candidacy status; review in 2010). The BAC is a member of the ProArts Consortium.
Overview
The school was founded in 1889 as the Boston Architectural Club, and evolved over time into a fully accredited degree granting institution. Since its founding as a club for architects in the Boston area who needed to educate their apprentices, the BAC has maintained close ties to the professional design community throughout its history. Those ties exist in the BAC's faculty of practicing professionals.Concurrent Practice Curriculum
Boston Architectural College is the only degree-granting design college in the United States to comprehensively integrate classroom instruction and practice-based learning into each segment of its first-professional degree programs. The Concurrent Practice Curriculum (commonly known as "Practice") comprises approximately one-third of the credits needed for graduation for first professional degree programs.Learn By Doing
Experiential learning is the cornerstone of the BAC education. We believe our approach is the best way for students to become critical thinkers and accomplished designers. Our students work in professional design environments in the day and attend academic classes in the evening. Students explore an ever-changing career landscape in the design disciplines, and decide which practice experiences to pursue. BAC students graduate with in-depth exposure to the field of design. They are trained to be lifelong learners who accomplish their professional goals.
Learn Through Experience
From matriculation to graduation, Practice is integrated into the curriculum and academic requirements. Students earn credits in Practice by spending time in a supervised professional setting, and their progress is measured by attainment of professional and interpersonal skills. Because of this unique combination of skills and experience, BAC students graduate not only with degrees, but with the ability to become leaders, critical thinkers, and innovators.
Open Admissions Policy
The BAC maintains a policy of "accessibility and modest tuition" based on the premise that, "design education ought to be accessible to all who are capable of and committed to pursuing it." To this end, the BAC does not require a portfolio or standardized tests for admission and requires no specific background in design for all of its degree programs. As a consequence of this policy and in response to increases in student enrollment (particularly of students with no prior background in design), the BAC established its Academic-Only First Year Program.Boston Architectural Club (1889-1944)
Boston Architectural Club was established on December 11, 1889. The certificate of incorporation explains that the club was formed "for the purpose of associating those interested in the profession of architecture with a view to mutual encouragement and help in studies, and acquiring and maintaining suitable premises, property, etc., necessary to a social club... and...for public lectures, exhibitions, classes, and entertainment." Members of the Club provided evening instruction for drafters employed in their offices. From this interchange, an informal atelier developed in the tradition of France's Ecole des Beaux-ArtsÉcole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
. The Club held annual public exhibitions and published illustrated catalogs.
The BAC began its formal educational program under the joint leadership of H. Langford Warren and Clarence Blackall
Clarence Blackall
Clarence Howard Blackall was an American architect who is estimated to have designed 300 theatres.He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1857. He attended college at the University of Illinois School of Architecture, graduating with a B.S. in 1877, and received training at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts...
. The school was organized to offer an evening education in drawing, design, history, and structures. Like its informal predecessor, the BAC soon developed into an atelier affiliated with the Society of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in New York. The BAC's design curriculum, teaching methods, and philosophy closely resembled those of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
.
In 1911, the Club acquired a building at 16 Somerset Street on Beacon Hill. The BAC building contained a two-story Great Hall (designed by Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram
Ralph Adams Cram FAIA, , was a prolific and influential American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings, often in the Gothic style. Cram & Ferguson and Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson are partnerships in which he worked.-Early life:Cram was born on December 16, 1863 at Hampton Falls, New...
), as well as other spaces used for lectures, meetings and exhibitions, a library, and several studios. The newer facilities attracted more students, and the course of instruction became increasingly defined and formal.
In the 1930s most American schools of architecture broke away from the Beaux-Arts tradition and began to establish their own curricula and teaching methods. Without the support of a university structure, The Club struggled with the pains of growth and adjustment. The BAC appointed Arcangelo Cascieri
Arcangelo Cascieri
Arcangelo "Angelo" Cascieri was an influential sculptor and a major figure in the evolution of the Boston Architectural College in Boston, MA.-Early life:...
to serve as dean. Cascieri brought the BAC through its philosophical transition without sacrificing the atelier teaching method. The BAC began to draw its faculty from nearby architectural schools and the extended local community of related professionals.
Boston Architectural Center (1944-2006)
The Club reorganized in 1944 as the Boston Architectural Center, "to provide instruction in architecture and related fields for draftsmen and others interested in the practice of architecture or the allied arts, especially those whose employment might interfere with such education in day schools and universities."By 1965, the BAC had developed a continuing education program to serve the broader community. By the mid-60's, the Somerset Street building no longer sufficed to serve the needs of the growing school, and the BAC purchased a brick building at 320 Newbury Street. A national design competition was held in 1964, and the winning entry, by Ashley, Myer & Associates, houses the BAC to this day.
The National Architectural Accrediting Board
National Architectural Accrediting Board
The National Architectural Accrediting Board is the sole authority for accredited US professional degree programs for architecture in the United States, developing standards and procedures to verify that each accredited program meets standards for the appropriate education of architects...
(NAAB) made a formal visit in 1971. In an unprecedented decision, the BAC's concurrent learning program (which made working in the architectural profession a formal and concurrent part of the program) was accredited in accordance with the standards used for traditional degree-granting institutions. The report read in part, "The BAC shall receive accreditation as a professional school of architecture, based on the proven worth of its programs over many years, the spirit of the administration, faculty and students, and the attainments of distinguished graduates."
Boston Architectural College (2006 - present)
On July 1, 2006, The Boston Architectural Center formally adopted the new name Boston Architectural College in an effort to more readily identify as a college of higher education awarding accredited professional degrees in design.In 2007, The BAC acquired 951/955 Boylston Street — the former home of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston — for $7.22 million. The 25423 square feet (2,361.9 m²) complex currently houses studios on the second and third floors and a lecture hall on the ground level. Work continues on the first floor which will house a gallery.
Schools and Programs
Boston Architectural College is divided into four schools of spatial design, the Landscape Institute (LI) at the Boston Architectural College, the Sustainable Design Institute (SDI) at the Boston Architectural College, and the Continuing Education (CE) Program.Schools of Spatial Design
Degree Programs- Bachelor of ArchitectureBachelor of ArchitectureThe Bachelor of Architecture is an undergraduate academic degree designed to satisfy the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to professional examination and registration. It is awarded for a course of study that lasts up...
(B.Arch) - Master of ArchitectureMaster of ArchitectureThe Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
(M.Arch) - DistanceDistance educationDistance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
M.Arch Program
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC), National Architectural Accrediting Board
National Architectural Accrediting Board
The National Architectural Accrediting Board is the sole authority for accredited US professional degree programs for architecture in the United States, developing standards and procedures to verify that each accredited program meets standards for the appropriate education of architects...
(NAAB)
Head of School: Jeffrey Stein, AIA
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
Degree Programs
- Bachelor of Interior Design (BID)
- Master of Interior Design (MID).
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC), Council for Interior Design Accreditation
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
The is an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for interior design education programs at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada...
(CIDA)
Head of School: Crandon C. Gustafson, AIA ASID, IIDA
International Interior Design Association
The International Interior Design Association is a professional networking and educational association of more than 13,000 members in ten specialty forums, and twenty-nine chapters around the world. IIDA is committed to enhancing quality of life through excellence in interior design...
, LEED AP
Degree Programs
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA)
- Master of Landscape ArchitectureMaster of Landscape ArchitectureThe Master of Landscape Architecture is a professional and academic degree dealing with the manipulation of outdoor and public spaces to achieve socio-behavioural, environmental, and/or aesthetic outcomes.-Curriculum and Requirements:...
(MLA)
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC), Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board
American Society of Landscape Architects
The American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing landscape architects, with more than 17,000 members in 48 chapters, representing all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 42 countries around the world, plus 68 student chapters...
(LAAB, candidacy status; review in 2010)
Head of School: Kevin Benham
Degree Programs
- Bachelor of Design StudiesDesignDesign as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
(BDS)*- Architectural Technology
- Design ComputingDesign computingDesign Computing refers to an area of Design Studies that deals with furthering the understanding and the practice of design activities through the application and development of novel concepts and techniques in computing....
- Design History, Theory and CriticismDesign historyDesign history is the study of objects of design in their historical and stylistic contexts.With a broad definition, the contexts of design history include the social, the cultural, the economic, the political, the technical and the aesthetic...
- Historic PreservationHistoric preservationHistoric preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
- Sustainable DesignSustainable designSustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
- Online Master of Design StudiesDesignDesign as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
(MDS)*- Sustainable DesignSustainable designSustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
- Historic PreservationHistoric preservationHistoric preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
- Sustainable Design
- Design Studies students concentrate in one of the fields listed.
Accreditation:New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
(NEASC)
Head of School: Don Hunsicker
Academic-Only First Year Program (AOP)
The Academic-Only First Year Program is an optional first-year foundation studies program offered across the four schools of the BAC.Introduction to Design Communication (IDC)
In recent years, more students have matriculated at the BAC directly from secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
. The Introduction to Design Communication course was established to provide additional support and a smoother transition into college for students in need of such a track.
The Landscape Institute (LI) at the Boston Architectural College
The Landscape Institute (not to be confused with the School of Landscape Architecture) offers courses and certificates in landscape designLandscape design
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design.-Design scope:...
(CLD), landscape design history (CLH), landscape preservation (CLP), and planting design (CPD) and is the longest running certificate program of its kind.
The Landscape Design Program was established through the Radcliffe
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
Seminars in 1970. It was the result of positive feedback from a 1968 lecture at Radcliffe, "The Intellectual History of Garden Art." The institute moved to Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum in 2002 and would later become a part of the BAC in 2009. Though now a institute of the BAC, the Landscape Institute curriculum still involves partnerships with the Arnold Arboretum in addition to partnerships with The Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, Historic New England
Historic New England
Historic New England, previously known as the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities , is a charitable, non-profit, historic preservation organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It is focused on New England and is the oldest and largest regional preservation...
, and the Wakefield Trust. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Landscape Institute, the BAC will host a landscape symposium on November 5, 2010. The current director of the Institute is Heather D. Heimarck, ASLA
ASLA
ASLA may refer to:* Academia de Ştiinţe, Literatură şi Arte* American Society of Landscape Architects...
.
Sustainable Design Institute (SDI) at the Boston Architectural College
The Sustainable Design Institute (SDI) offers a completely online program of graduate-level courses, developed with Building Green, conferring certificates in sustainable designSustainable design
Sustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
, sustainable community planning and design, sustainable building design and construction, and sustainable residential design. Many courses are accepted for AIA
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
Sustainable Design/Health, Safety, Welfare Learning Continuing Education Units, many have been approved as part of the US Green Building Council’s Education Providers Program, and offer continuing education credits for LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
AP’s, and most are accepted by the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
for Continuing Professional Development.
Continuing Education Program
The BAC offers certificates in Architectural RenderingArchitectural rendering
Architectural rendering, or architectural illustration, is the art of creating two-dimensional images or animations showing the attributes of a proposed architectural design.-Computer-generated renderings:...
, Design Computing
Design computing
Design Computing refers to an area of Design Studies that deals with furthering the understanding and the practice of design activities through the application and development of novel concepts and techniques in computing....
, Decorative Arts, Historic Preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
, Kitchen & Bath Design, Planting Design, and Sustainable Design
Sustainable design
Sustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
(on-site; online through the Sustainable Design Institute at the BAC).
The BAC is a registered AIA
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
provider for Continuing Education.
McCormick Gallery
The BAC operates a gallery on the main level of its 320 Newbury Street building. McCormick Gallery features student work as well as themed spatial design exhibits. The gallery is open to the public.McCormick Gallery is a showcase for exhibitions, and a visual means to teach, engage and educate. Prominantly located on the corner of Newbury Street and Hereford, in the BAC's main building, the Gallery engages passersby and the lively BAC community within. All come together in this space for public opening receptions and exhibition related lectures.
2009 Solar Decathlon (Team Boston)
In 2009, students from The BAC joined students from Tufts UniversityTufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
to compete in the 2009 Solar Decathlon
Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an international competition that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house...
in Washington, DC.
Campus
Facilities
Facilities at The BAC are referred to by their addresses. In recent years with the purchase of properties at 100 Massachusetts Avenue and 951/955 Boylston Street, the college has been rapidly expanding into new spaces. The college is planning major work on the 320/322 Newbury & 951/955 Boylston properties towards the goal of making both properties and the surrounding cityscape more sustainable. The current plan calls for the creation of a green roof on 320 Newbury Street as well as improvements on the public alley between 320/322 Newbury and 951/955 Boylston.With the exception of access-regulated thesis studios in 100 Massachusetts Avenue, there are no 24-hour access spaces at The BAC. Administrators have also explored, at various times, the idea of investing in student residences.
320/322 Newbury Street
Classrooms, Meeting Spaces, Studios, Workshops, Academic & Technology Resources, Education Center, P.A.C.E. (Practice Advising & Career Education) Center, Learning Resource Center, BAC Library, Memorial Library, The Loft (Student Lounge), McCormick Gallery, Cascieri Hall (Lecture Hall/Flexible Space)
320 Newbury Street is a Brutalist building designed by the firm of Ashley, Myer & Associates in 1966 and renovated in 2000 by Silverman Trykowski Associates. The design intended for the building "... not to depend on a sense of weight to achieve importance" but rather, through the energy of form, to evoke a sense of aliveness and contending." The design uses cantilevered, suspended masonry masses and accentuated vertical "slits" in the exterior by which some of the building's core functions can be seen from the outside. Open studio floors allow students to look in on one another's classes and studios, and its ground floor, open to Newbury Street invites the general public into the McCormick gallery.
The program for the new building had specified capacity for 200 students with 30 to 50 square feet (4.6 m²) of space allocated to each student. Several floors were designed to be rented until the school required them. Growth of the student body, however, proceeded more rapidly than anticipated, and the number of students gradually increased to as many as 650 in 1974. The "extra floors" were never rented, and the expanding student body and staff needed to support them quickly placed demands on all existing space.
In the late 1980s, to accommodate its growth, the BAC purchased the adjoining building at 322 Newbury Street, a former carriage house.
The west elevation of the building is articulated with a mural by the artist Richard Haas
Richard Haas
Richard John Haas is an American muralist who is best known for architectural murals and his use of the Trompe l'oeil style.-Works:...
, which was completed in 1975. The trompe l'oeil
Trompe l'oeil
Trompe-l'œil, which can also be spelled without the hyphen in English as trompe l'oeil, is an art technique involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects appear in three dimensions.-History in painting:Although the phrase has its origin in...
mural of a Classical-style building and dome provides a contrast to the Brutalist style of the building.
951/955 Boylston Street
Boylston Street
Boylston Street is the name of a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Another Boylston Street runs through Boston's western suburbs....
Studios, AOP Program Offices, 955 Hall (Lecture Hall/Flexible Space)
100 Massachusetts Avenue
Massachusetts Avenue
Massachusetts Avenue may refer to:* Massachusetts Avenue , Massachusetts, also:** Massachusetts Avenue , a subway station on the MBTA Orange Line...
Masters Thesis Studio Spaces, Administrative Offices, Art Studios, Classrooms
Student Organizations
AIAS - "The BAC is one of more than 125 schools of architecture to maintain a local chapter of AIAS, an independent and non-profit student-run organization. This grassroots association is a cooperative between thousands of students committed to helping each other and sharing differing views. Membership is open to all architecture students and provides opportunities such as lectures, field trips, social and networking events, community service projects, and conferences."ATELIER, Student Government - "Atelier's mission is to foster communication between the BAC administration and the student body, to emphasize and promote professional and social aspects of student activities on and off campus, and to foster fellowship, cooperation, and unity between and among BAC students and organizations. Atelier is one of the best ways to get involved in the school's happenings, connect with other students, and learn the inner workings of the school and of your education."
The BAC Interior Design Society (ASID & IIDA) - Slogan: "'Bringing ASID & IIDA to you!' The BAC Interior Design Society facilitates the needs of BAC Interior Design students by enhancing their educational experience and networking opportunities. It also functions as a bridge and network between ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), IIDA (International Interior Design Association), the BAC, and the students. It provides interior design students at the BAC a community in which to find creative and professional support, offering opportunities for education outside the classroom and interaction with other designers. In addition, it returns the support to the community through volunteer events. To join the BAC Interior Design Society, students must become a student member of ASID and/or IIDA."
NOMAS - "NOMAS is an increasingly influential voice, promoting diversity in architecture and the quality and excellence of future design professionals. The local chapter, BACNOMAS, is committed to being active in the design community, participating in national design competitions, mentoring local high school students, and participating in a variety of other educational and recreational activities. The BAC Chapter of NOMAS is about the spirit of inclusion, and participation is welcomed whether you consider yourself a minority or not. Get involved! In addition, all members of NOMAS receive free membership to the Boston Society of Architects."
Photo Club - "The Photo Club is here to support students' growth as a design professional by providing workshops, trips to galleries, and resources to enhance BAC students' ability to photograph their work on-site or at a studio."
SASLA - "The BAC's SASLA Chapter connects landscape architecture students to each other, to the local community and nationally as well. Participate to learn more about the field of landscape architecture, understand related skills, and be involved in a forum for landscape architecture students."
Studio Q - "Your resource to the BAC's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & questioning community. Studio Q's mission is to strengthen the LGBT community within the BAC and throughout Boston through various social events and political activism."
For information about student groups and activities see The BAC Student Development Blog
Traditions/Culture
Food for FinalsFirst Fridays
Student Lecture Series
The Bee
The bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
is somewhat of an informal mascot of the BAC, the roots of which can be traced to the "Cascieri Beehive," a nickname for a sculpture by Dean Arcangelo Cascieri
Arcangelo Cascieri
Arcangelo "Angelo" Cascieri was an influential sculptor and a major figure in the evolution of the Boston Architectural College in Boston, MA.-Early life:...
titled "Selfless Labor" depicting bees working together in a beehive
Beehive
A beehive is a structure in which bees live and raise their young.Beehive may also refer to:Buildings and locations:* Bee Hive, Alabama, a neighborhood in Alabama* Beehive , a wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings...
. It is featured on the BAC class ring, the Selfless Labor Award (awarded to Cascieri Lecturers), and has become the name of the BAC's weekly running club, the BAC Bees.
Notable people
- William Sutherland MaxwellWilliam Sutherland MaxwellWilliam Sutherland Maxwell was a well-known Canadian architect and a Hand of the Cause in the Bahá'í Faith. He was born in Montreal, Canada to parents Edward John Maxwell and Johan MacBean.-Education:...
| Club Member, c.1895 |, renowned Canadian architect, Hand of the Cause in the Bahá'í FaithBahá'í FaithThe Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
. - Louis SkidmoreLouis SkidmoreLouis Skidmore was an American architect, co-founder of the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and recipient of the AIA Gold Medal.-Biography:...
| Club Member, c.1920 |, co-founder of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and recipient of the AIA Gold Medal. - Edward Durell StoneEdward Durell StoneEdward Durell Stone was a twentieth century American architect who worked primarily in the Modernist style.-Early life:...
| Club Member, c.1920 |, prominent twentieth century American architect. - Arcangelo CascieriArcangelo CascieriArcangelo "Angelo" Cascieri was an influential sculptor and a major figure in the evolution of the Boston Architectural College in Boston, MA.-Early life:...
| Club Member, c.1922-1926; Head of the BAC[lub], 1937–1943; Dean of the BAC[enter], 1943-? |, influential sculptor - Glenn GisslerGlenn GisslerGlenn Gissler is an award-winning American interior designer, based in New York, NY. He is the president and sole proprietor of Glenn Gissler Design, Inc., and has earned widespread acclaim for residential and office projects that fuse his clients’ personalities and spatial needs with his...
| attended c.1978-80 |, award-winning American interior designer,and president of Glenn Gissler Design, Inc. - Stewart WurtzStewart WurtzStewart Wurtz is a well-known studio furniture maker based in Seattle. He has exhibited locally in the Pacific Northwest and nationally at a variety of galleries and museums....
| attended c.1980 |, well-known studio furniture maker based in Seattle. - Gianfranco ZaccaiGianfranco ZaccaiGianfranco Zaccai is president and CEO of Design Continuum, an international multidisciplinary design consultancy, and was Treasurer for the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design from 2003-2005. Zaccai holds a degree in Industrial Design from Syracuse University, and a degree in...
IDSA/ADI, D.F.A. (Hon.) | B.Arch '78 |, Chairman, President and Chief Design Officer at Design ContinuumDesign ContinuumContinuum is a design and innovation consultancy based in Newton, Massachusetts, with other offices in Los Angeles, Milan, Shanghai and Seoul. The company’s core disciplines include Industrial Design, Design strategy, Service Design, Human Factors, Interaction Design, Sustainable Design,... - Carole Wedge FAIA, LEED, AP | B.Arch '90 |, President of Shepley BulfinchShepley BulfinchShepley Bulfinch is an international architecture, planning, and interior design firm with offices in Boston and Phoenix...
See also
- Spatial designSpatial designSpatial design is a relatively new discipline that crosses the boundaries of traditional design disciplines such as architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and landscape design as well as public art within the Public Realm....
- Boston Society of ArchitectsBoston Society of ArchitectsOne of the oldest and largest chapters of the AIA, the Boston Society of Architects is a nonprofit membership organization committed to architecture, design and the built environment .-History:...
- 941–955 Boylston Street941–955 Boylston StreetThe building at 941–955 Boylston Street in the Back Bay district of Boston, Massachusetts was designed by Arthur H. Vinal in 1886, while he was City Architect, as the city's first combined fire and police station...
- Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and DesignAntoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and DesignThe Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design formerly the College of Media Arts and Design is one of the colleges of Drexel University...
- NewSchool of Architecture and DesignNewSchool of Architecture and DesignNewSchool of Architecture and Design is a for-profit institution of higher education located in downtown San Diego. NSAD professional programs in architecture accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board include:...