ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s first graduating class of architects will exhibit their final projects for review Thursday at the Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando. Also on display will be design proposals for a new School of Visual Arts & Design building on the main campus as prepared by juniors in the program.

All the designs will be open for public viewing at 500 W. Livingston St. from 5 to 6 p.m., after which the projects will be reviewed from 6 to 9 p.m. by practicing architects who will give their opinions.

β€œThey will say what they liked and what they wished the students had done. The idea is to have a continuing discussion about the process of design,” said John Maudlin-Jeronimo, director of the Architecture program. β€œPlus, it puts our work out into the public, and the profession knows what kind of students we have.”

The 34 graduates in the senior class began at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ in 2010.

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ created the Bachelor of Design in Architecture in partnership with Valencia College and the University of Florida as part of a 2+2+2 program for students to be able to complete a National Architectural Accrediting Board program in Central Florida. The local chapter of the American Institute of Architects helped develop the program.

Students take two years of classes as Valencia students and two years as ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ students at the University Center building on Valencia’s West Campus in Orlando. Students then can move on to obtain their master’s degree, potentially by staying in Orlando and enrolling in the University of Florida College of Design program at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s Center for Emerging Media.

The work that has been done by the graduating seniors – called the Design 8 Studio – has been noticed.

All 12 of the students who applied to the University of Florida for the master’s program were accepted, and others were accepted at schools such as the University of Southern California, Art Institute of Chicago, University of Oregon and Northeastern University.

The juniors – called the Design 6 Studio – were given the task to envision the new SVAD building next to the Visual Arts Building, where there now is a parking lot.

 

To see a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ TV video about the architecture program, go to .