PRACTICING ARCHITECTS GIVE HIGH MARKS TO IIT PROGRAM
New rankings out this month place the College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) among the best architecture and design schools in the United States.
The fifth annual survey, released by the Design Futures Council's publication Design Intelligence , surveyed more than 1,100 architectural firms across the country. Participants were asked to review hiring practices during the last five years and rank institutions that produced graduates most prepared for real-world practice.
In the report, those surveyed ranked IIT's program in the top 15 undergraduate architectural programs in the U.S. The survey also ranked schools by region, with IIT's bachelor's and master's programs scoring fourth and sixth respectively in the Midwest region. The complete results can be obtained via the Design Intelligence Web site: www.di.net.
“This is a tremendous honor for us,” said College of Architecture Dean Donna Robertson . “It's not surprising since we receive great feedback from architecture firms across the country, telling us that IIT's program excels at preparing students for the real world challenges they will face as architects and designers.”
The College of Architecture 's program emphasizes investigations in architectural design and technology, through rigorous, critical thought. The IIT program additionally draws strength from its heritage, set forth by the college's director from 1938-1958, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, considered the father of the International Style of modern architecture. The program further capitalizes on its location in Chicago and its connection to progressive practitioners and emerging global architectural practices.
“At IIT our guiding values include design excellence, technical expertise and respect for the architect's role as a progressive agent in today's society,” said Robertson. “We instill in our students that they will not only be ethical, thoughtful and informed producers of buildings, but of all visual and physical environments.”
IIT's high marks in the Design Intelligence survey are also reflected in student enrollment statistics. Undergraduate first year enrollment from fall 2002 to fall 2003 nearly doubled. Graduate enrollment also saw a significant boost in year-to-year comparisons.
You can learn more about the bachelor's and master's degree programs in architecture at IIT at this Web site: https://arch.iit.edu/.
About Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as Illinois Tech, is a private, technology-focused, research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law. One of 16 institutions that comprise the Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU), Illinois Tech offers exceptional preparation for professions that require technological sophistication, an innovative mindset, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
