ARCC President's Report - 1995

This has been a year of exploration and growth for ARCC, where new initiatives and directions have been blended with existing programs. A chronological review of some of ARCC's accomplishments over the past months illustrate this process.

January: The ARCC Conference Publication: "Contemporary Themes in Architectural Research", was published. The product of the Spring 1994 Howard University conference of the same name, this peer-reviewed publication provided an opportunity for many faculty to circulate their research before an international audience. The publication was distributed to architecture schools, libraries, and faculty across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The conference was organized by Carolyn Dry (University of Illinois), Victor Dzydzienyo (Howard University), and Richard Schneider (University of Florida).

March: An ARCC team provided a research consultation to the University of Oklahoma's College of Architecture, which focused primarily on the school's branch graduate program in Tulsa. This is a new service provided by ARCC on request from member schools for a modest fee and expenses. A written report with recommendations was given to OU's architecture school. The team consisted of Charles (Corky) Poster (University of Arizona) and Richard Schneider.

June: The ARCC Board conducted its first-ever workshop on "Research in Architectural Firms and Schools." Held at the University of Illinois' I-Space Gallery in Chicago, the meeting involved representatives of five major firms -- Holabird and Root, HOK, SOM, Perkins and Will, and Harbrouck Associates -- in intensive discussion with the ARCC Board. The result of the meeting, an elaboration of the perceived research needs of universities and the firms, was produced in order to see areas of overlap and potential collaboration. The meeting was organized by Carolyn Dry. Some of the products of this workshop are being incorporated within the planning of ARCC's Spring 1996 Conference at the University of Arizona (see below).

September: Planning commenced for ARCC's Spring 1996 Conference to be hosted by the University of Arizona's College of Architecture on April 26-27. The conference will feature paper submissions in the areas of practice, outreach, industry, and research in education and is expected to attract presentations from academics, practitioners and industry participants. The conference is being organized by Bob Hershberger (University of Arizona) and Mary Kihl (Iowa State University).

November: The ARCC panel discussion, "Building a Research Culture," organized by Richard Schneider and Carolyn Dry was presented in conjunction with the ACSA Administrators Conference in Milwaukee. The panel featured presentations by Walter Wendler (Texas A&M; University), Jerry Finrow (University of Washington), Pat Edwards (VPI), Carolyn Dry (University of Illinois), and Derek Drummond (McGill University). It was moderated by Richard Schneider.

In addition to the above activities, ARCC Board member Walter Grondzik (Florida A&M; University) has developed the ARCC OnLine Service, which when complete, will carry up-to-date news about ARCC member institutions, on-going and recently completed research projects, as well as information about new research initiatives. The OnLine service will feature ARCC Newsletters and data collected and organized by Board Member Julia Robinson (University of Minnesota) which also will be the basis for ARCC's new Research Directory, to be issued in hard copy early in 1996.

This year we have also continued the practice of using monthly conference calls as a forum in which to hold Board meetings. They are a cost-effective method of "meeting," and will likely be continued in the future. Similarly, communication among member schools has been facilitated by the ARCC Newsletter, which has been written, printed and distributed at Iowa State by Mary Kihl and her graduate assistants. The Newsletter has been integral to ARCC's efforts. We hope to be able to use all our communication channels to announce the winners of the ARCC's Research Awards. Headed by Michael Jones (Texas Tech University), the award panel's announcements will be featured at the Spring Conference at the University of Arizona.

I am proud to say that ARCC is ending another budget year solidly in the black. Moreover, membership continues at high levels -- 35 members as of this writing -- including six new members. In that respect, I am delighted to welcome Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK), the University of Puerto Rico, the University of Calgary, and the University of Washington among our new members. I welcome too returning members North Carolina State University and the State University of New York at Buffalo.

I also am pleased to say that ARCC has continued its tradition of cooperation with colleague institutions, such as the ACSA, the AIA and the new AIAR. As President of ARCC, I also serve on the AIAR Policy Board, which helps provide a communication link between the two organizations. It is my hope that we can continue to cooperate wherever feasible among these and other groups interested in the development of architectural research.

Finally, I express gratitude to the Executive Board for their extraordinary contribution in making this an exciting and productive year for ARCC. Thank you.

Richard H. Schneider, President, ARCC

Visiting Research Fellow
University of Manchester
Institute of Science and Technology