Outreach & Development in the School of Architecture Partnering between Education and Practice: “An exemplar of how to do it right.” In 2002, Fritz Steiner, Dean of The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, found himself in an interesting position. After the Interior Design degree program was transferred from the Human Ecology Department to the School of Architecture, the accreditation board of FIDER (Foundation for Interior Design Education Research) wanted to make sure that the level of the interior design program met its standards for quality. Dean Steiner’s goal was to not just address the FIDER concerns, but also to take the interior design program to the next level. He called UT-Austin graduate Judy Pesek [B.S., Interior Design, ’78], who also is Principal/ Managing Director of the Dallas office of Gensler…Architecture, Design & Planning Worldwide. Would she be interested in teaching a course? “Absolutely yes,” said Ms. Pesek, a self-described “ardent Longhorn alum.” “From the initial discussions with Dean Steiner and Assistant Dean for Development Marjie Young French, I proposed a course outline that would accomplish two goals—first, to be of benefit to the students, and second, to bring some of the best experts at Gensler to the Studio,” said Ms. Pesek. Thus the UT-Austin Gensler Studio was born. Focused on an actual project that Gensler had just completed in Austin, the interiors for Tivoli Software’s new building, the Studio was taught by ten Gensler professionals. In addition to two other UT graduates from the Dallas office, Chuck Hagemeier [B.A., History, ’75] and Kris Walsh [B.S., Interior Design,
“We hope that the Overland Partners Endowed Scholarship will assist and encourage deserving students who have demonstarted excellence in design while at UT-Austin School of Architecture.” —Madison Smith
Associate Professor Carl Matthews interviewed Judy Pesek on the “Gensler Studio” (see article at left): CM: Why is Gensler willing to donate so much to education?
Judy Pesek. ’83], associates from Gensler’s Houston and San Francisco offices participated. “We had buy-in at all levels. Our IBM/Tivoli client representative, Craig Anderson, agreed to serve as the Studio’s client. Debra Lehman-Smith, Principal, Lehman/Smith/McLeach, Washington, D.C., was a guest lecturer. Jim Furr, Gensler’s managing principal of the South Central region, taught our students about contracts and best practices. In addition, our chairman, Arthur Gensler, came in for a fireside chat on the state of the industry with design students and faculty,” Ms. Pesek said. Dean Steiner cites the Studio as “an exemplar of how to do it right. The Gensler Studio created the model from which others could follow suit, continuing the participation of other architecture and interior design firms, as well as other interior design degree programs,” he said. “The Gensler Studio is beneficial with both accreditation and recruitment of faculty. Site visitors from FIDER raved about the Gensler Studio and saw it as addressing the issues of concern. The UT-Austin Interior Design program since has been given full accreditation,” he said. See “Gensler Studio,” continued on page 4.
JP: Education has always been important to the firm. Arthur Gensler believes in giving back to the community and to students. Our philosophy is that students are the future. If we invest in the students then it will pay on the back-end. We like to be linked to the schools and good programs. We like to identify good students as future hires, and we want to help create future leaders for the industry. CM: Your team contributed a great amount of energy and knowledge. What if anything did they gain in the experience?
Overland Partners, from left: Rick Archer [B.Arch. ‘79], Becky Rathburn, Robert Shemwell [M.Arch. ‘86], Robert Schmidt [B.S.Eng. ‘79], Tim Blonkvist [B.Arch. ‘81], Madison Smith [B.Arch. ‘80], and Mark Headley [B.Arch. ‘78]. Photograph courtesy of Overland Partners. Overland Partners Endowed Scholarship Announced The School of Architecture is pleased to announce that Overland Partners, Inc., of San Antonio, Texas, has created the Overland Partners Endowed Scholarship. Scholarships will be awarded to “Overland Scholars” who have demonstrated excellence and future promise in architecture and design. Alumni Activities
JP: The staff was saying, “Let me be a part of the program.” They were excited to connect with the students and teach. Staying in touch with students and mentoring is energizing. To get back into the classroom is refreshing. It is a nice change to be able to teach the students about reality, but still be in a protected environment where exploring new ideas is encouraged. CM: The first Gensler Studio at UT-Austin addressed some needs in our program to help get through an important accreditation review. Now that we have addressed those needs throughout the program, what visions or goals do you have for future Gensler Studios?
Above: All-Class Reunion Participants, March 6, Goldsmith Courtyard. Photograph by Charlotte Pickett. Upcoming Alumni Events: June 11: Chicago Alumni Reception at the American Institute of Architects National Convention October 21: Houston Alumni Reception at the annual Texas Society of Architects Convention We encourage all alumni to contact alumni coordinator Stephanie Palmer at stephanie.palmer@mail.utexas.edu or 512-471-0617 for information on upcoming events, to share your personal and professional news, or to update your contact information.
JP: We need to build on it. We discovered in the first Studio that a lot of the basics of practice needed to be addressed. Now we want to build on that and reinSee “Pesek Interview,” continued on page
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