The School of Architecture, Latin America & the World

With its position in the southeastern United States and its proximity to the Caribbean and Latin America, the Master of Science will pursue an intense international North-South agenda that will allow students and faculty to develop a deeper understanding of architecture and cultures in an increasingly globalized world. Design studios have been organized with communities in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Brazil. Students’ works in Baranquilla, Colombia, and Monterrey, Mexico, have resulted in publications curated by Prof. Adib Cure and Carie Penabad. Among other initiatives it is worth noting Professor Lejeune’s exhibition catalogue on the history of globalization in Latin American architecture since the Renaissance – Cruelty and Utopia: Cities and Landscapes of Latin America – which won the CICA (International Critic of Contemporary Architecture) for Best Catalogue in 2005; Professors Lejeune and Shulman’s important exhibition at the History Miami Museum (2008), titled Interama: Miami and the Pan-American Dream; as well Professors Sonia Chao and José Gelabert-Navia’s works on urban codes in Havana, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

The School is a member and has a representative on the Board of the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) at the University of Miami. The Center’s distinguished faculty – and their students – are exploring some of the most pressing issues facing the region, issues such as climate change, urban development, and public health. By hosting lectures, workshops, and conferences, as well as supporting cutting-edge research, the Center provides a hub for these people to share their knowledge with each other and to brainstorm new ideas and activities. This knowledge exchange positions the University of Miami and its School of Architecture at the center of a broader global dialogue that connects the rest of the world to Latin America and the Caribbean. The School of Architecture (Prof. Penabad and Cure) is co-sponsoring a multi-disciplinary symposium on Informal Cities for Fall 2012.

Beyond Latin America, the School of Architecture has established a collaborative network with selected European schools and faculty. A program is already active with the Ecole d’architecture de Nantes in France, and Università della Sapienza in Rome. Other initiatives are in development with Barcelona, Madrid, and Colombia. Students in the Master of Science have the opportunity to study one semester at the University of Miami Rome Center (Spring).