myLoyalist
Home Campus News Loyalist Architecture Students Visit Frank Lloyd Wright Legacies

Loyalist Architecture Students Visit Frank Lloyd Wright Legacies

January 11, 2012

Experiential learning is an integral component of the educational process at Loyalist College. An example of this is a recent field trip taken by a group of 20 second and third-year Architectural students. The students went to Buffalo New York, Uniontown Pennsylvania and Washington DC to study the works of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright is internationally recognized for his innovative building style and contemporary designs. He created masterpieces such as Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, the SC Johnson and Son Wax Company Administration Center in Wisconsin, the Larkin Company Administration Building in Buffalo, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 

Second-year Architecture Technician student Rosalind Chow was part of the group. “Washington’s government buildings reflected styles that we had learned about in our classes, and the historic Frank Lloyd Wright buildings changed my attitudes about structures I had only seen on paper. It is one thing to learn about famous buildings but a whole new experience to actually visit them – you really need to be inside them to gain a full appreciation. I feel that trips like these are essential to the program’s learning value. It was exciting to see that architectural masterpieces can be found so close to home.” 

Erin Dupuis, one of the second-year students, described her travel impressions. “It is one thing to read about Frank Lloyd Wright, but it is an entirely different experience to walk through his buildings and take in all the brilliant details that a textbook or film can never fully convey. I never knew that he actually signed some of his buildings. There really is no question that his designs are works of art.”

While in Washington the students were also able to visit the Solar Decathlon sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. The decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.

“One of the highlights of my trip was attending the Solar Decathlon,” Erin added.  “It was inspirational to see the talent of fellow architecture students from around the world come together in such a great city. It was reassuring to see where hard work and creative thinking will take me in the future.”

The Loyalist Architectural programs enable students to obtain the level of certification that meets their needs. Upon completion of the first year, students receive a certificate in Residential Design and Drafting. Students can then go on to work toward a two-year Architectural Technician diploma, and third-year graduates earn an advanced Architectural Technology diploma. All levels combine lab work, classroom instruction and major building projects in a studio setting. Students learn to work independently and as part of a team while planning new construction and renovations, exercising creativity and analytical skills.

Click for information about the Loyalist College Architectural and Building Science programs.

 

 

 

Categories: