“Theaster Gates is an artist, musician, and “cultural planner” as well as Director of Arts Program Development at the University of Chicago. If pressed to describe his work in a single word, it would be “transformative.” In his performances, installations, and urban interventions, Gates transforms spaces, institutions, traditions, and perceptions.” – theastergates.com

Here’s youre official invitation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUYag6nMwrk&feature=youtu.be

Here’s a song about Cincinnati, written by their AIAS chapter:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7tO23n2jGc

Check back soon, registration begins Sept 1st

Genevieve Baudoin.   AIAS welcomes the newest KU SADP faculty member and thank her for her new commitment to our program.  We appreciate what she has done so far for the revised site class, as well as the studios she will be taking on in the coming semesters.   Read the interview below to find out more about the unusual path of our professor:

Rachel Keeven and Nick Fratta interview Professor Genevieve Baudoin

NF:  Where did you begin your own architectural education?

My path was more circuitous than most.  I didn’t start in architecture, I started in physics.  I was in astronomy, did that for two years, and realized I liked physics I can see and not physics I can’t see, so I dropped out of that and finished my music degree.  I’m a cellist, and got a degree in visual arts.  Then I went to GSD for my M.Arch.  So that’s my path to architecture, not nearly as clear as other people’s.

NF:  What gave the interest in teaching?

Because of my circuitous path, I was self aware of how I was being taught.  I had never drafted two weeks before school started, my portfolio was not the same as anyone else’s, and most of my family taught art at some point.  I come from a family of artists, I grew up around that, so I was interested in that, but it was different for me entering a school like GSD where they do a two year core program which is intense.  But I was always interested in teaching, and the opportunity came up and I took it.

NF:  Does the background of an art family give you favoritism in medium?

Not really, my dad’s a sculptor, my brother makes monsters – he does special effects so he digital and he works a lot in clay, my mom does a lot of illustration – that kind of stuff, my step mom’s a print maker and painter, my aunt is a painter, my uncle works in all kinds of media, and my grandfather was an interior designer.

RK: Were you interested in all of these growing up?

I actually rebelled from my family a lot, which is why I played the cello.  I was really not interested and my big rebellious moment was declaring my physics major.  And then at some point I realized that it was inevitable for me to return to art.  I still feel like I’m pretty different from my family, in visual art and architecture.  I’m still rebelling in a way, and music felt pretty far, but my mom does play the piano as well.

RK:  Where did you teach beforeKansas?  What topics?

Universityof New Mexico, I taught mostly 4^th year undergraduate studio.  This last year I taught a class in graphic representation and a class on context which is very similar to the class I’m teaching now, the site class.  Everyone calls it the “site planning” class, I’m calling it the “site” class.  It has a further appeal than planning implies, and I’m also teaching second year studio, undergrad.

NF:  What was your experience before coming to KU?  Was there specific work that focused your interests in architecture?

After GSD, I had interned for Antoine Predock, so I got a feel for a firm like that.  It was midsized when I was there.  We did a lot of competitions, and he is based inAlbuquerque, where I’m from, and I always circle back there.  When I left school I was interested in working somewhere I could learn how to build a building, I didn’t have the same experience most of you guys will have here in a 5 year program.  I also wanted to work overseas, and ended up at Foster’s for two and a half years.  Most of the stuff I worked on there was huge, 85, 000 sqf, 1,000,000 sqf, or 16 sqkm.  Really, nothing less than 100,000 sqf.  I worked in the bread and butter group at Foster’s, which was good for me.  The first project I was on I did a lot of on site work or “snagging,” which is a British term for arm-twisting. My own interests in architecture after that – they’ve been developing.  I’m interested in my own practice, but I think I have to get through the semester first.

RK:  What will you be teaching next semester?

I’ve just learned I’ll be teaching 3^rd year 408 next semester, and it looks like next year I’ll be teaching 5^th year studio.  I’ll probably teach the site class again, too.

NF:  FromAlbuquerque,New MexicotoLawrence,Kansas.  What drew you here?

My cousin used to live here about 12 years ago, so I been through here before.  I’m used to road tripping through [Lawrence] a lot.   I like that KU is interested in actually trying to make things, as well.  I’m sure my students are getting irritated at me for declaring everything in an abstract way, but I like that this school is a bit more technical.  It makes it more interesting to teach the way I want to teach within a school like this.

Quick Questions

Go to writing Instrument:  I’m always doodling, I always need a pen

Building you got stuck in:  It’s more about walking cities for me, London

CurrentlyReading:  Tom Robbins, and the new Steven Johnson is next in my stack

Music for Focus:  Always need music, no specific artist, but for now The Books.

House you grew up in:  One story Ranch, sprawling with additions; it’s in a constant state of renovation

Favorite Architect:  Cedric Price.  He hasn’t built very much, so it’s hard to dislike him.  It’s about potential and thinking.

Favorite KU Experience:  Still getting used to the town, but I’m looking forward to making them.

Because the AIAS is an organization built from the students up, we want to recognize the efforts of our members and friends for their achievements in the school.  This month, we had no nominations, so we’ll take this opportunity to encourage members to nominate each other for their work.  You’ve ALL earned it, let us know why.

Email:  aias@ku.edu  with a the name of nominee and nominator, and a little backstory.

Option will be in Marvin Hall on Friday, September 9 and will be available at Noon in 308 Marvin

to answer questions about their work in a variety of design firms. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

If you are interested in this professional option or would like to learn more about what the current

interns are up to, please join them in 308 Marvin for lunch next Friday.

Rossing Prize in Acoustics Education Awarded to Robert C. Coffeen

      Melville, NY (August 2011)—Robert C. Coffeen, lecturer and adjunct associate professor at the University of Kansas, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, in Lawrence, is the 2011 recipient of the Acoustical Society of America’s (ASA) Rossing Prize in Acoustics Education.

Although he has won numerous awards for excellence in teaching over the years, including the National Systems Contractors Association Educator/Instructor-of-the-Year in 2006, 2009, and 2010, Coffeen feels especially fortunate to receive the ASA Rossing Prize. “I am deeply honored and feel privileged to receive this teaching award,” he says. “Most of all, I feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to pass on to my students knowledge that developed as a result of interactions with very important mentors, through experiences in professional acoustical consulting, and as a result of continuing study and research and the inspired assistance of my University of Kansas colleagues, as well as through my membership in the Acoustical Society of America and my association with ASA colleagues.”

Coffeen graduated from theUniversityofIllinois, Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1953. His teaching has focused on the acoustics of buildings, which includes room acoustics, architectural noise control, mechanical and electrical system noise control, and electro-acoustic sound reinforcement and reproduction. He teaches all or portions of 10 courses in the Architecture Department of theSchoolofArchitecture, Design and Planning and one course in the Architectural Engineering program within the Civil Engineering Department of theSchoolofEngineeringrelating to building acoustics and electro-acoustics. His current research interests include roof rain noise, computer modeling and auralization, and effective methods for teaching building acoustics to architecture students.

Previous contributions and positions in the field made by Coffeen include: radio engineering officer, United States Army; principal engineer, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Kansas City Missouri; founder and principal consultant, Coffeen Fricke & Associates, consultants in acoustics and audio/visual communication, Lenexa Kansas; principal, R.C. Coffeen, consultant in acoustics, Leawood, Kansas.

He adds that the annual ASA student design competition, which he has helped organize during the past 13 years, significantly helps students explore and understand building acoustics and noise control. Explains Coffeen: “I encourage students to attend our semiannual national and international meetings and to present papers at these educational meetings. Though my teaching and through the assistance of ASA activities, including ourUniversityofKansasstudent ASA chapter, I have guided a significant number of architecture and architectural engineering students into careers in professional acoustical consulting, professional sound system contracting, and acoustics education at the university level.”

- Acoustical Society of America

Acoustical Society of America:  http://acousticalsociety.org/

Contact Bob Coffeen:  coffeen@ku.edu

Each year, Coffeen takes a large group of students to Chicago to tour its most notable performance venues.  Needless to say, he has connections, and he uses them to get students backstage, on stage, and all the in betweens.  It’s highly recommended you join the next one.

Check the firm, yo: http://www.eldo.us/