NewSchool of Architecture & Design Announces New Board Members for its San Diego-Based Domus Academy School of Design

Top industry professionals from Nissan, Sound United, and RKS Design offer professional practice opportunities and industry connections for its students

SAN DIEGO—September 8, 2015—NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool) announced that it has appointed three top industry professionals as its newest members to the Advisory Board of its Domus Academy School of Design at NewSchool. Scott Clear, chief design & innovation officer at RKS Design, Michael DiTullo, chief design officer at Sound United, and Brenda Parkin, lead color designer at Nissan Design America, will join the existing Board members composed of leading professionals from the international design community. The Domus Academy School of Design Advisory Board members enhance the learning and career opportunities for its students through professional practices and industry connections.

“We are very pleased to have Brenda, Michael and Scott join the Advisory Board,” said Elena Pacenti, director, the Domus Academy School of Design at NewSchool. “Each has a wealth of industry experience and professional connections and have already been very close to the Domus Academy School of Design in its foundational years.”

Clear, serving as the Chief Design and Innovation Officer at RKS, a product design and development firm, consults with clients to promote design-driven cultures that help generate new revenue and profits through design thinking and creative processes. He has decades of experiences around the globe, working with organizations from startups to Fortune 500 companies, offering a unique global background in architecture, transportation design, product design and business/design strategy and experience with many sectors including tech, utilities, chemicals, construction, manufacturing, consumer durables, apparel, entertainment, travel, consumer services, retailing, and education. He has advised such clients as GE, 3M, and Eastman in identifying growth opportunities and building new business.

As Chief Design Officer of Sound United, DiTullo is a passionate advocate as well as experienced practitioner of design, where he is responsible for ethnographic research, product definition, design strategy, industrial design, and brand creative for the Definitive, Polk, and BOOM brands. In addition to his work at Sound United he is a contributor for the well-known design resource, core77.com. Prior to Sound United DiTullo was Creative Director at the legendary frog design, where he led teams that worked with Google, Motorola, Honda, Braun, and Intel. He also spent nearly a decade developing several product collections at Nike Inc for the Converse, Jordan, and Nike brands, from advanced concept to production. DiTullo’s work has garnered international awards and has been featured in many media outlets and publications.

Brenda Parkin has been a Color Designer at Nissan Design America in San Diego since 1990. Graduating from San Diego State University in 1985 with a degree in

applied design (crafts), Parkin now applies her design skills to experiment with materials at Nissan. She has a passion to educate students about the diversity and opportunities that exist with a career as an Automotive Color Designer.

Each Board member is appointed for one year and will also provide opportunities for students through internships and other hands-on learning experiences.

“One asset of our design programs is to simulate client experiences that students will have in real life after graduation,” said Pacenti. “NewSchool thus offers project-based studio activities, which are critically important to our program so the students understand the profession and reality of the industry. We are so grateful that our new Board members have already contributed significantly to the program so far in this regard and intend to deepen their collaboration with NewSchool moving forward.”

Interior Architecture & Design and Product Design students have previously developed two projects with Sound United focused on exhibit design and on the future of sound technology, respectively. Students in the design programs also participated in workshops about design of colors, finishes and materials at the Nissan Design Center in collaboration with the color design team.

“We expect to develop and strengthen the cooperation with industry of national and international significance for the design programs, and to prepare our graduates to be effective contributors to the professional design community,” added Pacenti.

About NewSchool of Architecture & Design:

Located in downtown San Diego, NewSchool prepares students for career success in design fields through an emphasis on interdisciplinary and global design skills, industry collaborations and real-world projects. Programs of study include architecture, construction management, product design, media design, game art, and interior architecture & design. The school’s design environment provides inspiration for the school’s students and faculty, recognized for their work regionally and internationally. NewSchool is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission. NewSchool’s Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Executive Master of Architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NewSchool is a member of the Laureate International Universities network – a global network of more than 80 campus-based and online universities in 28 countries. Through this network, students at NewSchool are prepared to work in a global and diverse work environment through the school’s collaborations with sister institutions in the Laureate network, including award-winning schools such as Domus Academy in Milan, Italy and Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. For more information about Laureate International Universities, visit www.laureate.net.

NewSchool of Architecture & Design is pleased to announce that several of its students, alumni and faculty members have been nominated for the 39^th annual Orchids & Onions awards:

Kettner Exchange (NewSchool alumni): https://www.orchidsandonions.org/project/kettner-exchange/

Park & Rec (Domus Academy School of Design at NewSchool contributing faculty member): https://www.orchidsandonions.org/project/park-rec/

Patio on Goldfinch (NewSchool alumni): https://www.orchidsandonions.org/project/the-patio-on-goldfinch/

Quartyard (NewSchool alumni): https://www.orchidsandonions.org/project/quartyard/

STEAM Pavillion (NewSchool students): https://www.orchidsandonions.org/project/steam-pavilion/

Orchids & Onions is a fundraising program of the San Diego Architectural Foundation, which aims to educate the public on what makes good architecture, planning, landscapes, graphics and interiors. The event, which takes place at the San Diego Museum of Art on Thursday, Oct. 1, also raises awareness and practical discourse about the environment in order to effect positive change and more thoughtful design.

“NewSchool of Architecture & Design has been our biggest partner and supporter for this event for the past decade,” said Craig Howard, Vice President of the San Diego Architectural Foundation in an SDAF news release. “They’ve contributed to this program in so many ways. The vast majority of our large volunteer team is comprised of current NewSchool students, alumni, and faculty. We’re able to harness their wide range of creative and problem solving talent to bring Orchids & Onions to life every year and build something special at the awards ceremony. There’s absolutely no way we can pull off the vision we have for this program without NewSchool’s involvement.”

The San Diego community has an opportunity to nominate and vote for the best and worst designs.

The public can vote in the People’s Choice Orchid & Onion as part of the program. To learn more and to vote, visit orchidsandonions.org.

The AIA San Diego Graduate Architecture Scholarship will be awarded to those who embody the mission of the Center for Healthy Environments at NewSchool

NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Diego have announced a collaboration to launch the AIA San Diego Graduate Architecture Scholarship. The annual scholarship of up to $20,000 is geared toward the top architecture candidates who would like to pursue a graduate degree at NewSchool and who express interest in supporting the mission of the Center for Healthy Environments at NewSchool — which focuses on the fields of neuroscience in architecture, healthy urbanism and sustainable architecture.

The top AIA San Diego scholarship recipient each year will also be considered for a Research Assistant position with the Center for Healthy Environments, which will oversee NewSchool’s research activities as a member of the AIA Design and Health Research Consortium.

“We are pleased to collaborate with NewSchool of Architecture & Design for this graduate scholarship,” said Bastiaan Bouma, Executive Director and CEO of the American Institute of Architects San Diego chapter. “AIA recently named NewSchool as a charter member of the national Design and Health Research Consortium and we look forward to a continued partnership that supports the education of young architects and designers who strive to embody the concept of healthy urbanism.”

The national Design and Health Research Consortium, to which NewSchool was named a charter member, supports basic research on how design affects public health.

“This new scholarship, offered in conjunction with AIA San Diego, will further advance NewSchool’s commitment to encouraging the study of neuroscience for architecture and healthy urbanism,” said Kurt Hunker, Graduate Architecture Program Chair at NewSchool. “Courses and tracks on these topics prepare students to advise and act on policy change and architectural and design advancements for human and environmental health.”

NewSchool’s School of Architecture continues to be globally recognized for its forward-thinking professors, industry connections and inspiring campus community. NewSchool’s Master of Architecture program has been named one of the Top-30 graduate programs in architecture in the world by Frame magazine, one of the leading resources for graduate programs in the design fields.

The Scholarship Committee that will review submissions and make scholarship awards includes members of the leadership team of Center for Healthy Environments at NewSchool of Architecture & Design along with the Executive Director of the AIA San Diego.

The Committee is currently accepting submissions. For more information about applying, visit https://newschoolarch.edu/prospective-students/scholarships-and-financial-aid/scholarships/aia-san-diego-scholarship/.

About AIA San Diego:

The American Institute of Architects, San Diego represents nearly 1,000 members in San Diego County and is one of more than 20 chapters in California and among nearly 275 nation-wide. Founded in 1927, AIA San Diego has a long record of achievement supporting the interests of our members and our community through its vigorous advocacy for design, planning, sustainability, architecture education, professional development and civic leadership. For more information visit https://www.aiasandiego.org/.

Media Contact:

Lauren McDaniel
NewSchool of Architecture & Design
1-619-684-8775
lmcdaniel@newschoolarch.edu

SAN DIEGO – July 22, 2015 – NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool) and New Zealand-based Media Design School (MDS) are sponsors of the 20th annual gaming conference QuakeCon 2015 in Dallas — an event often described as the “Woodstock of Gaming.” MDS faculty member and industry veteran Mike Porter will lead two sessions during the conference on his career journey and how to get started in the industry.

Porter, who most recently spoke on a “UX of Games” panel in San Diego alongside representatives from Next Games, Riot Games and Daybreak Games, helped launch Halo 3 and is a veteran in the gaming industry with more than two decades of experience in the U.S. and New Zealand. He will speak to attendees on Thurs., July 23 and again on Sat., July 25. He will also demonstrate real-time 3-dimensional character creation using digital sculpting tool ZBrush. Porter currently serves as the Program Leader of Bachelor of Creative Technologies at MDS, a top globally ranked college for visual effects, animation and game art, has worked for Sierra, Microsoft Games Studio, and Bungie, and has mastered various gaming platforms including Dreamcast, PS2, PC and Xbox 360.

NewSchool and MDS will host booth No. 504 opposite the exhibit-area stage where Porter will speak. The universities are raffling an Xbox One during Porter’s first presentation that begins at 2:20 p.m. on July 23. Attendees who sign-up at NewSchool and MDS booth No. 504 on Thurs., July 23 will have an opportunity to win the game console. The winner will be announced by Porter during his second presentation on Sat., July 25 at 11:40 a.m.

Since 2012, NewSchool and MDS have collaborated on the Media Design School of Digital Arts at NewSchool, bringing curriculum and faculty from the Asia-Pacific region to work with students in San Diego. The Media Design School of Digital Arts at NewSchool enables students to gain a global perspective on digital arts degree programs such as game art and media design. On the Auckland-based campus, MDS offers specialist degrees in emerging creative industries, with alumni who are working with world-renowned companies such as DreamWorks, Pixar, BBDO Worldwide, and Saatchi & Saatchi.

QuakeCon,created by gamers, for gamers, is free to attend and open to the public. For more information on the Media Design School of Digital Arts at NewSchool stop by the QuakeCon booth, No. 504.

Includes UX designers from Next Games, Riot Games, Daybreak Games and faculty from New Zealand’s top ranked college for VFX/animation and game art, Media Design School

Prior to the start of San Diego’s internationally renowned Comic-Con on July 9, NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool), in conjunction with San Diego’s largest User Experience group UX Speakeasy, will host the “UX of Games” panel on Wednesday, July 8 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Studio Five on the NewSchool campus. Participants will hear firsthand about the challenges and opportunities of designing player experiences from leading UX practitioners and creators of today’s top games. Panelists include New Zealand-based Media Design School’s Mike Porter—who helped launch Halo 3 and is a veteran in the gaming industry with more than two decades of experience in the U.S. and New Zealand. Porter will be joined by Teemu Huutanen, the CEO of Next Games who has worked at Rovio (Angry Birds) and Sulake (Habbo Hotel); Sebastian Strzalkowski and Cesar Kobashikawa of Daybreak Games; and Weszt Hart and Christopher Dome from Riot Games.

Porter currently serves as the Program Leader of Bachelor of Creative Technologies at Media Design School, a top globally ranked college for visual effects, animation and game art based in Auckland, New Zealand, that has a unique collaboration with NewSchool’s Media Design School of Digital Arts. In his 20-plus years of experience in the gaming industry, Porter has worked for Sierra, Microsoft Games Studio, and Bungie. He has mastered various gaming platforms including Dreamcast, PS2, PC and Xbox 360, creating 3D art work and level design.

“I look forward to visiting with the game design and development industries to discuss the rise of indie gaming in San Diego and Auckland, as well as the possibilities for collaboration amongst our two game art communities,” said Porter. “We’ve already begun to explore global game art collaboration through the partnership between NewSchool of Architecture & Design and Media Design School and I’m very excited to see how we can further develop the next generation of game art teaching by integrating global industry leaders in the classroom in an even deeper way.”

The two schools have worked together since 2012, when Media Design School of Digital Arts at NewSchool first launched as part of a collaboration within the Laureate International Universities’ network. The NewSchool department enables students to gain a global perspective on design that’s incorporated into digital arts degree programs, including game art and media design. On its own campus, the Auckland-based digital art college offers specialist degrees in emerging creative industries. Its alumni are working with world-renowned companies such as DreamWorks, Pixar, BBDO Worldwide, and Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as working on blockbuster movies such as The Hobbit, Avatar, King Kong and films from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. These industry connections, faculty expertise and student experiences are also transferred to NewSchool students.

In addition to Porter’s involvement in the UX panel on July 8, he will also speak at the 20^th annual gaming conference QuakeCon 2015 in Dallas, discussing his role with helping to bring New Zealand’s game art and programming curriculum and industry experts to San Diego’s NewSchool. Each January Media Design School also participates in the Global Game Jam, a ‘hackathon for game development,’ and both MDS and NewSchool will participate in the 2016 event that takes place Jan. 29-31.

For more information on the Media Design School of Digital Arts at NewSchool register for the UX panel on July 8 visit https://www.meetup.com/UXSpeakeasy/events/223228413/.

Generally speaking, Construction Managers have a relevant four-year bachelor’s degree and have practical experience in the construction industry; however, like most jobs, there are some exceptions for those with a large amount of construction work experience. Many who do not attain a four-year college degree and only have a high school diploma may be better qualified as a general contractor or subcontractor rather than a construction manager. A Master’s in Construction Management may also allow you to work in a multitude of different growing fields. Relevant undergraduate Construction Degrees include:

• Construction Management
• Civil Engineering
• Engineering
• Architecture
• Construction Science

Certifications are not required for Construction Managers; however, a certified construction manager can be highly valuable as it displays technical abilities and hands-on construction experience.

How Students Are Making the Transition Into Management Positions

Like many industries affected by advances in technology, the construction industry is constantly changing. Taking on the role of a construction manager for a building project or other construction activities requires a breadth of knowledge and the fluid communication skills needed to coordinate international projects around the world.

Enter NewSchool’s online Master of Construction Management program. The master’s degree program is designed to help students build up the leadership and project management skills needed to become a successful construction manager the program is giving students the education needed to make the transition into middle and upper-level managerial roles.

Learn More About the Program

A Changing Industry

Within the last ten years, many construction specialists working in mid-level employment roles left the industry due to changes in the economic landscape. Now that the industry is bouncing back there is high demand for well-educated managers to fill the void as those in upper management positions continue to retire.

Potential Earnings

Investing in a well-respected masters program can pay off big time for students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for construction managers in 2012 was $82,790 per year. With a healthy growth rate of 16% expected between now and 2022 students are typically able to find jobs upon completing the program.?

A unique aspect of NewSchool’s program is the flexibility that online coursework offers students who are currently working full-time within the construction industry. This way, students around the world are able to keep up with a rigorous coursework schedule learning building codes and safety violations, construction methods, construction engineering and more at their own pace. This benefits both students and their employers, who are thrilled to see them expanding their skill set but simply cannot afford to lose them for a year. Most students are able to complete the construction project management program within one year.

Inspiring and Educating

George Welch, chair of the program, explains that the faculty and staff work closely with students to help arm them with the skill set they need to be the leaders of the future. They place a large emphasis on teaching students the different elements of the managerial process, which helps give students the skills and confidence needed to successfully manage teams across various sectors of the industry. The result: employers find that students are capable of broader critical thinking and decision-making and are promoting them to higher roles within the organization.

Department Chair Welch explains, “We teach concepts, processes and the knowledge that you need to use the tools of the future.” Having worked in architecture and construction for years Welch recognizes the opportunity for students to move up into managerial roles. That is why the program puts such a heavy focus on blending real-world experience with classroom lessons and theory.

Making a Change

Taking the step from working on a construction site or managing smaller projects to running an entire construction project is life changing. Many people working in the field have a strong background in the industry but lack the leadership skills of a construction project manager to run an entire construction project. Enrolling in a master’s program can advance one’s career to construction project manager and change the entire career path of many students who may have never dreamed of moving up to a top leadership position within their construction company or organization.

NewSchool is passionate about helping professionals build long-lasting careers. Our flexible online approach ensures that students do not have to put their full-time jobs on hold to get the education they deserve. Click here to learn more about the variety of different programs NewSchool offers, including our online master’s degree program for Construction Management and see which one matches your current skillset and career goals. Take the first step in becoming a construction manager by contacting us today.

Source:

“Construction Managers : Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 Sept. 2019,  www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm.

From Student to Licensed Architect

Despite being a very popular field the path to becoming an architect is often misunderstood. How does one go about becoming an architect? If students aren’t careful they can find themselves wasting valuable time and money on unnecessary steps.

NewSchool of Architecture & Design helps students pursue their dreams offering them a linear approach to becoming a licensed architect through their Bachelor’s and Master’s of Architecture programs. Here are the primary steps students must take as they work towards obtaining their architecture license.

Learn More About the Program Today

Education Required

The first step towards licensure is finding the right bachelors or masters (if you already have a bachelor’s degree) program that is the best fit for you. Finding a program that offers you guidance throughout the five-year program and as you begin to look for a job is extremely important.

The main two facets of architectural education include completing all university coursework and the national Intern Development Program. The blend of classroom skill development with real work experience gives students the tools necessary to overcome challenges they may face in the field.

Coursework

Professor Mike Stepner shares that at NewSchool instructors believe that students need to be able to combine technological and traditional tools in order to effectively communicate their ideas. While technology has streamlined much of the design process removing a large portion of somewhat repetitive work there is still value in teaching students the fundamentals of design.

Pairing a solid technical background with the theoretical is a major focus of the program, which puts a strong emphasis on sustainability and urban planning. Stepner explains that the ability to be aware of all impacting factors and ask the right questions is incredibly important when working in the field.

Intern Development Program

The Intern Development Program requires students to complete 3,740 hours of work over a five-year period. There are a number of different categories of internship hours that students must complete ranging from design to project management. While students can begin working towards completing the program as soon as they’d like most students start around their second year and use the first year to focus on their studies.

Similar to a medical internship or residency architecture internships are typically paid and equivalent to an entry-level position. Students work under a team of licensed architects learning the ins and outs of building and safety regulations. Working with a dynamic team in a real-world environment gives them the experience that they simply cannot inside a classroom.

Career Counseling

One of the most important features of NewSchool’s program is that they require every student to meet with the career center and work on their portfolio with advisors who look at their work through the eyes of potential hiring mangers. Lisa Ganem, the Director of Career and Alumni Services, explained that, “Many students don’t know what their marketability is.” Ganem works closely with students to help them with everything from looking for jobs to catering their portfolio to their strengths, making sure they highlight their best work.

NewSchool understands that apart from a resume, which can get your foot in the door, employers want to see what real world experience students have and how they’ve applied the theoretical to real world situations. This gives them a much better idea of student’s overall thought processes and how they would problem-solve and collaborate with team members.

Licensure

After completing five years of education and 5600 hours of IDP students must take a state-specific licensure exam. Each jurisdiction sets its own requirements for initial licensure and examination. You can check each jurisdiction’s requirements here—it’s never too soon to start planning.

Career Opportunities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the median income of architects in 2012 was $73,090. With a higher-than-average growth rate of 17%, the average for all professions is 11%, the market is full of opportunities for students to establish themselves.

As you may be able to tell, one of the most important decisions you make as you work towards becoming an architect is which university you will attend. Having the support and network of resources you need to find good internships and jobs, upon graduation, is a vital step in making sure you are set up for success. At NewSchool the staff work closely with students to help make sure they have all the resources and tools they need to begin their career as an architect. Click here for a comprehensive look at their program’s offerings.

The San Diego Union-Tribune attended and covered this year’s commencement activities and Graduate Show, featuring four graduates from the class of 2015 and their projects—which tackled issues relevant to San Diego.

Media Contact:
Lauren McDaniel
NewSchool of Architecture & Design
619.684.8775
lmcdaniel@newschoolarch.edu

NewSchool students are entering the architectural workforce with not only strong design and computer skills, but also a plan for solving urban problems.

Bethany DeWitt’s project, California Theater Revitalization, encompasses the importance of preservation as a means to protect the history and culture of the city; Tyler Starow addresses current conditions that limit public interaction with the bay along the urban/water edge; Spaces Between Buildings is Nour Kassam’s plan that would narrow the driving lanes, create angled parking spaces, widen walkways and include balconies and other places where residents and workers encounter one another; and Christian Menna’s Imprint reflects on an alteration occurring in a generation spending so much of their lives on the Internet.

To read the full article, please visit the San Diego Union-Tribune website at: https://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jun/24/architects-newschool-graduates-thesis/

One component of the plan was designed to block the noise from the helicopter pad in the highly sensitive neo-natal unit. NewSchool’s evidence-based research has helped prevent a potentially expensive design flaw at the Jacobs Medical Center.

“For so long we’ve juggled between engineering and art, and done much of this through intuition and experience,” said Kurt Hunker, director of graduate programs at NewSchool of Architecture & Design in an interview with the San Diego Business Journal. “And now we’ve got metrics, research, and data. It’s going to change many aspects of the profession.”

In the interview with San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ), NewSchool faculty members, Hunker and Eve Edelstein, further discussed NewSchool’s approach at combining evidence-based research in neuroscience with architectural design to promote health and healing.

To read the full article, visit the SDBJ website (subscription required).

Influential designers, Gianandrea Barreca and Yen Ha, to be Honored at Ceremony

NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool) will host its 30th annual commencement ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 20 at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif. In celebration of the 30th commencement milestone, NewSchool will welcome and award two special influential designers during the ceremony, Gianandrea Barreca and Yen Ha. Barreca and Ha will receive NewSchool’s Global Design and Innovation Award and Richard Welsh Distinguished Service Award, respectively. In addition to the awards, the graduation program will feature undergraduate student speaker Chris Lerma and graduate student speaker Megan Dougherty. The class of 2015 will celebrate 108 students who have completed or will complete their degree requirements from its Architecture, Construction Management, and Digital Media Arts programs.

Architecture, Construction Management, and Digital Media Arts programs. “We have chosen each of these award recipients not only for their contributions to their industry, but for their contributions to society as a whole,” said NewSchool Interim President Vivian Sanchez. “We are extremely proud of our graduates this year and it is our hope that Gianandrea Barreca and Yen Ha’s award acceptance remarks will inspire them, just as the NewSchool faculty and their peers have motivated them. I’m confident that our graduates’ knowledge, skills, ingenuity and creativity will make a mark on the world and a difference in society.”

In honor of NewSchool founder Richard Welsh, the Richard Welch Distinguished Service Award is given to someone who embodies a commitment to service, designed to strengthen NewSchool’s focus on the university’s responsibility to the community and to the environment. Ha, who serves as a member of the NewSchool Board of Directors, embodies these core principles, embraces social responsibility through innovative design and contributes tremendously to the success of NewSchool students. She is a respected LEED-accredited professional and a licensed architect who completed her undergraduate work with honors at Carnegie Mellon University and continued with postgraduate work in urbanism at L’École d’Architecture in Paris, France.

Ha is a founding principal of the New York City-based architecture firm, Front Studio Architects, which emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaborations to create flexible spaces with the capacity to evolve and adapt. Each project addresses the environmental welfare of a community and its inhabitants through buildings that remain functionally viable and emotionally relevant over time, and the firm makes use of economical materials and inventive thinking. Her inspirational work has been profiled in the New York Daily News, Real Estate Weekly, the Mann Report, along with Interior Design, Icon Magazine, Wallpaper and the New York Times, among others. She has also served as an expert panelist in the United States and Europe.

The Global Design and Innovation Award is presented to an individual who embraces the importance of global design and innovation. NewSchool recognizes the importance of global design and values and embraces innovation. It is because of this approach and emphasis on these values that the Domus Academy of Design at NewSchool was created. Domus Academy in Milan, Italy has been recognized several times by Businessweek magazine as one of the best design schools in the world with best design of mural wallpaper. This collaboration has provided NewSchool students with the opportunity to participate in a truly global classroom environment, interacting with today’s most influential design leaders.

Barreca, this year’s honoree, is a globally renowned architect from Genoa, Italy, whose work has transformed the way society envisions green-scapes. In addition to serving as a founding partner of Boeri Studio, Barreca has developed several projects in Italy and abroad, receiving numerous awards for his work. He is also one of the founding members of Gruppo A12, with whom he organizes and conducts seminars, research projects, exhibitions and installations on contemporary urban conditions. With Gruppo A12 Barreca has realized and exhibited works in numerous exhibitions and biennials around the world, including Venice, New York, Japan, Shanghai, Istanbul, the Netherlands, London, South Korea and Milan.

In 2014 Barreca published ‘New Water Anthropology’ by ListLab, a collection of studies and research on the relationship between architecture and water, always of particular importance and interest in its research and design. Recently, he was awarded with the 2014 ‘International Highrise Award’ for the project Bosco Verticale, or “Vertical Forest,” a project that blazes the trail for the greener cities of tomorrow. Vertical Forest is a model for a sustainable residential building, a project for metropolitan reforestation that contributes to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding a city upon the territory. Since 2004, Barreca has been collaborating with Domus Academy in Milan, an institution within Laureate Design Universities, where he has served as the Program Director of the Master in Urban Vision and Architectural Design and is currently serving as its Scientific Director. In January 2015, he became part of the prestigious Metaphysical Club at Domus Academy, which involves 15 of the most important names of the international design, art and architectural scene.

For more information about this year’s festivities, visit https://newschoolarch.edu/current-students/student-services/graduation/.