The School offers students, faculty, and community the unique chance to meet, discuss, and work in close-proximity with world-renown architects while addressing issues related to the core mission of Catholic University. During their visit, these critics typically give a major public lecture, direct a design studio workshop, interface with students and faculty as well as participate in reviews and juries. In addition to its enduring impact in the life of the school, these programs also brings national and international visibility to the School.
Walton Critic: Cultural Studies and Sacred Space Concentration
This annual experience is sponsored by the Clarence Walton Fund for Catholic Architecture, in honor and remembrance of the late Clarence C. Walton who served as The Catholic University of America's first lay president from 1969 to 1978. The Walton Family also includes his son, Thomas Walton (B.S. Arch. 1974, M.Arch. 1976) who is a former CUA architecture faculty member whose expertise is Catholic architecture.
The Walton critic program, a central part of the Sacred Space and Cultural Studies graduate concentration offered at the CUA School of Architecture and Planning, started in 2009 and has hosted a remarkable list of individuals since then:
2020
Marshall Brown
2019
Daniel Libeskind
2018
Susan Jones
2017
Rick Joy
2016
Prem Chandavarkar
2015
Michael J. Crosbie
Summer Institute for Architecture
Each summer, the Catholic University of America School of Architecture and Planning conducts the Summer Institute for Architecture (SIA) featuring design elective studios with architects recognized as worldwide leaders in architecture, theory, and digital design/fabrication. Additionally, each session of SIA operates under a unique theme, which is explored collaboratively by the distinguished visitors and the students.
2014 - HYBRID SCALEEnrique Norton/TEN Arquitectos
MORPHOSIS Design Studio
Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Todd Williams and Billie Tsien & Stoss LU