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, the late Thomas Walton (B.S. Arch. 1974, M.Arch. 1976) a former CUA architecture faculty member whose expertise was Catholic architecture, and his widow Kathleen Walton.

The Walton critic program, a central part of the Sacred Space and Cultural Studies graduate concentration offered at the School, was begun started in 2009 and has continued to host a remarkable list of individuals:

2022

Suchi Reddy

2021
Trey Trahan

2020
Marshall Brown 

2019
Daniel Libeskind  

2018
Susan Jones  

2017
Rick Joy

2016
Prem Chandavarkar

2015
Michael J. Crosbie

2014

Eliana Bórmida

2013

Claudio Silvestrin

2012

Alberto Campo Baeza

2011

Juhani Pallasmaa

2010

Craig W. Hartman

2009

Antoine Predock