Portland State Magazine Fall 2008

PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE FALL 2008 / VOL. 23 NO . 1 EDI TOR Kathryn Kirkland CONTRIBUTORS Haili Jones Graff S. Katie Hall COPY EDITOR Martha Wagner DESIGN Leslie Watkins Boll Brett Forman EDITORIAL OFFICE 325 Cramer Hall f>O. Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751 503-725-4451, fax 503-725-4465 psumag@pdx.edu ADDRESS CHANGES PSU Alumni Association www.alumni.pdx.edu click on "update your info" or call 503-725-4948 ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE Pat Squire MPA '95, Assistant Vice President Simon Benson House PO Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751 503-725-4948 psualum@pdx.edu ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeff Austin '77, President Kori Allen '84 Gary Barth '86 Chris Cooper MBA '06 Charles Dunn '01 Jerry Gordon '68 Linda Hamilton '90 Behzad Hosseini '96, MBA '97 Marshal Jevning '96 David Keys '8 1, MBA '92 Bill Lemman, Vanport, DHL '04 Gina Leon '95 Milica Markovic '04 Kendal McDonald MA '02 Tamara "TJ" Newby '90 Gerry Scovil '65, MS '68 Barbara Verchot MPA '97 Rick Watson MBA '00 Cathy Williams '56 Angela Wykoff '72, MS '75, '80 ALUMNI AMBASSADORS Jon Jalali '67, MBA '7 1, Medford Dennis Olson '68, MS '80, Pendleton Cathy Williams '56, Sisters Portland State Magazine is published three times a year, during fall, winter, and spring terms. Contents may be reprinted only by permission of the editor. The magazine is printed on recycled paper. Portland State University is an affirmative action I equal opportunity institution. 2 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINf FALL 11: Professional architecture degree approved THE FLOOR PLAN isinplaceforapro– fessional architecture program at Portland State. The Oregon State Board of Higher Education recently approved a master's degree, which will build on the University's bachelor's program-now 50 years old– beginning in fall 2009. 'Tm thrilled!" says local architect Don Stastny. "I believe that I also spealc for a large percentage of the architecture com– munity when I say that this program is not only a good program option for students, but for the city as well." Stastny, CEO of StastnyBrun Architects, occasionally teaches urban design classes at PSU. His Ii.rm designed the University's Native American Student and Community Center. The new professional program, one of only two in the state, will build on the exist– ing undergraduate degree, which supports Portland's mission to enhance green build– ing and a sustainable urban infrastructure. Students already have many examples right on campus: eco roofs, passive heating and cooling, and use of rainwater inside and outside buildings. Portland is not the only laboratory for students, who through the years have talcen on projects in Seattle; New Orleans; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Barcelona, Spain. "Learning what it means to design in different environments and cultures is important," says architecture professor Rudy Barton. "We try to get our students outside the Portland bubble to see what other cities are doing." He and 12 students were in New Orleans this spring to present their designs for a storefront library in Treme, the city's oldest African American neighborhood. While there, they all pitched in to clean up the existing library and even catalog some of its collection. This is the second time Barton has talcen student to New Orleans. Approval of the new degree coincides with the reopening of Shattuck Hall this fall. Both the Architecture faculty and classes are housed in the building, which has a new foundry, design studios, metal and wood shops, and high-tech 3D laser print– ers. The department plans to add six new full-time faculty over the next two years and is seeking professional accreditation with the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Students can apply now for the two– year, 74-credit hour program.