Architecture at 150
The Department of Architecture at Cornell was first established in 1871 by university cofounder, A.D. White within the purview of the institution's founding mission to provide a place where "any person can find instruction in any study." Marking the occasion of the 150-year anniversary of the department this academic year, architecture chair and associate professor Caroline O'Donnell invites leading scholars and practitioners to AAP for a series of discussions that fall under the theme: Breaking Ground(s), toward the 22nd Century. Three sessions: "Groundwork," "Formwork," and "Schoolwork," foregrounded by a keynote lecture by Timothy Ingold, are meant to prompt timely questions and an array of perspectives on "the fundamental interconnectedness of the discipline with global ecologies and culture, alongside the consideration of future trajectories for the practice and pedagogy of architecture."

On the imperative to reflect and expound on the history and future of the department and discipline of architecture at this significant milestone, O'Donnell shares, "While the anniversary and traditions of the department call for celebration, we are also provided — as a department and a community of people with interrelated interests and backgrounds — with an opportunity to ask and answer important questions. The discipline of architecture is at a pivotal moment with regard to our critical engagement with our histories and foundations, the evolution of design practice and its concerns, and approaches to pedagogy that guide emerging generations of architects. Our community is ready to disrupt and advance our thinking about possible worlds that are more sustainable, equitable, smart, and meaningful in the future.”

150 years later, BREAKING GROUND(S) is a three-part symposium examining the fundamental interconnectedness of our discipline with global ecologies and cultures, alongside the consideration of future trajectories for the practice and pedagogy of architecture.

The Preston H. Thomas series is funded through a gift to Cornell's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning from Ruth and Leonard B. Thomas of Auburn, New York, in memory of their son, Preston. The symposium events are free and open to the public.

Should in-person events be permitted, all sessions will take place in the Abby and Howard Milstein Auditorium in Milstein Hall with a livestream attendance option available.

Click here to register for the virtual keynote on March 8.
Click here to register for the in-person talks on March 10.
Click here to register for the in-person talks on March 17.
Click here to register for the in-person talks on March 22.

Organized by Caroline O'Donnell, Edgar A. Tafel Associate Professor of Architecture & Department Chair; coordinated by Wendolin Gonzalez (B.Arch. '21). Special thanks to architecture faculty Sean Anderson and Lily Chi for their support in shaping this semester's symposium.

To view the full programming of our anniversaries click here.

Attendance is open to the public and Cornell community with advance registration and required COVID-19 measures.*

*All Cornell students, faculty, and staff in attendance must wear a mask at all times and show their Cornell ID for admission. Cornell University requires employees to complete the Daily Check prior to arriving to campus or accessing campus facilities.

Those who are not current Cornell employees or students (such as alumni, visitors, guests, parents, community members, third-party event attendees, and others) must provide ONE of the following when arriving at the event:

Proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with an FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine; OR

Results of a negative FDA- or DOH-authorized PCR, rapid PCR, or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) COVID-19 test collected within 72 hours of the event start; OR

An FDA-authorized antigen test was performed on a specimen collected within 6 hours of the event start.

Please adhere to Cornell University's COVID-19 guidelines. Stay informed at covid.cornell.edu