Landscape Architecture
The landscape architecture field recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and promises to remain a vital profession in the 21st century. Landscape architects are playing a critical role in dealing with global issues such as suburban sprawl, diminishing natural resources, revitalization of urban areas and the loss of both natural and cultural diversity. The profession is growing and is recognized as essential to creating places that nurture people while respecting the environment. Employment of landscape architects is expected to increase 18 to 26 percent through the year 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Knowlton School of Architecture offers the only accredited programs in landscape architecture in Ohio and is one of five institutions in the Big Ten that offer both undergraduate and graduate professional degrees. Our section program has a diverse and experienced faculty representing the broad spectrum of landscape architectural practice, including adjunct faculty active in practice. Our Glimcher Visiting Professors have included Ken Smith, Michael Van Valkenburg, Peter Walker and Paolo Bürgi, all internationally recognized as leaders in the field. Our students are bright and energetic with many backgrounds and professional interests. Collectively, we engage in a personalized education while taking advantage of the extensive opportunities afforded by a large public research institution.
Opportunities for Students
We offer two master’s degrees in landscape architecture. One is designed for those with an accredited undergraduate professional degree in landscape architecture. The intent of the curriculum is to enable students to pursue two educational goals simultaneously — broadening their knowledge of landscape architecture and related disciplines while developing a specific expertise within the field. This degree typically requires two years to complete, including the submission and defense of a master’s thesis. The other degree is suitable for individuals with no prior training in landscape architecture and is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects as a first-professional degree. The curriculum provides students with an in-depth education in the knowledge and skills of the discipline and provides opportunities for scholarly research through studio-based learning and interdisciplinary experiences both within the KSA and in allied areas of the university. Students also have the opportunity to take dual degrees in programs such as city and regional planning, architecture, enviornmental sciences, horticulture and others.
About the Knowlton School of Architecture
The mission of the Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture is to educate future architects, planners and landscape architects; to shape, as well as serve, the professions of architecture, city and regional planning and landscape architecture; to contribute to the intellectual and creative purposes of the university; and to promote the improvement of environmental quality and design on the campus and elsewhere.
The school has 550 students, 32 regular faculty, 34 adjunct faculty and an administrative staff of 15. It is located in Knowlton Hall, a state-of-the-art facility at the northwest corner of Ohio State’s main academic campus. Dedicated in 2004, Knowlton Hall is based on the integration of elements: inside and out, students and faculty, old and new, school and university, art and technology. Each of the three disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture and city and regional planning are mixed. The design reflects the school’s mission of excellence in education, innovation in design and planning, and the stewardship of quality environment.
Research
Notable faculty contributions include the “Source Books in Landscape Architecture,” edited by Jane Amidon, as well as John Simpson’s work on the preservation and planning of the Big Darby (a nature conservancy) and his publications, such as “Visions of Paradise: Glimpses of Our Landscape’s Legacy,” and “Dam! Water, Power, Politics, and Preservation in Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite National Park.” Deborah Georg’s research includes investigation of community “powered” ecological restoration, particularly of Riparian Habitat and environments along Glen Echo Ravine, and the multi-disciplinary Olentangy River Restoration project. Historic medieval reseach is a focus of Raffaella Fabiani Giannetto, while our newest faculty member, Jason Kentner, is engaged in exploring design through competitions such as being a member of the finalist team for the Flight 93 Memorial Competition and a collaborator on the design concept “110% Juice,” which was selected as one of eight outstanding designs in the Architectural Society of Boston competition “WINDSCAPE” for a traveling exhibit.
As part of the program’s commitment to students, we offer Design Competition Studios and involvement in direct community outreach programs in concert with the faculty’s research work and as part of the program’s commitment to its home in a land grant institution, in fulfillment of the KSA and College of Engineering mission.
KSA Digital Library
The KSA Digital Library’s state-of-the-art image collections support the architecture, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning curricula in the Knowlton School. Through online resources, faculty and students can access high-quality images and multimedia files for use in research, study, or course work. The library’s exemplary teaching and research collections have helped to establish the school as an international resource for the study of design and planning.
Materials/Fabrication Laboratory
The M/I Homes Foundation Materials/Fabrication Laboratory is provided exclusively for students in the Knowlton School of Architecture. Woodworking and metalworking skills are integrated into design studio curricula. Students learn material properties and gain hands-on experience with construction practices using traditional equipment and the latest technology.
Affiliations
Landscape architecture has strong interdisciplinary connections within the university, from horticulture and crop science, ecological engineering, Hefner Wetland Center and the School of Environment and Natural Resources, to more formal connections that the KSA has with campus centers including:
Wexner Center for the Arts
The Wexner Center for the Arts is strongly committed to the presentation of programs in architecture and design, including lectures and symposia organized to support exhibition programming, often in collaboration with the KSA.
Advanced Computing Center for the Arts & Design
The Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design at Ohio State is known around the world for pioneering visualization technology. Its charter is to apply advances in computing and visualization technologies to the processes, values and ideals of the arts. The facility uses current technology in computers, film, video and emerging media, including graphic workstations (PC, Apple Macintosh and Silicon Graphics Octane) and sophisticated peripherals and other devices.
Center for Urban and Regional Analysis
The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, an inter-disciplinary research center at Ohio State, focuses on policy-oriented work on urban and regional issues. The center provides mapping capabilities, computer and data management assistance, a working paper series, a roundtable speaker series, an annual grant program for the university community and a clearinghouse for urban-related materials, data and publications. Researchers associated with the center do contract work for community organizations and funded research projects on a variety of topics.
Neighborhood Design Center
The Neighborhood Design Center, a non-profit organization that provides planning and design services for urban communities and commercial districts, affords valuable internship opportunities for architecture and landscape architecture students.
Graduate Applications
Applications to Ohio State University must be submitted online. Please visit the Ohio State University Office of Graduate Admissions Web site to apply online with a credit card. Also, the Knowlton School of Architecture Web site provides links to the university admissions Internet site.
