Foundation Years

In 1967, the School of Architecture occupied its first home, Building DD, an adapted WWII temporary building.  It was located in what was called ‘the Gulch', an area south of Preinkert Hall on the College Park campus, now occupied by dormitories.

Finding Our Mission and Beginnings are the first two of four postings. These chapters, if you will, include samples of photos and stories which will be elaborated and expanded in a planned book, The Foundation Years: Recollections of the Early Years of the University of Maryland's School of Architecture, 1967-1980. 

Finding Our Mission recalls our early attitudes regarding the social relevance of architecture and social action through design, our belief in learning through building, and our aspirations regarding excellence in design education.

Beginnings describes the initiatives which led the University to establish the School; the first dean, faculty, students,  staff and facilities, our decisions about curriculum, character, size and resources and our initiation of selective admissions, a first for University of Maryland undergraduate programs.

Soon to come: Coming of Age and Our New Building, First Graduates and Accreditation .

The Foundation Years book will be an expansion and extension of these samples, and will include more topics and many photos of life in the early School. These postings are interactive. We hope early students, faculty and friends of the School will post comments on this web site, contribute stories, help identify people in our photos and ultimately, encourage and help support the publication of The Foundation Years.

                                          John W. Hill, FAIA
                                          Founding Dean