New Kibel Exhibit Looks at the Complex Process of Memorializing Tragedy
The first thing you notice are the stalks of wheat. Cast in bronze and measuring 30 feet long, the sculpture depicts a bountiful wheat field that slowly recedes into the background until it finally disappears. The stunning visual depicts the confiscation of Ukraine’s wheat crop by Stalin in 1932 and 1933, an orchestrated act of oppression through engineered starvation, resulting in over four million deaths. Today, it is known as Holodomor, which in Ukrainian means “hunger by extermination.”
On Display: As MAPP’s Kibel Gallery Turns 20, a Look Behind the Exhibits That Inspired a School
On the ground floor of the University of Maryland’s Architecture Building, just beyond the buzz of its design studio and trademark red brick, sits a glassy, serene space of whitewashed concrete and steel. When empty, it’s a bright, blank canvas—but it’s rarely empty. Over the years, MAPP’s Kibel Gallery has showcased world-renowned architects and emerging young talent; fostered conversations on topics like housing equity and memorials; and challenged visitors to ask questions and rethink past perceptions.
Now Online: Kibel Gallery Exhibit, "Making the Holodomor Memorial: Context & Questions"
The Kibel Gallery's latest exhibit, "Making the Holodomor Memorial: Context & Questions" has been digitized and is available to explore online. Read about MAPP alum and memorial designer Larysa Kurylas' (B.ARCH '80) journey from conceptualization to realization in Washington, D.C., learn about the famine's history, view photographs and explore questions surrounding truth and loss.
Career & Internship Fail 2026
Please join us for UMD's annual Architecture, Planning, Preservation & Real Estate Development Career & Internship Fair in the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center on Friday, February 20, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
February 20, 2026
February 20, 2026
A Sacred Place, Designed to Last
When a procession of red ants made a run at the communion chalice during a balmy Sunday morning mass, Reverend Lauren Bloom knew she had a problem. The outdoor amphitheatre at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Eastport, Md.—a cherished spot for community festivals, support groups, and outdoor worship—had always been harmonious with its natural backdrop, a peaceful pocket on the church property frequented by animals and insects. But time, the elements (and in this case, the ants) were threatening that divine coexistence.
Building for Belonging
Abby Chi’s grandfather is such a fixture at his community pool that many of the children taking swim lessons alongside his daily laps know him by name: Mister Hi. But Mister Hi isn’t his actual name.“It’s because he always waves hi,” laughs Chi, who used the anecdote, and her tight-knit relationship with her two sets of grandparents, as inspiration for her thesis: An adaptive reuse project that’s one part wellness facility for seniors, one part daycare, creating intergenerational opportunities for connection, teaching and learning, and friendship.
Study Finds Dangerous Bacteria in Homes Plagued by Sewage Backups
Written by Katherine Shaver, originally published in Maryland Today.A University of Maryland study of Baltimore houses with recent sewage backups revealed that most had toxic bacteria that could potentially infect residents who touch a contaminated surface or breathe contaminated air.
MAPP Remembers Kea Distinguished Professor and Alumnus Pablo Güiraldes
Written by Matthew Bell, FAIA, Christine Cestello Hinojosa A talented architect, urban designer and teacher, Pablo Güiraldes (M.ARCH ’98) had a career of successes in public and private capacities in both the United States and his native Argentina. A MAPP alumnus and former Kea Distinguished Professor, he passed away on July 26, 2023, at his home in Buenos Aires, following a courageous eight-month battle with Glioblastoma.
MAPP Welcomes New NCSG Director Kathryn Howell
Written by Brianna Rhodes
MAPP Welcomes New Historic Preservation Program Director Susan Kern
Written by Brianna Rhodes. Susan Kern serves as the director of the Historic Preservation Program. She received her Ph.D. in History from William & Mary and her M.A. in Architectural History from the University of Virginia. In between degrees, she worked in the archaeology department at Monticello and directed field research. Kern formerly served as the Director of Historic Campus at William & Mary and taught history, material culture and museum studies courses in the history department.