The Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University in New York City, also known simply as GSAPP, is regarded as one of the most important and prestigious architecture schools in the world. It is also home to the well-regarded Masters of Science program in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Historic Preservation, and Real Estate Development.
Among the school's resources is the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, the United States' largest architectural library and home to some of the first books published on architecture, as well as the origin of the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals.
Recent deans of the school have included architect James Stewart Polshek, noted architectural theorist and deconstructivist architect Bernard Tschumi and Mark Wigley. The current dean is Amale Andraos.
The Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP) has evolved over more than a century. It was transformed from a department within the Columbia School of Mines into a formal School of Architecture by William Robert Ware in 1881—making it one of the first such professional programs in the country.
While the number of specialized programs being offered by the school has multiplied over the years, architecture remains the intellectual core of the school, providing the central focus for more than half of the students and faculty, in addition to conferring a unique identity onto each of the other affiliated programs. All programs share a commitment to both professional training and research. The curriculum and philosophy stress the necessity of analyzing and challenging the underlying history, premises, and future directions of the design professions, and applying this research and knowledge towards design and the built environment, as students are prepared to become accomplished practitioners in their respective fields of specialization.
Master of Architecture is a three-year professional degree program. Hilary Sample is the Director of Core Studios and Juan Herreros is Director of Advanced Studios.Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design is a three-term program. Enrique Walker is the Director of the program.Master of Science in Urban Design. Kate Orff is the Director of the program.Master of Science in Urban Planning is a two-year degree program. Weiping Wu is the Director of the program.Master of Science in Historic Preservation is a two-year degree program. Jorge Otero-Pailos is the current Director of the program.Master of Science in Real Estate Development is an immersive three-semester program. Patrice Derrington is the Director of the program.Master of Science in Critical, Curatorial and Conceptual Practices in Architecture (CCCP) is a two-year degree program consisting of one year of academic study followed by one year of an independent research thesis. Felicity Scott and Mark Wasiuta are Co-directors of the program.Ph.D. in Architecture. Felicity Scott is the Director of the program.Ph.D. in Urban Planning. Robert Beauregard is the Director of the program.As of 2016, the program's ten-year average ranking, places it 2nd, overall, on DesignIntelligence's ranking of programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.
Additionally, DesignIntelligence's ten-year median ranking also ranks the program 2nd, tied with Yale University.
*(T) denotes tie
Amale Andraos - Founder of WORKac Architects and Current DeanBarry Bergdoll - Former Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, MoMAMichael BellDavid Benjamin - Founder of The LivingLise Anne Couture - Founder of Asymptote ArchitecturePatrice Derrington - Director of GSAPP's Real Estate Development ProgramAndrew Dolkart - James Marston Fitch Professor of Historic Preservation. Former Director of the Historic Preservation Program (2008-2016)Kenneth Frampton- Ware Professor of ArchitectureMario GoodenJuan Herreros - Founder of Abalos & HerrerosSteven HollJefferey InabaAndrés JaqueLaura Kurgan - Director of Center for Spatial ResearchLOT-EKPeter MarcuseReinhold Martin - Director of Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American ArchitectureMary McLeodKate Orff - Director of GSAPP's Urban Design ProgramJorge Otero-Pailos - Director of GSAPP's Historic Preservation ProgramGregg Pasquarelli - Founding principal at SHoP ArchitectsMichael Rock - Founder of 2 x 4, Director of Graphical Arch StudiesHilary Sample - Principal of MOS ArchitectsFelicity Scott - Director of GSAPP's PhD Program in Architecture (History and Theory), and Co-Director of GSAPP's Critical, Curatorial and Conceptual Practices in Architecture (CCCP) ProgramPaul SegalGalia Solomonoff - architect of Dia:Beacon museum and founding creative director of Solomonoff Architecture StudioBernard Tschumi - designed Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia's student center, former Dean (1988 to 2003)Enrique WalkerMark Wigley - directed the exhibition "Deconstructivist Architecture" at MoMA with Philip Johnson, former Dean (2004-2014)Mabel WilsonGwendolyn WrightWeiping Wu - Director of GSAPP's Urban Planning ProgramIncludes past faculty associated with the school.
Charles AbramsStan Allen - Dean of Princeton School of ArchitectureWilliam A. BoringPeter Cook Member of ArchigramHarvey Wiley CorbettMark Cousins - Director of the History/ Theory Department at the AA LondonManuel de Landa (adjunct)Neil DenariHernan Diaz AlonsoJames Marston FitchFrank GehryRomaldo GiurgolaPercival GoodmanAlfred Dwight Foster HamlinWallace HarrisonThomas HastingsHenry HornbostelBjarke IngelsGerhard KallmannAda Karmi-MelamedeAustin W. Lord - Dean 1912-15Greg LynnCharles Follen McKimMichael McKinnellJoan OckmanJames Stewart Polshek - designed the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, ArkansasHani Rashid - AsymptoteDavid ReinfurtJaquelin T. RobertsonLinda RoyChristopher SharplesMichael SorkinRobert A.M. Stern - Dean of Yale School of ArchitectureMarc TsurumakiRaymond UnwinWilliam Robert Ware - designed numerous Venetian Gothic buildings for Harvard UniversityMichael Webb - member of ArchigramLauretta VinciarelliFor a comprehensive list of individuals associated with Columbia University as a whole, see the List of Columbia University people.
Max W. Strang (M.Arch 1988) Miami based architect known for his Regional Modernist design and waterfront residential homes. In 2013, Strang received the Silver Medal from the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of ArchitectsMax Abramovitz (1931) – 1961 Rome Prize; designed Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, the United Nations complex, and the Assembly HallDavid Aldrich, artist and architectGrosvenor Atterbury (1884) – worked for Columbia campus architects McKim, Mead & White; designed Forest Hills GardensRichard F. Bach (1909) - curator of industrial arts at the Metropolitan Museum of ArtTurpin Bannister (M.S. 1928) – was one of the leading American architectural historians of his generationDonn Barber (post-graduate architectural courses) – architectWilliam A. Boring – was an American architect; noted for, among other work, codesigning the Immigration Station at Ellis Island in New York harborTemple Hoyne Buell – designed over 300 buildings in Colorado; designed the first ever shopping mallPaul Byard (M.S.) – a lawyer and an architectRosario Candela (B.A. 1915) – was an Italian American architect; achieved renown through his apartment building designs in New York CityEric Cantor (M.S. 1989) - Congressman from Virginia and United States House Majority LeaderBrad Cloepfil – architect, educatorAngela Co (MA, 2005) – 2011 Rome PrizeJonas Coersmeier – award-winning architect and designer; a finalist and first runner-up in the World Trade Center Memorial CompetitionLonn Combs (MsAAD, 2001) – 2011 Rome PrizeWilliam Adams Delano (1896) – architect, partner with Chester Holmes Aldrich in the firm of Delano & AldrichAndrew Dolkart (M.S. 1977) – authority on the preservation of historically significant architectureHarry E. Donnell (Ph. B. 1887) - Beaux-Arts architect who designed The Grand MadisonAlden B. Dow (B.A. 1931) – architect; known for his prolific architectural designBoris Dramov (M.Arch. 1970) – architect, urban designer, and President of ROMA Design GroupPeter Eisenman (1960) - designed the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, amongst other workDoug Farr (M.Arch. 1970) - architect and urban plannerRomaldo (Aldo) Giurgola (M.Arch) - Italian-American-Australian academic architect, professor, and author.Nabil Gholam - a Lebanese architect; founder of one of few international award-winning young architecture firms in the Middle East regionPhilip L. Goodwin (1912) - co-designer of the original Museum of Modern Art, New YorkFerdinand Gottlieb (1953) - designed the original Rizzoli BookstoreEric Gugler (1911) - designed the West Wing of the White HouseFrances Halsband (M.S.) – architect who has served on juries for design awards and chaired the 1999 American Institute of Architects Committee on DesignMichael Hansmeyer (M.S.) – post-modern architect; utilizes algorithmic architecture techniques, generative art mentalities, and CAD software to generate complex structuresArthur Loomis Harmon (1902) - co-designed Empire State Building; most famous as design partner of the firm Shreve, Lamb and HarmonHenry Hornbostel (Ph. B. 1891) - American architect who designed the campus for Carnegie Mellon University and Emory UniversityMitchell Joachim (M. Arch. 1997) – acknowledged as an innovator in ecological design, architecture, and urban designRockwell Kent (1902) - painterRobert Kohn (1890) - designed Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, the world's largest synagogueJoseph Kosinski (1999) - directed Tron: Legacy; best known for his computer graphics and computer generated imagery workSylvia Lavin – a leading figure in contemporary architectural history, theory, and criticismV. Everit Macy (1893) - industrialist and philanthropist; benefactor to Teachers College, Columbia UniversityHenry C. Pelton (1889) - co-designed Riverside Church in New YorkCampion A. Platt (B.S. Arch) - architect; included in Architectural Digest (2010) as one of Top 100 Architects and Designers in the worldJohn Russell Pope (1894) - Rome Prize; designed the National Archives and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DCAntoine Predock (B. Arch.) – architect, Rome Prize (1985); AIA Gold Medal (2006), National Design Award (2007)Wallace A. Rayfield (B. Arch. 1899) – was the second formally educated practicing African American architect in the United StatesCharles Renfro (1994) - principal, Diller Scofidio + Renfro; among the first architects to win a MacArthur Prize "genius grant"Marcus T. Reynolds (1893), architect who designed the SUNY System Administration Building and The Albany AcademyJames Rossant (1928 - 2009) – architect; best known for his master plan of Reston, Virginia, Lower Manhattan Plan, and UN-sponsored master plan for Dodoma, TanzaniaFriedrich St. Florian (M. Arch. 1961) – Austrian-American architect; Rome Prize; National World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C.Ashley Schafer (1998) - founding editor of PRAXIS journal and curator of the US Pavilion at the 2014 Venice BiennaleSy Schulman (1954) - civil engineer and urban planner, Mayor of White Plains (1993-1997)Ricardo Scofidio (1960) - founder, principal of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, first architects to win a MacArthur Prize "genius grant"; Royal Institute of British ArchitectsSHoP Architects (each of the six founding partners has a M.Arch. from GSAPP) - 2009 National Design Award for Architecture Design; firm's work in permanent collection, Museum of Modern ArtDavid Serero (M.S. Arch) – French architect; Rome PrizeLawrence L. Shenfield (B. Arch. 1914) - advertising executive, instrumental in promoting Radio broadcasting during the 1920s and 30s; prominent philatelist, collector of Confederate postage stampsNorma Merrick Sklarek (M.Arch 1950) – African American architect who accomplished many firsts for black women in architectureGalia Solomonoff (M.Arch 1994) - architect, founder of Solomonoff Architecture StudioLaurinda Hope Spear (M.S. Arch 1975) – architect and landscape architect; Rome Prize; one of the founders of ArquitectonicaGustave E. Steinback (B.S. 1900) – architect; particularly known as designer of Roman Catholic schools and churchesArthur Alexander Stoughton (Ph. B. 1888) - partner of Stoughton and Stoughton; founded the architecture department at the University of ManitobaSharon Sutton (M.Arch 1983) – professor, architecture and urban design; first African American woman to become a full professor in accredited architectural degree programAlexander Tzannes (M.S. Arch & Urban Design) – Australian architect; founder of high-profile, multi-award winning architectural practice Tzannes AssociatesSamuel Breck Parkman Trowbridge (1883), partner of Trowbridge & Livingston; designed the St. Regis Hotel, American Red Cross National Headquarters, and 23 Wall StreetUrbanLab (both founders, Martin Felsen and Sarah Dunn, graduated in 1994) – 2009 Latrobe Prize from the American Institute of Architects College of FellowsFranklin B. Ware (B.S. Arch) – American architect best known for serving as the State architect of New York (1907–1912)Alexander McMillan Welch (1890), American architect who designed the Benjamin N. Duke HouseJan V. White (1952) - communication designer, educator and writerCenter for Spatial Research
Center for Urban Real Estate (CURE.)
Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture
