Garmaz named the Chair of Bachelor of Science Environmental Design Program

Magdalena Garmaz has been named chair of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design Program (BSEV) in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. Garmaz, who holds the Ann and Batey Gresham professorship, joined the CADC faculty in 1990 in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. Her research and teaching has focused on the relationship of architecture and textiles, exploring different textile techniques and their application in the architecture making process. Her work has been featured in Metropolis magazine and in the book Exploring Materials by E. Lupton and I. Alesina (Princeton Architectural Press, 2010). She has won grants from the Alabama Arts Fellowship and the Graham Foundation and been a visiting artist at the American Academy in Rome, Italy.

Under Garmaz’s leadership as the interim chair, the Environmental Design program has been re-designed as a flexible, multi-disciplinary degree that builds its strength on the understanding of the interconnected nature of all design and construction disciplines. The BSEV program emphasizes the blend of sustainable practices from a local and global context with comprehensive design and systems thinking. The opportunity to minor in multiple subjects allows students to customize their degree, and accelerated tracks to graduate degrees in Landscape Architecture and Community Planning are also options. A BSEV study abroad opportunity has been established in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“I am really excited to have an opportunity to continue to build the Environmental Design program into a cutting edge, general design program that addresses the changing landscape of the 21st century professional and education world, says Garmaz. “Now strengthened with the addition of a minor, our program will be an excellent advocate of CADC values. Likewise, our students, who include a Fulbright scholar, an undergraduate AU Research Week poster winner, and an Auburn Sustainability Award recipient, represent perfectly our highly motivated, multi-talented student body who will thrive in any environment.”