Architecture Program Hosts Inaugural Bob & Sherry Faust Distinguished Lecture

Last Wednesday, March 22, Auburn’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA) hosted the inaugural Bob & Sherry Faust Distinguished Lecture at the Gogue Performing Arts Center. This annual event honors the legacy of Robert L. Faust, Professor Emeritus of Architecture, who taught in APLA from 1968 to 2012 and passed away in November of 2020. The Bob & Sherry Faust Distinguished Lecture, made possible through the generosity and support of Professor Faust’s wife Sherry, was attended by over 320 faculty, staff, students and community members.

This year’s event featured Distinguished Lecturers Hans Butzer, Stephanie Pilat and Christian Dagg. Butzer and Pilat are on the faculty at the Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, Bob Faust’s alma mater, where Butzer is dean and Pilat is director of the Architecture program. Dagg is Associate Professor of Architecture in APLA. Butzer spoke first, discussing the framing and development of The American School, a style of design that was developed at the University of Oklahoma in the 1950s and 60s. This curriculum emphasized creativity and experimentation and encouraged students to look to everyday objects and nature for inspiration. Pilat spoke next about Professor Faust’s role in bringing this style of design to the University of Oklahoma. Dagg spoke last about Faust’s transition from Oklahoma to Auburn.

“We are truly thankful for Bob and Sherry Faust who through their incredible generosity created the newly endowed Bob and Sherry Faust Distinguished Lecture within the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture,” stated Christopher Griffin, CADC’s Director of Philanthropy. “Because of Sherry’s involvement, this year we have the opportunity to highlight the great work and impact that Bob Faust had on architecture. Bob is renowned within the architecture community and highlighting his legacy is a wonderful way to begin this new lecture series. His students remember fondly how he would have guest lecturers in class, and this endowment will allow that legacy to continue to impact students today as well as tomorrow.”

A reception was held after the event, providing students, faculty and staff to network and interact with Mrs. Sherry Faust and the distinguished lecturers.