BYRNE-REED HOUSE AS A PRESERVATION CLASSROOM

Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, partnered with UTSOA's ARC 696 preservation studio this semester. They offer the following update on those efforts below and on their web site.

A graduate historic preservation studio at The University of Texas at Austin selected Humanities Texas's Byrne-Reed House as a project this fall. Led by Professor Emeritus Wayne Bell, FAIA, and Associate Professor Michael Holleran, the students conducted historical and architectural research about the Byrne-Reed House and the surrounding neighborhood. The house was one of five projects that five students in the class worked on over the course of the semester.

The students studied the Byrne-Reed House over a period of several weeks, peaking above the acoustical tile and taking measurements to reconstruct the original floorplan and to provide a snapshot of the historical materials that remain. In the course of their on-site explorations, Casey Gallagher and Shonda Mace even discovered a small vaulted foyer to the west of the staircase that hadn't previously been known to exist.

Their research will aid the efforts of Humanities Texas as the restoration progresses. Robyn Williams Heeks's computer modelling illustrates how the restoration will lower energy use. In addition to providing useful information about the historical milieu of the surrounding neighborhood, Shonda identified a nearby house likely designed by the same architect or builder. Tenaya Hills and Casey Gallagher have helped Humanities Texas begin to consider how best to restore existing interior and exterior materials and to reconstruct missing elements, and Namrata Venkatraman's thorough documentation of the floorplan will assist in the initial planning.

After presenting their findings to architectural professionals and peers in a studio review on October 1, the students shared this research with Humanities Texas board members and other guests during a building tour in mid-October.

In December 2006, Humanities Texas moved into the historic 11,000-square-foot Byrne-Reed House at 1410 Rio Grande Street. At its new headquarters five blocks from the Texas Capitol, Humanities Texas will, for the first time, be able to host public programs for local residents and visitors to the state's capital city.

The current exterior indicates a 1970s office building while, in fact, it is a skin over the original 1906-07 Craftsman/Prairie house. Preservation Studio investigated what lies beneath the exterior shell and found a remarkable amount of the original house. Humanities Texas plans to restore many of the building's historic features.

Over the years, many of Austin's historic houses have been demolished or updated in ways that did not preserve their architectural integrity. The Byrne-Reed house has been covered with techniques that are reversible. Details above dropped ceilings, visible brick arches, and two rooms preserved in their original grandeur reveal tantalizing glimpses of original features.

The earliest occupants of the house were Edmund and Ellen Sneed Byrne and their family. Edmund was a successful cotton buyer; Ellen was the daughter of a prominent and influential family. They lived in the house until Ellen's death in 1915.

For the next thirty-three years, David Cleveland Reed and his wife, Laura Moses Reed, resided in the house and raised two children there. David began his business career in Austin with E. H. Perry & Company, a leading export firm. Over time, he became a prominent civic leader and philanthropist as well as a successful entrepreneur and financier, with business interests ranging from cattle ranching and oil development to a partnership in the Driskill Hotel. He also served on the Austin school board and the first Austin city council.

The house's subsequent owners converted it to office use and divided the spacious first floor into small offices with low acoustical ceilings. A more dramatic transformation occurred in 1970 when the owner covered the house with a modern stucco façade. These renovations made the building economically viable for offices, the same use as many other houses in the area, while preserving the actual structure.

In addition to the Bryne-Reed House, the studio of graduate preservation and architecture students is taking on a collection of projects, which, taken together, encompass much of preservation practice:

* Maverick-Miller House: The Maverick-Miller House is a 1922-23 Austin landmark house that is significant for its site with expansive views west across Shoal Creek. The neighborhood is now West Campus, which is zoned for high density and is experiencing a burst of high rise redevelopment. The house is subject to a Heritage Society of Austin preservation easement and a development ordinance that may serve as a template for Transferable Development Rights in Austin. The current owners are the Delta Chi fraternity. Preservation Studio is exploring options to accommodate the fraternity while preserving the context of the house and site.

* Bohn House: This 1939 house is Austin's most exuberant Art Moderne residence. It is relatively untouched after serving the same family for nearly 70 years, but it will soon be on the market. Preservation Studio explored options for updating the systems and interior spaces while maintaining the character-defining features of the house.

* Cuero, Texas: Cuero, the seat of DeWitt county, is a former Main Street community and is a now a Preserve America community. Preservation Studio investigations include research and design for potential restoration and infill construction.

Events

For the latest updates, check out the online UTSOA Calendar.

CENTER LUNCH FORUM SERIES

The Center for American Architecture and Design hosts a Friday Lunch Forum Series from 12:00 to 1:30 in the Battle Hall Conference Room (room 101).

The aim of the series is for faculty and students to meet in an informal atmosphere to debate topics and to share ideas about history, practice, theory, and new directions for architecture. Forum topics/titles are confirmed a week prior to each forum date. Visit the Center web site for updates. The remaining fall 2007 schedule includes:

• November 30, Simon Atkinson, "An Architecture of Relevance?"

The Friday Forum is also webcast live (visit the Center's web site), and you are invited to call in live with questions or comments during the discussion at 512.471.9890.

EXHIBIT

September 10, 2007, through January 4, 2008
Visual Resources Collection
Sutton Hall 3.128 (Monday-Friday, 8-5)

"Images of India: Photography by Sarah Hill"

Traveling throughout India for six weeks in summer 2006 with the Advanced Travel India Studio led by Lecturers Pankaj Gupta and Christine Mueller, Sarah Hill was provided with many opportunities to document the visually rich environment. The selection of images in this exhibit represents a small sampling of over 3700 digital images that are now part of the School of Architecture's Visual Resources Image Collection; the images will be available shortly for use by the University community for study, teaching, and research.

Sarah Hill graduated from the School of Architecture in May 2007 with a Master of Architecture degree. This project was supported in great part by a ~FAST Tex Grant from the University's Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment.

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) has recognized Assistant Professor Uli Dangel with a 2007-2008 ACSA/AIAS New Faculty Teaching Award. Each year, the ACSA and AIAS honor faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching performance during the formative years of their architectural teaching career. The award will be presented at a special plenary Awards Ceremony at the 96th ACSA Annual Meeting to be held March 27-30, 2008, in Houston, Texas.

Dean Fritz Steiner, FASLA, was awarded the Society of Landscape Architects Community Service Award for his sustained, pro bono service to the community demonstrating sound principles and values of landscape architecture. Steiner contributes his expertise in environmental planning, design excellence, and sustainable design to organizations and communities across the country. Steiner was appointed by the mayor to the City of Austin Bond Election Advisory Committee and serves on the Site/Landscape Design Committee for the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. From 2002 to 2006, he served on the Board for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which he worked to bring into the University of Texas system in order to provide more resources to the Center. Steiner works with Envision Central Texas and co-chairs the Land Use and Transportation Committee. He has also held many leadership positions with the Landscape Architecture Foundation since 1995, including vice president for research and education and president.

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI UPDATES

Julie Howard [B.Arch. '91] created Atelier VongDC, based in Paris, France, in 1999. The firm employs a staff of six, including Ms. Howard, who serves as Principal Associate Architect. Their work is principally oriented towards questions of urban density (housing and urban planning), public works (schools, passerelles, elderly housing), and questions of sustainability (bioclimatic design, energy, materials, and construction methods). More on the firm's current projects is available at www.vongdc.com.

Julie Howard began her work in France in 1990, working at Atelier Christian de Portzamparc through the UTSOA's Professional Residency Program. After graduation, she returned to work for the firm for nine years as project manager. Working alongside a number of subsequent UTSOA residency students, Julie developed an extremely high regard for the quality of architectural education at The University of Texas at Austin. She expressed that she "[doesn't] know if one ever realizes the quality of the education at UT until leaving and going into the world. I think for years I took it for granted." As the administrative liaison for students in her last years at UT, Julie witnessed the ongoing war between the administration and the students who thought they knew better. She notes that today, she has a new understanding for the benefits she received in her education by way of premier facilities and design professors (such as Nathalie de Blois, Michael Garrison, Gerlinde Leiding, Larry Speck, Michael Benedikt, Sinclair Black, Dan Leary, Andy Vernooy, and Smilja Milovanovic--some of whom she never had as design studio professors), who cared about their students and talked to them about real things, even outside of class. She says, "What we do and why--the respect for our clients--their respect for us--and so much more, are essential to what we do, especially considering the long lives of the buildings and spaces we create. It has taken me a long time to understand what is most important in this profession. And the vast majority of that understanding came from UT!"

Andrew Torres [M.Arch. '07] recently presented a paper titled "The Architecture of Revolution: GATCPAC and the Spanish Second Republic" at the Urban Transformations/Shifting Identities symposium at Brown University. The paper addresses the relationship between politics and modern architecture in Barcelona in the 1920s and 1930s with specific focus on GATCPAC, the Grup d'Arquitectes i Tecnics Catalans per al Progres de l'Arquitectura Contemporania. By examining GATCPAC and three projects carried out under its auspices, the paper investigates the connections between modern architecture and the governments of Barcelona and Catalunya within the context of pre-civil war Spain. Ultimately, the work of GATCPAC is shown to have been both a product and a victim of politics, a physical manifestation of the political turmoil that ultimately led to the Spanish Civil War. The paper began as an independent study in architectural history with Associate Professor Danilo Udovicki-Selb while Andrew was on residency in Barcelona working for Carme Pinós in 2006.

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

The School of Architecture is continuing its effort to find (and maintain) the most accurate contact information for all of our alumni. From young alumni receptions to 50-year reunions, and everything in between, we hope you will stay in touch. Would you like to mentor a student? Do you need to hire a fellow Longhorn? Looking for networking or continuing education opportunities? We can help, but we need to know how to reach you!

Alumni may update their records, contact preferences, and search for fellow graduates by logging on to the University's online alumni directory. Or, you may always contact Stephanie Palmer, Alumni Relations Director, at stephanie.palmer@mail.utexas.edu or 512-471-0617.

Thanks for helping us improve our relationship with you. We look forward to hearing from you!

SUPPORT UTSOA

The holidays are here, and as you plan your year-end giving, please consider a gift to the School of Architecture. It's easy and secure to give online, and you can designate your gift for the program of your choice. You can even set up automatic monthly payments using any major credit card.

Click here to begin.

Thank you and best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season!

FRIENDS OF ARCHITECTURE

On February 8-11, 2008, Friends of Architecture, in conjunction with Dallas Architecture Forum, presents "Palm Springs Mid-Century Modernism."

Palm Springs, California, is a desert oasis where world class architects created uniquely important mid-century modern designs for their jet set clientele. Martinis, moonlight, and mid-century modern design, what more could you ask for?

Come and experience desert modernism for yourself! Join UT-Austin School of Architecture Associate Dean Louise Harpman and noted local experts for a Palm Springs adventure unlike any other.

Membership in Friends of Architecture or Dallas Architecture Forum is required. For complete pricing and registration details, contact FOA Director Stephanie Palmer at 512.471.0617 or stephanie.palmer@mail.utexas.edu.

Visit Friends of Architecture online for more information on membership and on upcoming tours.

DEAN'S VISION: BECOMING THE BEST

In the November 1 edition of eNews, I presented "My Vision" for the School of Architecture, in which I outlined my goal to become the best public school of architecture in the nation.

The suggestion was made at an earlier faculty meeting that I ask each faculty member to articulate the way he or she would like to see our school be "the best" and how that success would be measured. I thought it was a great idea, and we posted some of the responses from faculty members in the November 15 edition of eNews.

I would like to take this idea further and pose the question to students and alumni of the school. How would you like to see the school be "the best"? Please send me your thoughts. As our Capital Campaign moves forward, I welcome all ideas from you.

—Fritz Steiner

CONTACTS

In this fast-paced world, there's a lot of news to keep up with. We know you are doing great things, and we rely on you to tell us your story. Students, faculty, and staff may send updates to eNews editor Pamela Peters at p.peters@mail.utexas.edu. Alumni, please send your news and contact updates to Alumni Relations Director Stephanie Palmer at stephanie.palmer@mail.utexas.edu.

UT-Austin School of Architecture
soa.utexas.edu

Dean's Office
512.471.1922, fax 512.471.0716

Center for American Architecture and Design
christinewong@mail.utexas.edu, 512-471-9890

Center for Sustainable Development
teresacarr@mail.utexas.edu, 512.475.7995

Assistant Dean for Development
Julie Hooper, jhooper@austin.utexas.edu, 512.471.6114

Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Jeanne Crawford, jcraw@mail.utexas.edu, 512.471.0109

Graduate Program Coordinator
Rosemin Gopaul, gopaul@austin.utexas.edu, 512.471.0134

Publications Editor
Pamela Peters, p.peters@mail.utexas.edu, 512.471.0154

Director, Friends of Architecture and Alumni Relations
Stephanie Palmer, stephanie.palmer@mail.utexas.edu, 512.471.0617

Director, Career Services Center
Carrie O'Malley, carrie.omalley@austin.utexas.edu, 512.471.1333

Materials Lab
http://soa.utexas.edu/matlab, 512.232.5969

Architecture and Planning Library
www.lib.utexas.edu/apl/, 512.495.4620

Webmaster
Christopher Rankin, crankin@mail.utexas.edu, 512.495.4620

UTSOA Mailing Address
The University of Texas at Austin
School of Architecture
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Austin, TX 78712-0222