Introducing "The Plot": A Letter from Dean Heather Woofter
Students, faculty, and staff are active contributors to the future we are building, each bringing unique perspectives and technical expertise to our work, with a spirit of collaboration at its core.
In this inaugural issue of The Plot, we invite you into the ethos of the school through stories, conversations, and examples of impactful work from our community. We begin with a nod to those who protect and enliven our legacy: the librarians, archivists, and curators of the John S. Chase Architecture & Planning Library and the Alexander Architectural Archives.
This first issue coincides with the reopening of Battle Hall, the 1911 Cass Gilbert landmark long regarded as the architectural crown jewel of our campus. While the building retains its historic name, the library it houses — on the floors above the school’s studios — has been newly dedicated to the prolific architect John Saunders Chase (1925–2012), the first African American to enroll in and graduate from the School of Architecture, and the first Black licensed architect in Texas. Chase built his practice from the ground up: He found his first clients among the congregations and communities he joined, expanding his work into a firm reaching across Texas and the nation. The breadth of that contribution reflects a profound generosity of design: work that prioritizes communal experience and civic engagement, enduring qualities that align with the mission of our library and archives. His example of excellence — earned through perseverance and turned toward the elevation of his community — is one we hope will inspire the students who study here for generations to come.
We are deeply grateful to the Chase family — and to his son, Tony Chase, and daughter-in-law Dina Al-Sowayel — whose generosity made this dedication possible and ensures that John Chase’s legacy will continue to teach and inspire all who pass through these doors.
As a leading research university that emphasizes hands-on learning, we forge the delicate balance between theory and practice through applied teaching and collaboration across disciplines. The foundation of this approach was built in layers through the visionary leadership of my predecessors, most notably: Harwell Hamilton Harris (1951–1955), who recruited some of the most brilliant minds of the time to join our faculty; Alan Taniguchi (1968–1972), who upheld the school’s commitment to quality over quantity while advancing environmental stewardship and encouraging student activism; Charles Hamilton Burnette (1973–1976), who sharpened the school’s curriculum, expanded the faculty, and strengthened the role of research in architectural accreditation; Hal Box (1976–1992), who secured critical resources to expand our endowments and renovate our facilities, establishing a robust archival library and broadening our programs to embrace interior design, historic preservation, and doctoral study; Larry Speck (1992–2001), who continues to champion the integration of theory and practice as a defining strength of the school; Fritz Steiner (2001–2016), who inaugurated the landscape architecture program and worked to broaden our disciplines in support of holistic education and intentional community impact; Elizabeth Danze (2016–2017), who guided the school through a leadership transition as interim dean and remains a deeply valued faculty member; and Michelle Addington (2017–2023), who strengthened the school through the recruitment of specialized researchers, broadening the scope of inquiry and education.
As I conclude my third year as dean, I am proud to continue the work of realizing their collective vision — work of extraordinary importance in the current landscape of higher education. Our esteemed faculty members, many of whom are active practitioners in their fields, share in this commitment. As a public institution, we at UT’s School of Architecture have both the responsibility and the honor of empowering students to actively engage with their surroundings, to think critically about their roles as designers and researchers, and to participate meaningfully in contemporary culture.
This first volume of The Plot marks a pivotal moment in our collective legacy, reaffirming the School of Architecture’s values of stewardship and service while emphasizing an education grounded in applied practice. Lively and conversational, The Plot offers updates from our community across our interwoven disciplines. We hope it reinvigorates your commitment to great design in service of your communities in Austin, Texas, and beyond.
We’re excited to embark on this endeavor. Thank you for joining the conversation.
— Heather Woofter, School of Architecture Dean