The Los Angeles Times recently featured Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter, AIA, Dean of the School of Architecture through their Building Type series. Interviewed by Christopher Hawthorne, he clearly recognizes the excellence of the School and its unique mission of transforming students through teaching excellence. In the interview, Christopher states: “One thing I’ve noticed about Woodbury, the school is very much on people’s lips in L.A., and there’s a sense that the school is on the rise.”
The Q&A highlights Ingalill’s vision for Woodbury School of Architecture. Here are some excerpts from the discussion:
Ethics
One of the core values of Woodbury School of Architecture is ethics. We are “looking for multiple ways in which ethics could participate in the architectural conversation. There’s a financial and ethical component to that, making sure that our students are hireable. Then there are the larger conversations that are taking place in terms of sustainable practice, in terms of diversity and equity, in terms of inclusion, in terms of natural resources, border issues — these are all what I would call the ethical dimension that we try to tackle.”
Student Body
“I like thinking about our campus as an economic melting pot. … The real crisis of our age is economic inequality. And less and less we have places where people of different economic levels and different experiences can actually work together on a common pursuit. I take pride in the fact that our students are coming from all of those different places and levels. I think that’s something to celebrate.”
Unique Learning Opportunities
“Our Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure initiative is a national initiative where the schools are working with licensing boards of the states … The idea is that if they complete the program they can get licensed upon graduation, which makes them that much more marketable.”
Students Shaping School Culture
“We’re very much about place … students are working in studios on projects for their own communities. I think it does become part of the collective conversation. The L.A. – San Diego conversation is unique to schools of architecture.”
Education of an Architect
“The education of an architect opens up so many possibilities and doors. It gets back to this notion of alternative practice, that there are different ways to practice architecture and it doesn’t always have to be a mainstream way or in a conventional office structure. And that makes sense for this generation, which is perhaps more entrepreneurial but also more willing to make adjustments. It’s not a singular mind-set. They’re willing to test out different paths.”
Find out more about Ingalill’s ideas on ethics and alternative practice through the full LA Times interview.