WELCOME:

Welcome to ARCH 409: Practice Now. This course is an opportunity to critically examine what it means to practice architecture today and how the profession is evolving in response to social, environmental, and economic challenges. Over the semester, we will explore architecture beyond conventional definitions, focusing on agency, ethics, labor, and the changing responsibilities of architects in contemporary practice.

The course is structured around conversation, inquiry, and real-world engagement. Through lectures, workshops, case studies, interviews, and professional outreach, we will connect course content to current practice while intentionally addressing areas of architecture that are often underrepresented in school. Guest speakers from a range of professional backgrounds will contribute diverse perspectives and help ground our discussions in lived experience.

ARCH 409 asks for active participation and an open, inquisitive mindset. You are expected to come to class prepared to engage thoughtfully, contribute to discussion, and critically reflect on the profession and your role within it. This course is less about fixed answers and more about developing the tools to ask better questions and imagine alternative modes of practice.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Grounded in real-world engagement, the course connects students to contemporary practice through interviews, professional outreach, and case studies. It intentionally addresses areas of architecture that are rarely emphasized in school, including nontraditional roles, evolving practice models, and underexamined aspects of professional work. Lectures, workshops, and guest speakers collectively frame the risks, responsibilities, and advocacy required of architects today.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this course are to equip students with a critical understanding of contemporary architectural practice and its evolving social, environmental, and professional responsibilities. The class aims to strengthen students’ ability to evaluate real-world conditions through case studies, interviews, and professional outreach while expanding awareness of practice areas and career paths often overlooked in traditional architectural education. By engaging ethical frameworks, labor conditions, and alternative models of practice, the course seeks to empower students to reclaim agency, respond to uncertainty, and position themselves as informed, adaptable, and responsible participants in the architecture profession.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY:

This course explores the architectural profession and asks students to engage the material with an open and inquisitive mindset. Each week, students are expected to bring a focused and thoughtful approach to class as we examine the practice of architecture, design, and its educational foundations. At its core, the course emphasizes conversation, inquiry, and exploration.