We are considering a change in the format of the Urban Studio that has been inspired by last years FIPSE Exchange Program and its professional practice component led by Birmingham architect Joe Giatinna. The idea is that the course work for the year in Birmingham would be compressed into the first eight weeks of the fall semester and the last eight weeks in the spring.

The 16 weeks in-between would be spent working in an office as a paid employee. There would be weekly or bi-weekly seminar meetings during the 16-week work period with students, faculty and preceptor-mentors from the firms. The seminar would provoke discussions surrounding the current climate of professional practice as related to the on going work. It would be an important forum for the students to talk to the faculty and other firm preceptors and for the firms to talk to each other. The 16 weeks would count towards IDP and the salary would cover living expenses and tuition.

This idea has been presented in a preliminary form to a large number of firms in Birmingham with very enthusiastic response. These ideas were just presented to the students who have applied for next years Urban Studio program. Their initial response was very positive.

The idea is built on several important goals: building better relationships with the professional community, bringing practice into education and education into practice, and fostering the idea that collective practice includes an ecology of learning.