Virginia Tech’s School of Architecture + Design nationally recognized for its excellence

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — DesignIntelligence released its annual rankings for the top architecture and design schools in the country and one local program is high in the rankings.

The School of Architecture + Design, which is part of Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies, features both undergraduate and graduate programs. The undergraduate architecture curriculum is ranked the sixth most admired program in America by DesignIntelligence, an independent company that “has conducted surveys to determine the top ranked schools in architecture and design since 1999”, according to its website. The most recent survey was released in September.

Virginia Tech’s undergraduate architecture program also ranked second place in construction materials and methods, third place in sustainability, and fourth place in research. Meanwhile, the graduate architecture program is 13th most admired and the students who graduate from either program are the fourth most sought-after by employers across the country.

The landscape architecture program also advanced in the rankings. Its students rose up from seventh place to fourth place in their post-graduate employment appeal, and its undergraduate and graduate programs scored 13th and 18th, respectively, in most admired curricula.

The interior design undergraduate program, on the other hand, scored 11th place on the admiration rankings and fifth place for most hired alumni. According to Virginia Tech, “Across the board, both the architecture and interior design programs made the top 10 in every focus area (12 total), placing especially high in construction materials and methods, design technologies, engineering fundamentals, healthy built environments, interdisciplinary studies, practice management, project planning and management, and sustainable built environments.”

Virginia Tech’s faculty also received commendations by DesignIntelligence. Donna Dunay, professor of architecture, and Lisa Tucker, professor and program chair of interior design, were both named “Most Admired Educators” in their fields.

“These rankings are a great testament to architecture and design faculty, student, and program excellence,” said Dean Richard Blythe of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. “We’re proud that the historical and emerging strengths of our curriculum and approach are continually recognized by firms and professionals across the country.”