Historical Highlights
2021
The Department of Architectural Studies moves transfers to the College of Arts and Science.
2018
Dr. Balakrishnan begins leadership as Chair of the Department of Architectural Studies July 1, 2018 following Dr. Tofle’s 34 years as Department Chair.
2018
The Honorable Governor Mike Parson, Curators, and dignitaries visit the Department’s Immersive Visualization Lab to learn more about the research that can be done at MU and the need for future investment. This visit was orchestrated by MU President Mun Choi who noted the Governor was visiting in his first week in office.
2018
Five MU Architectural Studies students were awarded second place in the annual Department of Energy, Race to Zero Competition, for their Zanos II home design.
2018
John D. Kemp, President & CEO of The Viscardi Center, gives the 2018 Margaret Mangel lecture — organized by Department
2017
Institutional Merit Award is presented to MU Architectural Studies for its Graduate Program. The honor ceremony took place at the international Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) meeting in Chicago with fourteen alumni in attendance. The accolade acknowledges the program’s progressive online graduate program and its well-placed, distinguished alumni holding major leadership positions.
2017
The Department’s undergraduate Interior Design program is rated #13 in the nation by DesignIntelligence (2016-2017).
2016
The Great Plains ADA Center, received a new $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund the Center through 2021. This is the Great Plains ADA Center’s sixth consecutive five-year grant from the federal government to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulatory guidance and resources in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. Great Plains ADA Center staff serve as consultants, trainers and resource providers for all people, businesses, organizations and government entities with questions or problems regarding all areas of ADA and related disability laws in the four-state region.
2016
The Betty Ann Cortelyou Design Studio in Stanley 231 and the Cynthia Adams Francis Design Collaboration Lab in Stanley 232 are dedicated at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Replacing vintage 1960’s furnishings, the renovations included new desks, adjustable seating, LED lighting, and surfaces. Both alumnae have a history of giving back to our program.
2015
Rachel Liberty’s display design for the Thomas Jefferson original epitaph is dedicated in Jesse Hall. Rachel’s design was selected in a Studio II competition. This is the third iconic display in Jesse Hall resulting from a student competition in department. The first was the Honor wall at the south entrance. The second was the cornerstone display.
2015
A transfer agreement is signed and implemented to help Moberly Area Community College (MACC) students seamlessly transfer to MU’s professional degree programs in Architectural Studies. MACC students can complete their AA degree and the BSHES degree at MU in four years. Two MU options are offered–the CIDA accredited interior design program and the architectural studies pre-architecture program.
2015
The Journal of Interior Design reports fifteen doctoral dissertations during the 2014-2015 academic year (Park, 2015). Our department has the highest number with six PhD completions. The department continues to offer the only online doctoral program among its peers. Three of the six completing MU doctoral students were Mizzou¬Online distance students.
2015
The Department offers twelve general education courses available to majors and non-majors. Popular large enrollment courses are “Fundamentals of Environmental Design” taught by Ben Schwarz and “Understanding Architecture and the American City” taught by Asha Kutty.
2015
DesignIntelligence (Nov/Dec 2015) ranks our MU interior design program #4 in the Midwest among interior design programs in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. The DesignIntelligence survey reports 2,237 U.S. firms and organizations employing design professionals who participated in the ranking.
2014
The Great Plains ADA Center joined the Department October 1, 2014. Established in 1991 with the leadership of Jim de Jong, Executive Director, the Center’s mission is to provide professional, quality information and services on the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is funded by a five-year, $5 million federal grant last awarded in 2011. The center serves people and organizations within Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
2014
Department has most number of students receiving competitive funding for undergraduate student research. The College and Department invest in the Program for Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE).
2014
Mike Goldschmidt leads student design competition of Columbia bus shelters. Shelters needed to be sustainable, modular, fully accessible, attractive to riders, and include components that allow for public art.
2014
Bimal Balakrishnan is selected for Reynolds Journalism Fellowship. He is exploring how 3-D video can be used to boost engagement with media.
2014
Newton D’souza wins Ernest L Boyer International Award for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Technology. He also received the 2014 Innovated Excellence award.
2013
Boone County Lumber Building Technology Lab celebrates a ten year anniversary and thanks Eiffert family for their support.
2013
MU Architectural Studies student work becomes a permanent Veterans Memorial at MU Memorial Union.
2013
CIDA accredited interior design program is ranked #3 among all undergraduate interior design programs in the Midwest by DesignIntelligence.
2013
The University of Missouri Alumni Association honored Ruth Tofle with the Distinguished Faculty Award.
2013
Andrew Herdeg of Lake/Flato gives fall Marcia Wehrle Healy & Robert N Healy Interior Design & Architecture Lecture Series.
2013
Most Admired Educator Ruth Tofle. One of top 30 educators in U.S. (DesignIntelligence.P.15). This same year she was selected by the MU Alumni Association for the Distinguished Faculty Award.
2013
Dr. Csikszentmihalyi gives lecture sponsored by HES Margaret Mangel Lectureship and Mizzou Advantage. Symposium led by Newton D’souza.
2012
Students design renovation of Lyceum Theater in Arrow Rock, Missouri.
2012
Stanley 226 becomes studio in place of Gwynn 313 with Gwynn renovation project to begin.
2012
Interior Design program is re-accredited for maximum six years with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
2012
Antoine Predock selected for University of Missouri Honorary Doctorate from Department’s nomination.
2012
iLab, Immersive Visualization Lab holds open house.
2011
St. Louis Community College, Meremac, transfer agreement for Interior Design.
2011
Extreme Makeover Home Edition television project and student participation after Joplin, Mo tornado.
2011
Most Admired Educator Benyamin Schwarz. One of top 25 educators in U.S. (DesignIntelligence. P. 49).
2011
Ranked #4 “Most Admired Graduate Program”. “Cited for its distance education program and the number of alumni who are in well-placed academic programs.” (DesignIntelligence. P. 41).
2011
Andy Guti and Sherri DeRousse Guti Sustainable Design Endowment first award to help students participate in Joplin tornado reconstruction.
2010
Haiti Earthquake Relief Poster Cause Competition in Visual design classes.
2010
Students design historic MU cornerstone for Jesse Hall rotunda. Winning design constructed and dedicated at homecoming.
2010
Stanley Hall walls removed between three studios saving space and preparing for iLab.
2010
One of five “Hidden Gems of Interior Design Education” (America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools. DesignIntelligence. 2010,p.61).
2009
Top Ten Program – 2009. Category: Interior Design Undergraduate Program (among165 total accredited programs) DesignIntelligence. Design Futures Council. Number 219. Nov/Dec, 2008, p. 36.
2009
Ranked 11th in the International Solar Decathlon Competition building a solar home with MU Science and Technology on the Washington Mall (U.S. Green Building Council competition).
2009
Bob Berkebile selected for University of Missouri Honorary Doctorate from Department’s nomination.
2008
Students assume recycling leadership for College of HES.
2008
First online doctoral program on campus grants two doctorates to online students Lisa Tucker and Brian Sinclair.
2006
Interior design program is re-accredited for maximum six years with the Foundation for Interior Design Research (FIDER).
2005
First online masters student Diana Allison Ingham receives MS.
2005
Tom and Winnie Davis Endowment Fund established for an undergraduate scholarship.
2005
Endowed Faculty Scholar in Architectural Studies from Ruth Tofle, Michael Goldschmidt, Tracy Stearns, and Betty Ann Cortelyou.
2005
Gray Design Group, Inc. Facilities Enhancement Endowment.
2004
Jesse Hall Honor Wall designed by graduate students and unveiled at homecoming .
2004
Department changed its name to Architectural Studies . Students achieve BS HES Architectural Studies; MS/MA Architectural Studies; and PhD HES with Emphasis in Architectural Studies.
2004
Rogers Gallery was endowed in memory of Kate Ellen Rogers, former Department Chair.
2003
Marcia Wehrle Healy and Robert N. Healy Interior Design and Architecture Lectureship Series established.
2003
Carol Ann Williams Lectureship in Design Endowment established.
2003
On-line distance learning begins in the Spring semester with MU Direct for graduate education. The Department is the first to begin an online doctoral program among schools affiliated with the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) in the nation and also first at MU.
2003
Transformation begins from instruction with slides to digital images.
2003
Boone County Lumber Building Technology Lab established in basement of Gentry Hall. Ronald G. Phillips, Coordinator.
2002
Founder of program, Kate Ellen Rogers, passes
2002
Graduate Digital Media Computer Lab established in 2nd floor Stanley. Saleh Uddin, Coordinator.
2001
Benyamin Schwarz Editor begins editorship service in Department for Journal of Housing for the Elderly.
2001
Faculty ranked second as most prolific. A rank order of the Top 20 Universities by the total number of articles produced by affiliated individuals was published in the Journal of Interior Design.
2001
Richard Helmick Design with Digital Media Endowment established.
1999
Maximum 6 year re- accreditation of Interior Design Program with the Foundation of Interior Design Education Research.
1998
Christian Friedrich, Nevada Susan Friedrich/ Dorothy Friedrich Rose Scholarship established for student with best work in ID Studio I, II, III sequence each semester.
1998
The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library Scholarships initiated by Paul Brayton, CEO Brayton Design, for students with financial need.
1997
Carol Ann Williams/Kate Ellen Rogers Scholarship Endowment established honoring the first department chair Kate Rogers.
1997
Mary Harpster Dysart College of HES Scholarship initiated for students with financial need. Awarded in odd # years to an Architectural Studies student and in even # years to a TAM student.
1996
First Gary Hennigh Distinguished Senior Award given. This award marks the first planned use for department endowment funds and honors Gary Hennigh who was a faculty member in the department for 27 years, retiring in 1995.
1995
Two “niche” areas declared:
1) environment and behavior
2) design with digital media
1995
Established first endowed fund in a department in the college.
1994
Pre-architecture cooperative agreement with University of Kansas made.
1993
Pre-architecture cooperative agreement with Washington University developed.
1991
Portfolio review begins for undergraduate professional programs initiated to enroll in studio sequence. Portfolio review begins, forty students admitted per year.
1990
Hosted 25th national conference of American Association of Housing Educators (AAHE).
1989
Department title changed to Environmental Design. Housing Design and Design Management and Merchandising programs are phased out.
1988
Title of college changed to College of Human Environmental Sciences.
1985
Kate Ellen Rogers Scholarship initiated by Directions in Design, St. Louis for a senior student; funded until 1994.
1985
Co-hosted national IDEC conference in St. Louis.
1985
Ruth Brent (Tofle) is appointed as Department Chair.
1984
Campus computer lab was opened in 146 Stanley Hall.
1984
Kate Ellen Rogers retired. The Rogers Gallery in Stanley Hall is named in honor of Dr. Rogers for her 30 years of service as Professor and Department Chair. Ruth Brent (Tofle) begins service as Acting Department Chair.
1982
Established an Advisory Board of practicing professionals in the field, the first department in the college to do so.
1980
Largest department enrollment recorded at 300 undergraduate students.
1980
Linda Wellons Richichi Endowment established to recognize and encourage a beginning student in an undergraduate program in the department. Initiated by Tom Richichi in memory of his wife who graduated from the interior design program.
1975
Kate Ellen Rogers is first Editor of Journal of Interior Design Education Research.
1975
Department emphases were Interior Design, Housing Design and Design Management and Merchandising.
1973
Interior Design program accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). The program was in the first group of five programs in the nation to be accredited and has been continually re-accredited since then. Kate Ellen Rogers played a key role in the establishment of FIDER.
1972
Program became the Department of Housing and Interior Design when the School of Home Economics became the College of Home Economics with Margaret Mangel as Dean.
1972
Kate Ellen Rogers invites Henry Sanoff to speak at the first IDEC research conference. Henry Sanoff was the Founder and Chair (1969-1974) of the Environmental Design Research Association. (EDRA was incorporated in 1972.) The emphasis on environment and behavior becomes a research focus area in the department.
1972
PhD established in the School of Home Economics with emphases in program areas.
1968
Kate Ellen Rogers is honored in the first class of Faculty-Alumni Awards by the Mizzou Alumni Association recognizing achievements for work as teachers, researchers and administrators.
1967
Program chair, Kate Ellen Rogers, was instrumental in establishment of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), an international organization for interior design educators.
1965
Hosted National Housing Conference at which the national American Association of Housing Educators (AAHE) organization was started.
1954
Interior design program established with Kate Ellen Rogers as program chair.
1915
MA program established in the school.
1909
MS program established in the school.
1900
First interior design course taught in the School of Home Economics in the College of Agriculture.