Overview

In addition to our required curriculum, students in our program enjoy a vibrant series of public program offerings. These include our annual Lecture Series, Mastersclass, Venice Biennale program, and more! 

The Public Programs Lecture Series features local, national and international speakers, showcasing a variety of research and practice trajectories. Past themes have included “Moral Imaginaries” (2019-2020), “Anonymity” 2018-2019, “For other Architectures” (2017-2018), and “Beyond: Architecture and its outsides” (2016-2017). Many of the past lectures can be accessed on our Department youtube channel.

The OPN Masterclass is a yearly event inviting globally recognized professionals within the architecture field to hold a small workshop with Iowa State students. Prior Masterclass workshops have been lead by Elia Zenghellis (OMA, Gigantes Zenghelis Architects, AA), Daniel Fernández Pascual & Alon Schwabe (Cooking Sections, RCA),Yoshiharu Tsukamoto (Atelier Bow-Wow)  Neyran Turan (Nemes Studio, UC Berkeley), David Gersten, (Arts Letter and Numbers) and Carole Levesque (in partnership with L’Université du Québec à Montréal).

Iowa State University’s College of Design is one of only a few North American universities and art institutes to participate in the Venice Biennale Sessions in Venice, Italy. Students in the Architecture program have now participated in three editions of the event –  one of the most famous and prestigious cultural exhibitions in the world to feature Architecture and Design.

In addition to regular events, Public programs also hosts a range of symposia, colloquium or workshops for our students, featuring national and international participants.