The School of Architecture at Taliesin announces new Arizona locations
Jun 17, 2020, 4:05 AM
(KTAR News Photo)
PHOENIX — The School of Architecture at Taliesin announced new plans for its schools in the state on Monday.
In partnership with the Cosanti Foundation, the school is in the process of moving locations to Paradise Valley’s Cosanti and Arcosanti near Cordes Junction.
The decision comes after the architecture school and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation failed to reach a “mutually beneficial agreement” and cut ties with one another.
“We’re incredibly thankful for the support of our alumni, who championed the school through donations, new ideas and continued commitment to our unique place in the architecture world,” Dan Schweiker, the school’s board president, said in a press release.
“We see the school’s new location and leadership as an opportunity to reinvigorate our dedication to our entire community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni.”
Initially voted by the school board to close down in January, the school saw the board reverse its ruling for the Scottsdale and Spring Green, Wisconsin, campuses in March, allowing them to remain open.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which owns the land the campuses were located on, terminated the lease, effective July 31, the school said in the release.
In addition to the new locations, the school appointed acting dean, Chris Lasch, as its interim president following former president Aaron Betsky’s departure from the school in May.
“The school has a bright future and we look forward to working with The Cosanti Foundation at both of its sites – Cosanti and Arcosanti,” Lasch said.
“I’m confident that through our collaboration we will continue to provide an exceptional educational experience that lives up to Frank Lloyd Wright’s revolutionary vision and also draws inspiration from the innovative urban planning theories of his one-time apprentice, Paolo Soleri.”
The school also announced Bing Hu, Qingyun Ma, Chris Koch, John Sather, James Benson and Victor Sidy as six of its newest board members.
A new name for the school will be determined in the coming months, according to the school.
In-person classes are suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak in the state. Current students are working remotely, while plans to begin recruitment for the school’s class of new Masters of Architecture students, who would begin in the program in January 2021, are underway, the release said.