LAIAD: Los Angeles Institute of Architecture and Design









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	Anthony Ip Master of Architecture Program Sci-ARC Los Angeles "My appreciation for LAIAD grew after finishing my first graduate semester of SCIarc. In hindsight, the 1 year of night classes spent at LAIAD more than prepared me for the rigors of SCIarc's M.arch 1 program. LAIAD gave me a head start in teaching me how to develop and understand form language, presenting in front of review panels, model making, etc. LAIAD has given me a distinct edge in SCIarc's M.arch 1 program." back to top
	Benjamin Keiser Master of Architecture Program Pratt Institute New York City Words of advice for prospective Grad prep students: "Let me first say that if you would like to pursue a masters of architecture degree this (the Grad prep Program) is the way to do it. First, I got my undergrad degree in marketing and minored in psychology. I worked in marketing for a few years before coming to the realization that architecture was my true passion. I decided to take some prep classes to build a nice portfolio so that I could get into some good schools. I had been out of school for a few years so starting back into it with the prep program was just what I needed to get me ready for a graduate program. I would definitely recommend the LAIAD program to anyone interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the field. I was employed will attending school. I had two jobs. For part of it I was a waiter and coached lacrosse. For another part of it I was an intern for a well known architect, Anthoney Lumsden, which Bill Taylor arranged for me. As for hours a week, it varied. I worked weekends while I was waiting tables and some nights during the week. I would say somewhere around 25 to 30 hours a week for the duration of my schooling at LAIAD. As far as time spent out of class doing work.......well that was a lot. I mean if you want to pursue this you have to be committed. And you will have to learn to manage your time extremely well. (you may already, I'm not sure) I didn't put my portfolio together until it was time to start applying to schools, probably a month or so of laying it out, getting feedback, and editing it. I was really just focusing on developing and designing my projects and learning as much as I could while I was in the program. I attended three semesters at LAIAD and have to say that I had a pretty developed portfolio when I was finished. When I got to school at Pratt Institute I looked at some of my peers work and it was nowhere near what we were turning out at LAIAD. So overall, I would highly recommend attending this program. I don't think I would be where I am right now without it. I felt very prepared when I got to my current program which I am now near completion. I am not sure who is teaching there anymore but, Bill Taylor was a great studio teacher. About 80 percent of the stuff he was talking about then didn't make much sense to me, but now I know what he was talking about. The more I go through my program now the more I realize how much I learned under his tutelage." Group Project: Lebbeus Woods Studio Spring 2008 Pratt Institute: back to top
	Greg Smith Accepted at University of Toronto “All things considered, I can say with complete con-fidence that studying at LAIAD was the most positive educational experience I have had. My studies allowed me to begin the process of re-fining my idle curiosity about design into a rational, articulate means of self-expression. Exposure to the dynamic LAIAD studio environment coupled with the shellshock of studying abroad were amazing opportunities that I will not only carry with me throughout my career, but that will influence and inspire me for the rest of my life.” back to top
	Paola Girola Working in Milan, Italy I've just returned from Paris for the cocktail party given for the opening of my last project: a lamp store in Paris (Rue du Faubourg St.Honoré 225 - close to the Etoile - in case you're going to visit Paris). The brand is Luceplan, they don't own many shops, just one in Paris, one in Copenhagen, one in Soho-NY (in the upcoming movie "Sex and the City" there will be a scene filmed in it) and one in Milan. The other pictures I've sent refer to their sales stand for the Salone del Mobile (furniture fair - Milan2007). Actually... I find that the mathematic logic that stays behind these works concept, is very similar to the method I learned at LAIAD. Good, to have experienced "on site" the power and the -how to say - force, impact, aesthetic coherence resulting from a set of mathematic rules. Just have a glance at Luceplan1.pdf (renderings of the parisian store made during the design process): I find that the "agglomeration of mass" looks very similar to my Chess Club Project! I can say, honestly, that LAIAD gave a big contribution in forming my taste and my sense of space. You may find some more pictures of these and other works I took part into, on www.scandurrastudio.com I left the Scandurrastudio by the end of 2007 and I'm currently working on a ordinare supermarket construction design, waiting for the next chance for a more exciting project. back to top
	Sheri Meshkinpour Attending Yale University back to top
	Andrew Bryan Attending Harvard University GSD back to top