Architecture school selects charter class

The Laurentian University School of Architecture has confirmed 70 students for its charter class.

Classes will start on Sept. 4.

“We have been tremendously impressed by the vitality and the diversity of the applications we’ve received,” said Laurentian Architecture’s Founding Director, Terrance Galvin.

“There is an exciting creative spark in these young people, and we know that our school is off to a very promising start.”

Students were selected based on their creative portfolios, personal letters of application, OSSD grades, and letters of reference.

Galvin says the portfolios displayed a “high calibre of visually talented people, with diverse skills in fine arts. The portfolios were very strong, among the best that I’ve seen in my career.”

The first class at Laurentian Architecture includes 40 female and 30 male students, most of whom are from Northern Ontario and other regions of the province.

More than 17 per cent are Francophone or fluent in French, and seven per cent are indigenous students.

Laurentian Architecture will specialize in northern and sustainable design, with a particular focus on incorporating Francophone and Aboriginal culture, history and design in the curriculum.

Each year, Francophone and indigenous students will be eligible for renewable departmental scholarships, in addition to the financial support offered to all Laurentian University students.

A donation of $100,000 from the University’s Alumni Association helps to finance these architecture scholarships.

The Laurentian Architecture program includes two co-op work placements in the undergraduate program.

Members of the Fall 2013 cohort will have terms of co-operative study beginning in the summer of 2014. Students will also take part in international co-op placements by their third year of study.