Recent News
New Department Head
Sep 9, 2022
Mark Cabrinha Appointed Head of the Architecture Department
Mark, an alumnus of our architecture program, earned his Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. in Architectural Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Before joining the faculty at Cal Poly his professional practice focused on developing innovative learning environments for K-12 schools. Over the last five years as CAED Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, he has been the primary liaison between the college and university for student success and strategic college initiatives including shepherding the college’s Diversity Strategic Plan. Before his position as Associate Dean, Mark’s studio teaching coupled his passion for integrated design, digital fabrication, and rethinking the space of education through his open-source learning lab. His research has focused on the impact of technology on design culture through the lens of digital fabrication.
As Department Head, Mark will lead the department’s priorities, including the comprehensive restructuring of the curriculum in the transition to semesters, while focusing on a new architectural accreditation process that draws on the program's unique identity and quality. The restructuring provides a significant opportunity to engage faculty and students in a renewed architecture curriculum that continues its emphasis on design excellence, design integration, and sustainability while expanding learning opportunities that address pressing societal needs and emerging professional imperatives.
The college extends its deep appreciation to Margot McDonald for her leadership and for all she has contributed and accomplished as Head of the Architecture Department.
Mark Cabrinha, Department Head
Sep 9, 2022
Mark Cabrinha Appointed Head of the Architecture Department
Mark, an alumnus of our architecture program, earned his Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. in Architectural Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Before joining the faculty at Cal Poly his professional practice focused on developing innovative learning environments for K-12 schools. Over the last five years as CAED Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, he has been the primary liaison between the college and university for student success and strategic college initiatives including shepherding the college’s Diversity Strategic Plan. Before his position as Associate Dean, Mark’s studio teaching coupled his passion for integrated design, digital fabrication, and rethinking the space of education through his open-source learning lab. His research has focused on the impact of technology on design culture through the lens of digital fabrication.
As Department Head, Mark will lead the department’s priorities, including the comprehensive restructuring of the curriculum in the transition to semesters, while focusing on a new architectural accreditation process that draws on the program's unique identity and quality. The restructuring provides a significant opportunity to engage faculty and students in a renewed architecture curriculum that continues its emphasis on design excellence, design integration, and sustainability while expanding learning opportunities that address pressing societal needs and emerging professional imperatives.
The college extends its deep appreciation to Margot McDonald for her leadership and for all she has contributed and accomplished as Head of the Architecture Department.
TWO Cal Poly Students Awarded 2x8 DOMUM Scholarships
Mar 2, 2021
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles chapter awarded 10 student scholarships in 2020, under the title of 2x8 DOMUM. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo students won two of the top three awards! The winning work was completed with instructor Stephen Phillips while studying at the LA Metro Program.
Violetta Smart | Many Villages, Sometimes
Nadthachai Kongkhajornkidsuk | Joy Cluster
For more information, visit the AIA LA Webpage
Upcoming Events
Jan 27, 2021
Visit this page often to see the variety of student, faculty and department organized events in the Architecture Department!
If you have trouble viewing the calendar above, try clicking this link to open in a new window.
To add an event to the Architecture Public Events Calendar, create your own calendar "meeting" which includes a description, location, time, and organizer contact information. Then invite archevents@calpoly.edu to your meeting.
Interim Architecture Department Head appointed
Oct 9, 2013
Professor Margot McDonald, AIA, NCARB, LEED BD+C, has been named Interim Department Head of the Architecture Department.
As a Masters in Architecture graduate from the University of Oregon and a licensed architect, Prof. McDonald has emphasized teaching students about building energy performance and sustainable design for more than two decades. She has been a professor of architecture at Cal Poly since 1992, and previously served as interim head of the architecture department in 2002-03.
She was the lead coordinator for the UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference at Cal Poly in 2008, served on the CSU Chancellor’s Office Sustainability Advisory Committee for Education and Research in 2010, and is currently chairing the President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee at Cal Poly. Most recently, her teaching as focused on integrated project design in an interdisciplinary studio.
McDonald succeeds outgoing Interim Department Head James Doerfler, who accepted a position as the director of architecture programs of Philadelphia University. His accomplishments include helping to lead professional studios, co-op programs, developing award-winning interdisciplinary design studios, and overseeing the department’s graduate program.
For more information, see the Cal Poly press release.
Posted: 08.09.13
Cal Poly Team wins Bank of America Affordable Housing Challenge
Oct 5, 2013
Sample News Item - Cal Poly's Named Nation's Go-To University for Recruitment of Highly Skilled Aerospace and Defense Employees
Aug 14, 2013
The title of this news item will appear on the Recent News widget. As well, the title and teaser content appears on the More news page which aggregates all News content types.
The job readiness of Cal Poly graduates has landed the school atop the rankings in Aviation Week’s Workforce Study of “go-to” universities. Aviation Week and Space Technology’s annual study has been a mainstay for aerospace and defense (A&D) industry recruitment, planning and trend analysis since 1997.
It is the second consecutive year that Cal Poly has been named No. 1. New for the 2012 study, Aviation Week used three lenses to examine the schools most likely to supply the science, technology, engineering and math talent needed for the future. Categories included: industry’s preferred schools for recruiting; the universities that produced the greatest number of A&D job placements; and the schools that young professionals believe gave them an edge in being hired and promoted. In that order, the trio of schools at the top includes Cal Poly, Iowa State University and Georgia Institute of Technology.
More on the Aviation Week Ranking