McEwen School of Architecture earns accredited status

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture has earned accreditation from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) beginning July 1.

Laurentian announced the achievement in a press release, after CACB granted the school’s professional Master of Architecture Program Initial Accreditation.

“It is a proud moment for us all — a culmination of the hard work on the part of faculty, staff and students who have shared the vision and a common passion for the school, through its various stages of development,” said Dr. David Fortin, director at the McEwen School.

“We are grateful for all those who have contributed to those efforts and supported the School in so many ways. The CACB/CCAA’s initial accreditation has been a goal we are thrilled to celebrate together today.”

English, Francophone, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives are all a part of the unique tri-cultural mandate of the program.

Through Elders in residence, Indigenous faculty members, French design studio instruction, and local community-design and design-build exercises each year, students are exposed to an array of methods, knowledge, and experience that is uniquely ‘Northern’. Lessons learned from these local contexts are then extrapolated to address global issues in the disciplines of architecture, landscape design, and sustainable built environments.

“The McEwen School of Architecture has a lot to be proud of and this external validation is further proof of the high quality student experience being delivered at Laurentian University. This achievement is thanks to many years of exceptional work from staff, faculty, and students of the school. The confidence expressed in the school by the accreditation team at the CACB also reflects a broader confidence in the future of Laurentian.” said President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Robert Haché.

The school’s cooperative education model considers Northern Ontario’s cultures and experiential learning. It features an integrated co-operative program where students obtain practical experience through work-term placements with related architectural and design employers.

Since 2013, over 250 students have successfully completed their undergraduate degree (BAS) at the School, and 100 students have since graduated from its Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program.

The school is located in downtown Sudbury and offers a four-year Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS), followed by a two-year Master of Architecture degree (M.Arch).  The accreditation covers both programs leading to the Master of Architecture degree.

“The MSoA International Advisory Board’s guidance and the support of our extended community, which spans all of northern Ontario, have been instrumental to this achievement,” said founding director Dr. Terrance Galvin.

“The CACB only accredits Programs that are intended by their institution to be professional degrees in architecture that lead to licensure. Professional accreditation of a Program means that it has been evaluated by the CACB and substantially meets the educational standards that comprise, as a whole, an appropriate education for an architect.”

According to CACB, professional accreditation of a program means that it has been evaluated by the CACB and, “substantially meets the educational standards that comprise, as a whole, an appropriate education for an architect.”

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