The Formation of a Good Architect

2/18/2009

The UST College of Architecture is hosting a grand alumni homecoming on February 21, 2009. This gave me a fine excuse to visit my alma mater, partly to reminisce and recall the fond and not so fond memories of my time within its halls, and partly to look into that venerable institution that has helped produce many of the country’s best builders. I was pleased at the significant progress that had transpired since I was there several years and pounds ago. For one, the College of Architecture no longer squats within the engineering building, but has its very own building designed by an esteemed professor and former dean, Arch. Yolanda Reyes. The college population has grown to over 2000 students, now all housed in air-conditioned classrooms. Gone are the days when our drafting table tops were half-torn plywood boards, pockmarked or smudged with graffiti. Whereas before our professors had to compete with the blaring horns of jeepneys along Gov. Forbes and Espana and the glare and smog of a bustling city, today’s classrooms are all more conducive to studying, equipped as they are with LCD projectors and modern classroom amenities. The CADD rooms, where the intricacies of computer-aided design are unraveled, provide a personal computer for every student in the class. In addition, the teachers’ jobs have become a lot easier because the faculty is equipped with checking scanners that can help them correct test papers. It is also very fortunate that the college is being run by a roster of highly-qualified educators. This gives me a lot of confidence to encourage my youngest daughter to pursue a course in architecture here in the near future.

I had a nice chat with Dean Jojo Fernandez, who is on his third year at the helm of the college. Dean Fernandez may be best described as a soft-spoken, no-nonsense professional, very much like his father and my professor, the late Arch. Antonio Fernandez. He has been in the faculty since 1998, pioneering the teaching of CADD classes in the college of architecture. He then became college secretary and was eventually appointed as dean. The young dean explains that his appointment does not mean that there is no one else qualified for the position. He believes he was chosen, despite his age, not just because of his teaching and professional experience but because of his experience as college secretary, which honed his skills in management and administration. Though an architect, Dean Fernandez chose the noble path of educating and training the future architects of our country. His stewardship has seen the initiation of many improvements in that process of formation.

During his term, he has introduced programs that considerably increased the efficiency of the faculty. One such program is the departmentalization of major subjects. This system of regular, standard testing monitors not just the performance of the students, but of the teachers as well. Another proposed program is the accreditation for the US-based National Council for Architectural Registration Board. The objective is for the school to be at par with architectural schools abroad. Once accredited, the graduates and their efforts will be recognized by the US licensure board. This initiative will give the college better insights on what to improve on and what other systems to develop to remain competitive internationally. He claims that UST is ready to accept and form those individuals who are truly serious with their studies and able to keep up with the challenging workload.

To further direct the students’ skills, they are introducing three specializations as part of the course electives, namely Environmental Management Planning, Conservation, and Building Systems. This allows the scholars to choose their field of specialization, so they can focus on it. Another project envisioned is the regular conduct of aptitude tests to make sure that only those who are really right for the profession may continue in the college. This would enable the students to know early on if this is the right career for them, so as not to waste valuable time and effort. It may also weed out those who would ultimately pose as liabilities to the public.

Although five years is not enough to make one a good architect upon graduation, a true education gears one towards learning how to learn more and to be able to evaluate intelligently what one gleans from experience. The proof of effective learning is in being open to different concepts, a willingness to try out new approaches, with the intention of improving what one already knows. In truth, there is no school anywhere that can teach you all the design techniques nor inform you of all the available building materials. But the best school is the one that opens the individual’s mind to discovering, analyzing, and practicing better ways, novel methods, and fresh innovations. When our educational institutions can form students such as these, then a bright future for our profession is assured. That is what truly makes a good architect.