The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced today that, at its Dec. 5 Board meeting, it approved a possible path towards independent incorporation of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. The Foundation Boardâs decision has been embraced and approved by the School of Architecture Board of Governors and representatives of alumni and the broader school community.
In order to meet critical fundraising goals that will allow it to achieve the financial autonomy necessary to become an independent organization, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture is immediately launching the Campaign for Independence â to raise $2 million before the end of 2015.
Providing one of the most notable educational experiences in the country, the Schoolâs professional M.Arch degree program offers graduate students hands-on, design-intensive studio experiences within the immersive educational communities of Taliesin West (Scottsdale, Arizona) and Taliesin (Spring Green, Wisconsin). This past year saw the highest number of new students in the Schoolâs history, 100% student retention for the third consecutive year, and the launch a âTeaching Fellowshipâ program that has added five distinguished international architectural educators and practitioners to the Schoolâs teaching ranks.
Despite its recent successes, as was previously reported, accreditation for the School is threatened because the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) changed its by-laws, resulting in an expectation that the Foundation retain ultimate financial responsibility for the School while simultaneously ceding governance, financial, and operational control to a separate, autonomous organization. After two years of exploration and debate, the Foundation Board concluded that it could not agree to guarantee funding to an autonomous School to the level it would need to thrive without retaining ultimate control or decision-making authority, particularly given its responsibility to find funding for tens of millions of dollars (at least) in critically needed preservation work in the coming years and for the other critical components of the Foundationâs mission.
Following that determination, longtime supporters of the School suggested the possibility of raising substantial funds to create and support an independent School. The Foundation Board readily agreed that, if the School community can raise funds sufficient to demonstrate that the new organization would have âits own financial resourcesâ (as explicitly required by the HLCâs by-laws) then spinning off the School would not present the same obstacles. The new, independent school organization would take ultimate fiduciary responsibility for itself.
As part of the new structure, the Foundation would donate over $1 million in facilities-related cash expenses every year, related to the Schoolâs extensive use of Taliesin West and Taliesin as its campuses (at no cost to the School). The Foundation would also contribute an additional subsidy of $580,000 to the School in 2015, with decreasing levels of such additional transitional support over the next five years (but always continuing to cover 100% of annual facility-related expenses of well over $1 million).
âIf the School community can successfully raise this $2 million,â said Jeffrey Grip, Chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees the Foundation, âthe Foundation will proudly and enthusiastically commit to independently raising funds to match that giving 3.5 to 1, with support of more than $7 million over the next five years.â
In order to achieve the desired independence and continue as a stand-alone School of Architecture, gifts and pledges for an initial $1 million in contributions must be received by March 27, 2015 â and gifts/pledges for a second million must be received by Dec. 31, 2015.
âThere is an exceptionally bright future possible for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture,â said Maura Grogan, Chair of the Schoolâs Board of Governors. âBut that future is only possible with the generous support of donors, right now. Without significant and immediate support, there will no longer be a stand-alone accredited Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. This campaign is the only opportunity to save the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture as we know it â and to ensure its success and impact for decades to come. I urge people to join us in this critical endeavor.â
Related Stories
Building Team | Jun 8, 2022
Alastair MacGregor to lead WSP USA Property and Buildings Business
Alastair (Aly) MacGregor has been named the executive business line leader for Property and Buildings at WSP USA, one of the nationâs largest engineering and professional services consultancies.
Codes and Standards | Jun 8, 2022
Florida Legislature passes bill requiring stricter condominium inspection
The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill to beef up building inspection requirements for many of the stateâs condominiums.
Office Buildings | Jun 8, 2022
Former L.A. Times newsroom/printing plant remade into office campus
Phase 1 of The Press, an adaptive reuse project that is converting an old Los Angeles Times facility into a modern office campus, was recently completed in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Codes and Standards | Jun 7, 2022
FEMA launches National Initiative to Advance Building Codes
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched a new government-wide effort to boost national resiliency and reduce energy costs.
Plumbing | Jun 7, 2022
Sloan launches âSinks Beyond the Restroomâ innovation
Sloan, the worldâs leading manufacturer of commercial plumbing systems, has launched its âSinks Beyond the Restroomâ concept.
Building Team | Jun 7, 2022
Announcing construction inclusion week 2022: October 17-21, 2022
Save the date for Construction Inclusion Week 2022: October 17-21, 2022.
University Buildings | Jun 7, 2022
Newfoundland university STEM building emulates natural elements, local traditions
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) recently opened a new building that will provide interdisciplinary learning and research space for Faculties of Science and Engineering.
Codes and Standards | Jun 2, 2022
Guide helps schools find funding for buildings from federal, state government
New Buildings Institute (NBI) recently released a guide to help schools identify funding programs for facilities improvements available from federal and state government programs.
Airports | Jun 2, 2022
SOM-designed International Arrival Facility at Seattleâs SeaâTac airport features the worldâs largest aerial walkway
The Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)-designed International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has opened, replacing a 50-year-old arrival facility. Â
Women in Design+Construction | Jun 2, 2022
Women in Architecture: How HMC Pioneers Gender Equality
A survey by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) shows that while women account for nearly half of graduates from architecture programs, they only make up about 15 percent of licensed architects.