Gov. Terry McAuliffe recognizes 50th anniversary of College of Architecture and Urban Studies
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has issued a certificate recognizing the 50th anniversary of Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies in September and has called the observance “to the attention of all of our citizens.”
The college was founded in 1964 by Virginia Tech President T. Marshall Hahn, who appointed Charles Burchard as dean and directed him to build a curriculum for the new college.
Burchard organized the new school “based on a commitment to the synthesis of architecture, building construction, planning, art, and other environmentally related fields,” the certificate of recognition states.
“We are both proud and honored to have our governor recognize this significant anniversary in the history of the college,” said Jack Davis, dean of the college.
The certificate points to several achievements of the college over the past five decades, including the establishment of an urban extension in Old Town Alexandria that evolved into the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center; state, national, and international awards for the college’s faculty and administrators; and research “that has improved the quality of life throughout the world.”
It also notes the college’s 50 years of “engaging students, alumni, and professors in architecture and urban studies” and its “numerous national and international service projects performed worldwide.”
The college will display the governor’s certificate at an anniversary gala reception and dinner on Saturday, Sept. 6 at The Inn at Virginia Tech.
An art exhibition by College of Architecture and Urban Studies emeritus faculty members opened in August at the Moss Arts Center and runs through Sept. 12. A reception for the artists will be held at the center at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Information on all of the Celebration Weekend events is available on the college's anniversary website.
