Industry Supports School of Architecture

The support of the community is important for any program at UNLV, and the School of Architecture stands as a testament to how impactful this support can be. From the beginning, local architecture professionals have supported and guided this program into a thriving curriculum that prepares bright students for their careers.

“If it weren’t for the local architects, there wouldn’t be a School of Architecture at UNLV,” says Jeffrey Koep, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “They were the ones who really got behind the idea of having a school in Las Vegas.”

That commitment hasn’t wavered, and the Council of Excellence – an advisory board of those from the local architecture community – is continuing to support the college in numerous ways. The Council of Excellence members work with the school in outreach efforts in the community. Their financial support provides discretionary funds for the School of Architecture, and their time and energy support opportunities for graduate students and sustainable research activities of faculty members.

“They move the school to excellence,” says Koep. He notes that all the members of the Council of Excellence are active and very generous with their time through helping and training quality students.

One example of a program raising the bar in student education is the Klai Juba Lecture Series sponsored by Klai Juba Architects – members of the Council of Excellence. The series exposes students to design talent and a diverse range of disciplines including architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture.

“The lecture series is a vehicle for the faculty to use as another layer of the curriculum,” says John Klai, co-founder of Klai Juba Architects and the self-proclaimed cheerleader for the School of Architecture.

The expertise and experience of these design professionals give students and faculty new perspectives and opportunities to interact and share work with some of the brightest professionals in their field.

“There’s nothing better than seeing the students connect with the speakers,” says Klai.

The lecture series engages not only faculty and students, but also provides the community with an opportunity to connect to the university. The lectures are free and open to the public; recent lectures have been held at UNLV’s Downtown Design Center, which also gives students a chance to showcase their work.