Our School
Love of design meets love of constructing at the ±«Óãtv School of Architecture & Community Design.
Transform your vision into tangible designs. Explore and enhance your creativity with a supportive community. Through a thriving design culture and strong work ethic, students emerge from our programs with the skills, education, and experience to launch successful careers as leaders in their their practices and communities. Our graduates practice throughout Florida, across the United States and abroad.
Founded in 1986 as a professional graduate program, the ±«Óãtv School of Architecture & Community Design (SACD) was the first state school of architecture in Florida to be located in a major metropolitan center. As the population in Florida grew, the state legislature recognized that research and leadership at the university level was needed to help manage the impact of growth on quality of life. Thus it cofounded the school's research arm, the Florida Center for Community Design and Research (FCCDR), thereby linking SACD to an urban mission from our very establishment. Today, SACD and FCCDR are under the umbrella of the College of Design, Art & Performance, the creative center of the ±«Óãtv's Tampa campus, where real-world opportunities abound for students who want to be part of a rich, interdisciplinary creative community.
SACD offers two degree programs: the NAAB accredited, professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree and the non-accredited Master of Urban and Community Design (MUCD). Our curricula prepare graduates for a full range of professional activities. The Master of Architecture is a professional degree required for licensure.
Fostering collaboration and mentorship, our community of students, faculty and professional architects is close-knit. Our holistic and rigorous curricula reflect SACD's commitment to providing the very best education and opportunities for students. All faculty members are passionate about teaching a new generation of visionaries, and several have active architectural practices or consultancies and maintain licensure.
Design Culture
The design studio is the heart of the School of Architecture & Community Design. It's the place where students and faculty come together to explore and problem-solve. We emphasize the craft of making for its own sake and as a design tool, because to us making is both a means of inquiry and a process of discovery. A visit to our design studios reveals our deep interest in building – the crafting of place and the construction of context.
We encourage our students to explore and redefine what architecture means to them and within culture, society, and the environment. How can architecture improve our quality of life by addressing issues ranging from urban systems to the individual experiences, from social activism to personal development.
Community Engagement
In line with our mission to develop empowered and resilient communities, SACD has long been involved with the Tampa Bay and surrounding communities. Contributions occur through topical design charrettes, pro-bono projects, grant and contract work, scholarly research and multiple design/build projects. Recent efforts include:
- Centro Españols Redevelopment, Tampa
- City of St. Petersburg Planning & Development Interventions, St. Petersburg
- NAACP Dream Home Collaborative, Tampa
- , Tampa
- Sulphur Springs Redevelopment Initiative, Tampa
- , FOCUS Tallevast, Manatee County
- Tampa Heights Riverfront Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Plan Update, City of Tampa
When opportunities to contribute to campus improvements arise, the SACD Design Workshop mobilizes. SACD students (in teams of three to five) collaborate with university faculty, leadership, and the ±«Óãtv Foundation on speculative projects around campus. Led by faculty, these teams develop architectural programs and proposals that enlighten prospective user groups and assist with fundraising. To date, the SACD Design Workshop has developed 14 projects, all funded by ±«Óãtv colleges or ±«Óãtv Academic Affairs.
Our students have also contributed to international community engagement projects. Through a Study Abroad Research Studio, the SACD partnered up with our research arm, the Florida Center for Community Design and Research, to collaborate with the . Visit the Study Abroad and Travel Opportunities page for more information on this program and our other educational travel opportunities.
About the College of Design, Art & Performance
The College of Design, Art & Performance is the creative center of ±«Óãtv's Tampa campus. We prepare students for careers in architecture, community design, art, art history, music, theatre and dance.
About ±«Óãtv
Founded in 1956, the ±«Óãtv is a preeminent university located in Tampa, Florida. Learn about history, careers, facts, traditions, visiting campus and more.
Tampa Bay Arts Community
Outside ±«Óãtv, the Tampa Bay area offers a rich variety of creative and cultural activities. Follow this link to learn more about our local arts community.