University of Southern California establishes an endowment toward a chair in architecture and a student travel fellowship to honor distinguished Alumnus Jon Ada

Citation

(2000), "University of Southern California establishes an endowment toward a chair in architecture and a student travel fellowship to honor distinguished Alumnus Jon Ada", Facilities, Vol. 18 No. 10/11/12. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.2000.06918jab.007

University of Southern California establishes an endowment toward a chair in architecture and a student travel fellowship to honor distinguished Alumnus Jon Ada

University of Southern California establishes an endowment toward a chair in architecture and a student travel fellowship to honor distinguished Alumnus Jon Adams Jerde, FAIAKeywords: Architecture, Built environment, Universities, Research

With the first endowed position to recognize the importance of urban design, entertainment architecture, and collaboration in the design process, the University of Southern California has announced the establishment of the Jon Adams Jerde, FAIA Endowment toward a Chair in Architecture. At a celebration on 22 January, Mr Jerde's 60th birthday, a Travel Fellowship in Perpetuity also was announced by the Jerde family and USC's Architectural Guild to honor the distinguished alumnus and frequent visiting teacher and critic.

Jon Jerde, whose goal has been "to bring inclusion, connection and relatedness to the chaotic, built environment of the new global community", has created innovative large-scale projects worldwide since he founded in 1977 his 130-member, Los Angeles-based firm. Among the highly-awarded, visible projects are: Olympic Games (Los Angeles, 1984), Horton Plaza (San Diego, 1985), Universal City Walk (Los Angeles, 1993), The Fremont Street Experience (Las Vegas, 1995), Canal City Hakata (Fukuoka, Japan, 1996), Beursplein (Rotterdam, 1996), and Bellagio, The Resort (Las Vegas, 1998). More than 65 large-scale, mixed-use projects currently are in process in the Americas, Asia and Europe.

According to Robert H. Timme, FAIA, Dean of the USC School of Architecture, the launch of the endowment honors Jon Jerde's innovative ideas and work and close association with the School. "With USC's internationally prominent programs in design, business, technology, film and entertainment, the endowment will focus on the integration of these disciplines in teaching and research at the School of Architecture in perpetuity."

Jerde's work in architecture compared to jazz

In describing the honoree, Dean Timme compared the development of Jon Jerde's work in architecture to the development of jazz in music. "They are both grounded solidly in their discipline, but do not imitate the past. Neither initially was recognized for its significance and promise, although now academics and writers in both fields recognize their respective importance. They both are based upon a concept of collaboration and mutual respect in which clients, consultants, contractors, artists and architects can add their unique talents to the creation. But, most of all, they are both celebrations of life, and they make you feel good when you experience them."

According to the Dean, "The school plans to start next fall with a distinguished visiting design critic program and, as the endowment grows, the designation will change to a professorship and finally to the distinguished chair."

The esteemed sculptor Robert Graham also announced the donation of his fee for a major new project on the campus of USC in honor of the architect. Mr Graham, a regular collaborator on Mr Jerde's projects, also is working with architect Rafael Moneo on the entrance to the new cathedral in downtown Los Angeles.

Jerde/USC Architectural Guild Travel Fellowship is established

The final announcement for the evening was the founding of the Jon A. Jerde, FAIA/USC Architectural Guild Travel Fellowship in Perpetuity. The Fellowship program will select a USC fifth-year architecture student each year to spend three to six months abroad investigating a research project. Mr Jerde won a similar prize as a student in 1963; it was during this travel in the hill towns of Tuscany and the Greek islands that he realized his life's work and began to develop the set of ideas which have distinguished his work.

The Endowed Chair is an integral, honored institution in higher education. Its basic functions are to honor excellence in scholarship and instruction, while attracting and retaining superior faculty members.

For further information contact: Judi Skalsky. Tel: 001 310 306 8212.