Perhaps you’ve noticed the industrious bee on the Boston Architectural College class ring. It is more than just a symbol. It represents the “Cascieri Beehive.” This was a nickname for a sculpture by Dean Arcangelo Cascieri. The sculpture titled Selfless Labor depicts bees working together.
The Boston Architectural College has a rich history. It began as the Boston Architectural Club in 1889. Local architects established it. They sought mutual encouragement and help in their studies. The club soon evolved. It offered evening instruction for drafters.
Herbert Langford Warren and Clarence Blackall jointly led the formal educational program. The school taught drawing design history and structures. It became an atelier affiliated with the Society of the École des Beaux-Arts in New York.
In 1911 the club acquired a building on Beacon Hill. Ralph Adams Cram designed the two-story Great Hall. It featured lecture meeting and exhibition spaces. It also housed a library and studios. These newer facilities attracted more students.
The Boston Architectural College reorganized in 1944. It became the Boston Architectural Center. Its mission was to provide instruction in architecture. It also covered related fields for draftsmen. The college wanted to serve those whose employment interfered with day school.
By 1965 the BAC had developed a continuing education program. The Somerset Street building was too small. The BAC purchased a building at 320 Newbury Street. Ashley Myer & Associates designed a Brutalist structure. This houses the BAC today.
The Boston Architectural Center became the Boston Architectural College in 2006. This name change better identified it as a college. It awards accredited professional degrees in architecture and design.
In 2007, the Boston Architectural College acquired 951/955 Boylston Street. This former home of the Institute of Contemporary Art now houses studios and a lecture hall.
The Boston Architectural College comprises four schools. These are the School of Architecture the School of Interior Architecture the School of Landscape Architecture and the School of Design Studies. The college also offers classes through the Sustainable Design Institute and the Continuing Education program.
The Sustainable Design Institute offers online graduate-level courses. These courses confer certificates in sustainable design. The Landscape Institute offers continuing education courses too. These are in landscape design history and preservation.
The Boston Architectural College is accredited. The New England Commission of Higher Education accredits it. The college’s degrees are professionally accredited.
The Boston Architectural College is planning major work on its properties. It aims to make the cityscape more sustainable. The college intends to reduce rainwater runoff. It also plans to power the campus with a geothermal well.
320 Newbury Street is a Brutalist building. Ashley Myer & Associates designed it in 1966. The design evokes a sense of aliveness. Open studio floors allow students to observe each other’s classes. The McCormick Gallery invites the public. It is located on the ground floor.
The Boston Architectural College purchased 322 Newbury Street in 1987. This former carriage house now holds administrative offices. Richard Haas completed a trompe-l’œil mural on the building’s west elevation.
The McCormick Gallery features student work. It also showcases themed spatial design exhibits. The gallery is free and open to the public. It is located at the corner of Newbury Street and Hereford.
From its humble beginnings as a club to its current status as a leading college, the Boston Architectural College continues to shape the future of spatial design. Its innovative approach to education and commitment to sustainability make it a vital institution in Boston and beyond.