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Miami University

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Miami University Welcomes New Chair of Architecture and Interior Design

 

The College of Creative Arts is excited to welcome Elizabeth Martin-Malikian as the new Department of Architecture and Interior Design chair and professor.

“I am deeply committed to the College’s mission and eager to collaborate with its distinguished faculty, dedicated staff, and talented students to advance our shared vision,” Martin-Malikian said. “Miami University fosters an environment where creativity, innovation, and sustainability intersect to shape the next generation of designers and scholars.”

Martin-Malikian has lectured at several universities, including Kennesaw State University, Auburn University, the University of Edinburgh, and Columbia University. She also served as CEO and executive director for The Cosanti Foundation, an ecologically focused architecture nonprofit. Most recently, Martin-Malikian used her expertise to coach and consult higher education institutions and nonprofits.

Her extensive blend of education, practice, and leadership positions her to provide a new perspective for the department. Martin-Malikian serves as a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) evaluator, and said she plans to incorporate what she’s learned about accreditation and education standards into this new role.

“I look forward to leveraging this background to expand partnerships, create new opportunities for students and faculty, and position the department as a leader in socially and environmentally responsive design education,” she said.

One key focus for Martin-Malikian when she assumes the chair position in July will be progressing the department’s curriculum to meet the needs of the industry today.

“By integrating emerging technologies, expanding cross-disciplinary collaboration, and reinforcing a critical and ethical approach to design, we will equip students with the skills and perspectives necessary to address contemporary challenges,” she said.

Martin-Malikian said she looks forward to “pushing the boundaries of design education” and “preparing students to lead with clarity of vision, a strong ethical foundation, and a profound sense of responsibility to the world around them.”

“The department has a distinguished history of excellence, and I am excited to contribute to its continued growth by expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary and experiential learning, fostering forward-thinking research, and deepening engagement with the built environment,” she said.

See the link for the College of Creative Arts announcement: https://miamioh.edu/cca/news-events/2025/04/martin-malikian-new-archid-chair.html

Penn State

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Architecture Grad Students Earn Gold Mention in International Design Competition

 

University Park, Pa. – A project by two Stuckeman School architecture graduate students in the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture earned fifth place overall in the worldwide TerraViva “Easdale Ferry Office” Competition that welcomed entries from students as well as professional design practices.

Joshua Conroy and Paul Lanka, both master of architecture students, earned a Gold Mention Award for their submission to the prompt that challenged architects and designers “to envision a new ferry hub” that would enhance the arrival experience on Easdale Island, which is located along Scotland’s west coast. They were asked to renovate and extend the existing structures on the site, and to integrate the new office and waiting area into the rugged coastal landscape.

Titled “Harbor View,” Conroy and Lanka’s submission focused on the existing structure and its relationship to the site and expanding from there. According to the project description, “Since the project did not have a required square footage, the existing office became a guide for defining the scope of our proposal . . . the expansion reaches towards the harbor, becoming visible to travelers from Ellenabeich [a town located directly opposite Easdale Island] and the harbor inlet.”

The goal of their project, said the students, was “… to create a space that enhances the visitor experience [on Easdale Island] while avoiding the possibility of overstepping the impact of this new architecture on the island.”

According to comments provided by the jury, the Penn State students’ entry “… prioritizes architectural expression with a striking roofing volume.”

The international jury for the competition was comprised of: Stephen Roberts, architect and a lecturer of architectural design at Northumbria University in New Castle (UK); Nuria Vidal Domper, architect/urban planner and co-owner of the firm DomperCastells in Switzerland; Kefei Yan, urban designer/planner with Foster + Partners in London; and Maria Alejandra Icaza P., multidisciplinary designer and architect with Luis Pons Design Lab in Miami.

“It was very encouraging to receive external recognition of our work,” said Conroy and Lanka. “Being able to compete against a wide variety of other designers and architects speaks to the significance of the skills we have learned during our education at Penn State.”

Conroy and Lanka’s project, as well as the other winning submissions, can be viewed on the TerraViva website.

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