The autumn semester is coming to a close. The center space is abuzz with studio reviews in architecture and landscape architecture, and students are rushing to finish their last paper and prepare for their final exam. We are in person and in full effervescence. 

Since taking on the directorship of the school in July 2020, this newsletter has become a welcome tradition. It gives me a chance to review (remember) past accomplishments and to project into the future with optimism. A lot has happened since spring 2022! 

• We have a new section head in architecture: Phu Hoang joined us in August and has hit the ground running. He is bringing the collaborative spirit of his work at MODU (with Rachely Rotem) to the school. His focus on climate and society is in alignment with the forward-looking speculative design program of architecture at Knowlton; his attention to diversity and interdisciplinarity is bound to impact our learning environment as well as our connections to the profession and community. If you haven’t had a chance to meet him, send him a note!
• We have reconnected with our alumni and friends, not once, not twice, but three times this year! All in-person. In June, we met in Chicago, as part of the AIA conference, in the great "cloud" space at Perkins&Will. In September, we convened in the former outdoor school, Understory, designed by Howard Dwight Smith and beautifully renovated by Schooley Caldwell. Finally, as part of the ASLA conference in San Francisco, we had a great alumni event. These are opportunities to let you know how we are doing and to hear from you. Please make sure to join us at our next gathering
• Our alumni have continued to make news at every turn. Close to home, Christopher Meyers (BSArch ’94, MArch ’96) and Bryan C. Lee, Jr. (BSArch ’06) were named distinguished alumni by the College of Engineering. Further afield, Laura Solano (BSLA ’83) was awarded the prestigious 2022 ASLA Design Medal, Jahnee Prince (MCRP ’91) was named Atlanta’s Planning Commissioner, and Jeffrey J. Pongonis (BSLA ’98) was elevated to the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Council of Fellows.
• Knowlton faculty have continued to be present with a wide range of publications and awards. Among many others, Todd Gannon gathered his essays in Figments of the Architectural Imagination and Ashley Bigham published Fulfilled: Architecture, Excess, and Desire.
• Students, too, were busy. I told you in spring that Trecia Cintron received this year's undergraduate Olmsted Scholar Award, and now you can read more about her project. Kerry Leung and Brett Wedding also won awards for their work just as they were graduating. Knowlton's young alumni are entering their fields ready!

There's always more good news at Knowlton's website, on our social media feeds, and in the latest issue of our annual publication Oculus—stay in touch!

Finally, we would love for you to join the Knowlton Alumni Society Board.

I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and joy-filled holiday season.

Dorothée Imbert
Director and
Hubert C. Schmidt ’38 Chair of Landscape Architecture
Knowlton School