SOF News – March 2015

SOF News March 2015
Land Collective, Landscape for Cummins, Inc.
SOF News March 2015
Jeffrey Schiff at the opening of Picture/Thing
SOF News March 2015
Michael Chen, East Side Townhouse, 2014-2015
SOF News March 2015
Ron Dirsmith, Interior of North Shore Unitarian Church

Architects and sabbaticals

Land Collective, principal David Rubin, FAAR 2010, has been selected to design the landscape and central plaza for the new offices of Cummins, Inc. in downtown Indianapolis. Cummins has a long history for supporting innovative architects (including several with Academy connections) in their home base of Columbus, Indiana, often called the architecture mecca of the Midwest. Their engine plant and a technical center were designed by Harry Weese, RAAR 1973. Dan Kiley, RAAR 1976 did the landscape design for the Cummins, Inc. Irwin Conference Center, and also for the Miller House, home of company owner J. Irwin Miller which was designed by Eero Saarinen. Designs for several other Cummins buildings came from the firm of Roche and Dinkeloo. John Dinkeloo funded the John Dinkleloo Traveling Fellowship that has sponsored many happy trips to the Academy.  

Roger Freitas, FAAR 2004, is currently on sabbatical from his post as chair of the Musicology Department at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Jeffrey Schiff, FAAR 1977, recently co-curated Picture/Thing at Wesleyan University where he is Professor of Art. The exhibit explores connections between photography and sculpture. Read more... 

Michael Chen, AFAAR 2004, informs us that Normal Projects is now Michael K Chen Architecture. Here's his new website.

Architect Ron Dirsmith, FAAR 1960, gave a presentation, "The Spirit of Space," at the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Illinois, for which he designed an addition in the 1960s. He spoke about the experiences and places that influenced his design, enhancing his talk with images, lighting, and music. He dedicated the evening to the memory of a friend, Paul Nick.

Sculptor Milton Hebald, FAAR 1955 has died. See SOF Obituaries.