University of Seoul Department of Architecture Holds 50th Anniversary Celebration

Reflecting on the Achievements of a Half-Century Legacy

The University of Seoul announced on October 15 that it has prepared a variety of programs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of its Department of Architecture.

Official Poster for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Department of Architecture, University of Seoul. University of Seoul

The Department of Architecture, which began in 1975 as the Department of Architectural Engineering within the College of Engineering, has played a leading role in architectural education in Korea over the past half-century.

In 2002, the department became the first in the country to separate architecture and architectural engineering into distinct majors, thereby establishing its status as a university specializing in urban sciences.

The five-year architecture major was the first program in Korea to receive international accreditation from the Korea Architectural Accrediting Board (KAAB). It has maintained the highest rating through four accreditation cycles as of 2022, providing an optimal educational environment for entering the fields of architectural design and related disciplines.

The architectural engineering major is a four-year curriculum designed to train professional engineers in construction project management, structural engineering, architectural environment, and building systems. It began accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea (ABEEK) in 2006 and produced its first graduates in 2010. By 2024, it has successfully passed six accreditation evaluations, consistently producing professionals in key areas of architectural engineering.

Additionally, as part of the second phase of the BK21 project, the department was selected for the "Development of High-Efficiency Production and Disaster Prevention Technologies for High-Rise Buildings" team, where faculty members, graduate students, and industry partners are conducting joint research.

The Department of Architecture at the University of Seoul boasts a faculty of the highest caliber across various specialties, and maintains a top-tier student-to-faculty ratio.

To date, the department has produced over 3,500 undergraduate and 1,100 graduate alumni, who have excelled in fields such as architectural design, engineering, culture, media, and advanced technology.

The 50th anniversary celebration, held under the slogan "50 Years of Contemporary Architecture," will reflect on the past five decades and present a vision for the future.

Main programs include special lectures by major, the "Half-Century Graduation Design Exhibition," symposiums, and an Open Lab.

In addition, through student-led activities, alumni interview content will be produced and shared, featuring graduates active in AI, robotics, urban development, cultural planning, and climate change, thereby promoting academic dissemination.

On October 17, the main auditorium will host special lectures by world-renowned scholars, including Riken Yamamoto, recipient of the 2024 Pritzker Prize; Ahmed Abdelrazaq, a structural engineer who has led innovation in supertall buildings; and Shigeru Ban, noted for his social contributions and experimental architecture.

The event will continue with a donation ceremony for the newly renovated department archive "Jieum Hall," followed by the commemorative event "Creating the Future Together" at the Centennial Memorial Hall.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.