NEW HEAD AT BOND SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

BOND University has appointed Queensland Government architect professor Philip Follent as the founding head of its Soheil Abedian School of Architecture.

The first student intake will commence in January 2011.

Professor Follent says the opportunity to shape a refreshing architectural course for students who might one day exert a significant influence over the world’s built environment attracted him to Bond.

“The Gold Coast has been my home for 30 years and I have watched Bond University grow to a point of maturity that sees it now ready for a School of Architecture and it is a great event to participate in the shaping of the new course,” he says.

“I was also attracted by the opportunity to be a part of Bond’s quest to build a fine piece of architecture to house the new course and the new purpose-built environment for studio-based teaching will be a wonderful asset to our students and also the University community as a whole.”

Follent’s vision for the School is to produce architectural graduates who are highly regarded by the profession for their strong theoretical understanding, design skills and leadership capacities.

“Architecture, as an art, is often received with indifference by the wider community yet architectural thinking is needed more than ever to tackle the challenges of urbanisation and sustainability.

“Bond’s architecture graduates will leave the University well equipped to develop as responsible and ethical citizens each capable of determining where their architectural expertise can be further advanced and effectively utilised.”