Archives
David M. Chasco named director of School of Architecture at Illinois
Jeff
Unger, News Bureau
217-333-1085; junger@illinois.edu
7/12/2004
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —
David M. Chasco, the interim dean of the College of Architecture and
Design at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich., has
been chosen to be the new director of the School
of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
pending approval of the board of trustees at its July 15 meeting in
Chicago.
He will begin his new duties Aug. 16. He succeeds Michael J. Andrejasich,
who served as acting director 1999-2000 and has been serving as interim
director of the school since 2000.
Chasco, who also serves as the chair of the Department of Architecture
at Lawrence Technological University, was instrumental in the ongoing
development of the university’s integrated design studios incorporating
allied disciplines. As department chair, he played a role in the development
of two off-campus studios – the Detroit Urban Studio, co-sponsored
by General Motors, and the Pontiac Main Street Studio allied with the
National Main Street Center, part of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, in Washington, D.C.
“David Chasco is an experienced leader in both architecture and
architecture education,” said Kathleen F. Conlin, the dean of
the College of Fine and Applied Arts.
“His professional architectural work with one of the country’s
foremost firms is an invaluable asset to re-invigorating our curriculum
and designing our students’ introduction to the field. Committed
to architectural practice, David also possesses a keen sense of international
education and issues of historical preservation. He is prepared to strengthen
this school in extending its leadership in the architectural issues
of the day.”
Chasco has a strong interest in international programs and developed
a study program in Paris for senior and graduate students. He also developed
the Lake Victoria Ssesse Island Cultural Center Studio in Uganda for
the Pan African Development Corp. for presentation of design ideas at
the United Nations.
As a member and associate in the firm of Gunnar Birkerts & Associates,
an international-based design practice, he was the project designer/director
for a broad range of building types including the U.S. Embassy in Caracas,
Venezuela; the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts (theater) at Michigan
Technological University; the National Elastomer Center at Ferris State
University; the University of Michigan – Flint Library; Holtzman
Silverman Office underground sustainable office building in Southfield;
mixed-use projects in Florence and Milan, Italy, for the Fiat Corp.;
and the Detroit Archdiocese Cathedral addition/renovation. Other design
efforts include the University of Iowa College of Law, the University
of Utah Marriot Library, the Duke University Law School, the Minnesota
History Museum Competition and the Detroit Tigers stadium renovation.
In 1992, Chasco was named a Plym Fellow in the School of Architecture
at Illinois. The Francis J. Plym Fellowships are given to accomplished
mid-career architects.
Chasco earned his master’s degree in architecture at Illinois
1980 and his bachelor’s degree in architecture at Illinois in
1977. He currently lives in Huntington Woods, Mich.
