New assistant director to lead UF Citylab-Orlando

January 17, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Frank Bosworth, a veteran architecture professor and administrator, has joined the University of Florida as assistant director in the School of Architecture within the College of Design, Construction and Planning. In this role, he will develop the school’s program at UF’s Citylab-Orlando, including recruiting and coordinating the first class of students for the Orlando-based Master of Architecture program.

Bosworth will serve as a liaison with the school’s professional advisory council in Orlando and with Valencia College and the University of Central Florida as part of the 2 + 2 + 2 partnership program. The program serves Orlando-based students by providing the opportunity to earn a professional architecture degree through attending Valencia for two years, UCF for two years and UF for two years, culminating in the Master of Architecture. UF’s satellite master’s program will be housed at the Citylab-Orlando facilities, located within the UCF Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando.

“Dr. Bosworth’s appointment marks the final phase in the development of the 2 + 2 + 2 architectural professional degree program,” said Martin Gold, director of the UF School of Architecture, noting the position is being supported initially by a grant from Dr. Phillips Charities in Orlando. “Recruitment for the master’s program is under way and the first cohort will begin the program this fall.”

Bosworth, who is teaching a graduate design studio course this semester, has more than 20 years of academic and professional experience, including administrative appointments as the dean of architecture at Southern University and A&M College, director of the School of Architecture at Louisiana State University and director of the LSU Office of Community Design and Development. His substantial body of publication explores the theory and practice of environmental and community design through analytical studies, project initiatives and design responses that draws largely from the engagement of the academy in the service of community. His design studio work was awarded the 2010 National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Prize for Creative Integration of Practice and Education in the Academy.

“Dr. Bosworth brings a unique balance of academic and community engagement ideally suited for the Citylab-Orlando mission,” said Gold. “The Citylab serves as an urban laboratory for our students, and at the same time, provides a venue for collaborating with local design professionals, stakeholders and city leaders.”

Applications for the Orlando-based Master of Architecture program are being accepted and the application deadline for this program has been extended to Feb. 15. For questions about the application process, please contact Becky Hudson at bhuds@ufl.edu. All other questions can be directed to Bosworth at fbosworth@ufl.edu.