Renderings by Stephanie Prouse, an MID student // SUPPLIED
Top honours for interior design
Faculty of Architecture named one of the top interior design schools in the world
The Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba has been recognized as one of the top interior design schools in the world by Azure, an architecture and design magazine.
“It is great to see this external affirmation of what we in the Faculty of Architecture already know, which is that the Interior Design program at the University of Manitoba is among the best available anywhere globally,” says Jonathan Beddoes, interim dean of the Faculty of Architecture. “This outcome is a testament to the calibre and hard work of our faculty members and the outstanding students that are attracted to this program.”
Rendering by Stephanie Prouse
Reporting for Azure, Elizabeth Pagliacolo writes:
The University of Manitoba’s interior design program is unique in Canada, in that it offers the only Council for Interior Design Accreditation degree at the master’s level.
The article continues:
Strategic thinking and entrepreneurship are emphasized. Post-professional, at one and a half years, is for those wanting to further their knowledge with more research-focused coursework.
“The list of illustrious alumni is long,” says associate professor Lynn Chalmers of the department, which was established in the 1940s. Alumni include the late Robert Ledingham, who was well known in Vancouver for his modern-luxe homes and counted Arthur Erickson among his clients; and Carolyn Lee, an associate at KPMB Architects, who worked on the TIFF Bell Lightbox and other high-profile projects in Toronto.
Class sizes have remained small, with a dozen or so graduates each fall and as few as five in the winter term. The boutique scale allows students much more direct interaction with their profs.
“Azure has placed our program in good company with top interior design schools around the world,” says Kelley Beaverford, associate professor and acting head of the department of interior design. “We are proud to offer a program that focuses on original work, complex ideas, and analysis. It is wonderful to have a publication of Azure’s quality describe our graduates as the next generation of interior visionaries.”