EUGENE, Ore. -- (Jan. 20, 2011) - The University of Oregon's architecture program stayed atop the national rankings for sustainable design education and its interior architecture program reached the top - also for sustainable design education - in the latest ranking of the nation's architecture schools.

A special edition of the journal DesignIntelligence placed both the UO's department of architecture and its interior architecture program among the top tier of at least 150 programs nationwide for their commitment to sustainable design education. It also cited Frances Bronet, dean of the UO's School of Architecture and Allied Arts, as one of the nation's most admired educators in 2011.

"Architecture and interior architecture have distinguished themselves again as strong and critical programs where exceptional students and faculty are creatively defining the future of the built environment," Bronet said. "AAA's sustainability leadership comes from decades of innovation, integrated and excellent design, rigorous work and many partnerships and collaborations among students, faculty and internal and external constituents."

Bronet, trained as an architect and engineer, has been dean since 2005 and is a leader in cross-disciplinary education. She has served as president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, and has been a leader in securing support for Oregon's design industry with government and education organizations.

The UO's interior architecture undergraduate and graduate programs were voted sixth in the nation this year. Additionally, the graduate program was in the top three accredited programs making the rankings. Because there are few accredited graduate programs, many non-accredited programs were listed; the undergraduate programs are all accredited.

The UO's interior architecture program was cited for special skills assessment rankings and advanced to first for sustainable design skills, first for design skills and third for communication skills. According to the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, there are 150 undergraduate interior design programs in the U.S.

"We are extremely pleased that interior architecture's undergraduate and graduate professional programs continue to receive excellent national rankings," said Alison Snyder, the university's interior architecture program director. "Our creative curriculum with its integrated sustainable attitude and our special emphasis on design process and graphic communication provides our students with strong ideals and competitive tools."

Overall ranking for the UO's undergraduate architecture program is 14th, remaining in the top 10 percent of programs. There are 154 accredited architecture programs in the U.S., according to the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

"Sustainable design and green building are deeply integrated into our programs," said Christine Theodoropoulos, head of the architecture department. "Faculty with national and international distinction in sustainable design research also teach design studios. There is a shared commitment among students and faculty that every project must be sustainable, in theory and in practice."

DesignIntelligence is a monthly publication of the Design Futures Council, a Washington D.C.-based think tank that explores trends, changes and innovation in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. The annual rankings edition was established 11 years ago.

The UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts offers accredited professional degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture and product design.

Media contacts: Joe Mosley, UO media relations, 541-346-3606, jmosley@uoregon.edu; Karen Johnson, AAA external relations and communications, 541-346-3603, karenjj@uoregon.edu

Links: DesignIntelligence, http://www.di.net/archschools/schools.html; UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts, http://aaa.uoregon.edu; Council for Interior Design Accreditation, http://www.accredit-id.org; National Architectural Accrediting Board, http://www.naab.org