Although The University of Texas at Austin began offering professional degrees in architecture in 1910, it wasn’t until 1951 that the school became an autonomous institution. Since then, more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture have been conferred. For the past 50 years, two professors have had a major hand in preparing future architects at UT: Larry Speck and Michael Garrison.
Watch below to learn more about each professor in a video series from the School of Architecture.
Larry Speck
If you’ve spent any time in Austin, you’ve most likely interacted with Larry Speck’s work. Some of his biggest projects include both phases of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dell Medical School and the Capitol Mall. Speck’s influence isn’t just visible in the buildings across Austin, but also in the people who spent time in his classes. During his 50 years at UT, he has taught over 35,000 students.
Learn more about Speck’s 50-year teaching career, which included nine years as dean of the School of Architecture. Speck is currently the W.L. Moody, Jr. Centennial Professor in Architecture.
Michael Garrison
Michael Garrison has spent his career both as an architect and a professor focused on green building design. He’s received grants from the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Park Service, and he is known for his work with the DOE’s Solar Decathlon. Currently, Garrison is compiling thousands of his sketches for an architectural guidebook, as sketching has been pivotal to his teaching practice.
Watch below to hear more about Garrison’s career and the ways in which teaching architecture has evolved during the past 50 years.
