The faculty and staff of the Department of Architecture embody the pluralistic intent of the School's founders. No one background or philosophy predominates. Faculty are encouraged to maintain a professional practice and/or make regular scholarly or research contributions to knowledge in the field. Of the thirty regular faculty members, many faculty members in architecture are registered architects or engineers; many are NCARB certified. The interiors faculty are, likewise, members of ASID, IIDA and/or IDEC.
The faculty is active in the areas of low-cost, energy-efficient housing; solar energy utilization and research; resource efficient design (sustainability); user-based design procedures; furniture design and ergonomics; daylighting; light and color theory and applications; urban design and theory; design with microclimates; seismic design principles; passive cooling; Mayan architecture; vernacular, Oregon and traditional Japanese settlement patterns; structural planning and construction management; historic use and conservation of materials; historic preservation.
Most regular faculty teach a design studio and a subject area course each term. Faculty are expected to be integrative designers with one or more areas of teaching specialization. Some faculty maintain their professional practice or intensive research roles by occasional leaves of absence from teaching. The positions created by these absences are generally filled with visiting faculty from other institutions.
In addition to their heavy teaching load, professional and/or scholarly contributions and community service, the faculty share a responsibility to the general advising of students. They are expected to post two open office hours per week, during academic terms, for drop-in advising. The department's receptionist keeps a listing of current faculty schedules which students may consult.
Adjunct faculty are usually well established architects and designers from the local or regional pool. Eugene is a small city with a high ratio of architects per capita. Some adjunct faculty commute from the Portland area.
