While her students are on spring break, Associate Professor of Architecture M. Beth Tauke will be accepting recognition in Louisville, Ky., where she will be the recipient of the 2003 Robert R. Taylor Grant for Faculty Development from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
Focusing on diversity, Tauke's general education course, Diversity and Design, won national recognition from the association because it prepares students to "design for diverse populations," said Tauke.
"We're taking issues of diversity - eight that are recognized by UB, and looking at them through the lenses of (architecture)," said Tauke.
According to Tauke, the issues recognized by UB are race, gender, class, ethnicity, mental ability, physical ability, age, and religion.
Throughout the course, Tauke teaches her students to develop their ideas at different levels and through different mediums.
"The first part of the course is electronic and print media. Then we move into products, architecture, urban design, and then we move into landscape," she said. "So, in some ways, one could say that it starts two-dimensional and then three-dimensional small scale into very, very large scale."
Brian Carter, the dean of the school of architecture, said he supports the way Tauke designs her class, and encourages students to take an interest in architecture and design.
"It's important that these courses are available for the university as a whole. Design is a part of everyone's life," he said.
Tauke said her students are taught to reverse barriers that exist in products, then in buildings.
"When we are looking at the issue of age, we look at the way various products don't favor people when they physically age," said Tauke. "Some shoes favor aging feet, some shoes don't favor aging feet. Some aspirin bottles can't be opened or read. How available is that product and how adaptable is that product to changing needs?"
Tauke said that thinking about the age of the inhabitants is one of the most important aspects of planning the design of a building.
"When we look at the age, we typically forget kids. So we look at the domestic environment and how it favors and does not favor children," she said. "Washing your hands at the sink, et cetera. We have deliberately not acknowledged children in certain ways."
Tauke's next step is to look at the design flaws of a building. Specifically, she looks at how easy it is for the inhabitants of a house to complete everyday tasks like showering or cooking, and other aspects, such as "how accessible are the levels?"
While Tauke said she is honored she was chosen to receive the Robert R. Taylor Grant, she pointed to students of the architecture program that deserve attention as well.
"This is one of the best architectural programs in the country," said Tauke. "Students have won an amazing number of awards this year."
Tauke said some students this year have entered and won awards in the Pella design competition, which focuses on the innovative use of natural lighting, and that some UB architecture students have won American Institute of Architecture awards.
Carter said the American Institute of Architecture awards has helped students' visions materialize off campus.
"A student's thesis in the study of building design is now a gallery in Allentown," said Carter. "And a number of bus shelters were built and designed by UB students for awards."
Until the ribbons are cut on diversity design structures, there are exhibits from Tauke's class being shown at the Center for the Arts and Crosby Hall.
Tauke's developing Web site, www.udeducation.org, which Tauke said is going to be a learning forum for everyone, also features some of the work.
"We can't cover every design," said Tauke. "We take what's most pertinent for different diverse groups. The issue is what's recognized and what isn't."
