Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
Search for the Director/CEO
Los Angeles, California
SCI-Arc is a school of design where students and faculty explore the boundaries of architectural thinking to critically examine the possibilities of shaping physical, digital, or imagined environments. From design and materials to culture and experience, SCI-Arc asks questions regarding new theoretical constructs and designed realities to constitute possible futures. We contribute an imaginative, rigorous, and forward-thinking approach to help shape the future of the architectural profession.
THE SEARCH
The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) seeks a bold, forward-thinking, creative leader as its next Director/CEO (director). Reporting to the Board of Trustees, this next leader will be a transformational administrator, educator, and champion of the institution, stimulating a broad dialogue and discourse around architecture, design, experimentation, and creative thought and expression.
Established in 1972, SCI-Arc is a world-renowned center of innovation and one of the nation’s few independent architecture and design schools, expanding the envelope of architecture and opening the aperture on what it means to be an architectural and design professional in an increasingly interconnected, globalized world. The Institute enrolls approximately 450 students annually in undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate programs, including accredited degrees in architecture as well as degrees in emerging design disciplines. Of the 70-80 faculty, most are part-time professors with active architectural and creative practices. More than 60 dedicated staff members support the day-to-day excellence of SCI-Arc. With close ties to its Los Angeles roots and an expansive global network, SCI-Arc has regularly ranked as one of the top architecture and design schools in California, the United States, and globally.
The next director will bring ambition and creativity to the project of leading SCI-Arc in its next chapter. They will possess a deep love for architectural thinking coupled with a commitment to pluralism of ideas and practices. Ideally experienced as both an educator and creative practitioner, this person will also have the financial acumen to ensure a sustainable future for SCI-Arc that is built on educational excellence, innovation, and financial stability. The director will develop a clear strategic plan for enrollment that anticipates how the landscape is changing, both with regard to student demographics as well as emerging industry concerns such as understanding and embracing emerging technologies and their impact on the creative landscape; build the brand and increase the visibility and recognition of SCI-Arc in local and global networks; optimize financial resources and build a sustainable business model; and foster an inspiring and inclusive culture across the school community.
The role calls for a candidate with demonstrated evidence of successful leadership in dynamic, transformational contexts, with the ability to make decisive changes that position SCI-Arc for a sustainable future. With respect for the input and collaboration of faculty, staff, and students, the director will usher in a new era of strategic leadership that understands the evolving needs of the discipline while remaining grounded in SCI-Arc’s founding spirit of innovation and experimentation.
APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS
Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-.... Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process.
Ben Tobin, Partner
Courtney Wilk-Mandel, Partner
Nella Young, Senior Associate
Isaacson, Miller
1925 Century Park East, Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90067
ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR/CEO
The Director/CEO of SCI-Arc is appointed by the Board of Trustees for a contracted term of five years. The director is responsible for defining and articulating the philosophy and focus of the Institute's position in the field of architectural education, ensuring its continued visibility and leading-edge reputation in the field. This may be through leading their own active architecture, design, or critically engaged theoretical practice as well as through participation in publications, lectures, and exhibitions. The director leads the overall vision, academic integrity, fiscal planning, and fundraising of the Institute and represents SCI-Arc to community leaders, civic organizations, and local businesses. The director works closely with the Vice Director, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Administrative Staff, as well as the Academic Program Chairs and Coordinators, Academic Council, Student Council, and alumni.
The director is expected to expand and sustain national and international relationships between the school and the design and educational communities, as well as strengthen the school's position relative to accreditation. Locally, the director will invest in building and maintaining relationships with the Los Angeles educational, professional, cultural, charitable, business, and political communities. In consultation with the faculty, the director is responsible for hiring and overseeing the Graduate and Undergraduate Heads or Coordinators, the Vice-Director, and such other Heads or Coordinators as necessary. The director also participates in the recruitment and hiring of faculty and assists in board development efforts.
The director must have a proven track record of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and in holding others accountable to do the same, along with a deep understanding of educational and social issues facing students from a wide range of backgrounds and countries. The director will have inspiring and authentic leadership qualities, and be prepared to engage with donors, alumni, business leaders, and community leaders. This individual will be expected to advance the following priorities while also guiding SCI-Arc to creatively adapt to the rapidly changing and complex landscape of architecture and design education.
KEY OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Collaboratively create and execute a vision for SCI-Arc as a global agent of change in architecture and design education
SCI-Arc understands itself as an instrumental and innovative force in shaping the future of architecture, design, and creative practice. With that comes an expectation of experimental, even radical thinking, and a perspective on what that looks like in a 2024 context. The next director will inspire and coalesce stakeholders around a vision that celebrates SCI-Arc’s roots while defining what it means to be a change agent in design education today. True to the school’s longstanding culture, this vision and strategy will be established in collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and board, building buy-in and ensuring engagement that will lead to fruitful execution.
Continue to build visibility and name recognition, leveraging SCI-Arc’s international reach and local roots
The director is SCI-Arc’s lead ambassador and champion, charged with articulating the value and impact of a SCI-Arc education to potential students, faculty, funders, and other stakeholders. This individual will be an inspiring and visible figure to the SCI-Arc community as well as in national and international architecture and design circles. SCI-Arc’s identity is rooted in its Los Angeles history, while at the same time, the school has successfully built a reputation as a global leader in design and creativity. Given the scope of its reach, the school enjoys broad potential for increased engagement with alumni, corporate partners, and community institutions.
The incoming director will cultivate longstanding local relationships and develop an approach to future partnerships that connect the student experience to the Los Angeles design community. SCI-Arc can leverage its Los Angeles location, exposing students to the city and its resources and making tangible connections between theory and practice.
Stabilize enrollment and evolve academic offerings in alignment with student and industry expectations
As a tuition-driven institution, stable enrollment is essential for the continued health of SCI-Arc. In a competitive higher education climate with declining international enrollment, the incoming director will address enrollment challenges head-on, engaging with key constituents to determine a plan that sets SCI-Arc up for achievable success. This will include evolving academic programs to meet job market demand and positioning SCI-Arc as a model of design education that builds an exceptionally creative and qualified workforce. SCI-Arc has experimented with ways to create programs that focus on contemporary applications such as game design, while staying true to its origins focused on architectural thinking. These growing programs demonstrate great promise and play a role in the school’s value proposition.
Unify, support, and lead a world-class faculty and staff
SCI-Arc’s exceptional faculty and staff are indispensable to the school’s reputation and its success in delivering on its mission. The director oversees the recruitment and retention of talented faculty and staff who are committed to advancing the quality and impact of a SCI-Arc education. The director plays an important role in recruiting and retaining employees and in supporting their professional growth. The incoming director will bring interpersonal and management skills, provide an accessible and visible presence, and work to ensure that people are compensated appropriately and feel valued for their contributions. The next director will be tasked with unifying passionate and dedicated constituents within the community, striking a balance between preserving the best of what makes SCI-Arc unique while creating a forward-looking vision.
Manage and grow financial resources, positioning SCI-Arc to realize its ambitious vision and goals
The director is responsible for the strategic assessment and allocation of institutional resources. They must possess the financial acumen to ensure that the institution operates in a sustainable manner, while proactively alleviating financial stressors. The director serves as the external face of the school, with a responsibility to develop and strengthen relationships with donors and other external stakeholders, sharing an inspiring story that yields financial and philanthropic investment in support of SCI-Arc’s goals. While fundraising capacity has been sustained and grown over the past few years more than ever before, there is both room and need for continued growth and development of new sources of funding.
Partner effectively with the board of trustees
The next director will be an effective partner with the board on governance, policy, and advancement, and will help to identify and recruit new board members when appropriate. This will require effective relationship-building with individual members and the ability to effectively maintain ongoing, informative, and reciprocal communication with the board overall. The director will work closely with the chair of the board to ensure that governance processes support the mission of Sci-Arc. They will leverage the board’s strengths to advance SCI-Arc’s aspirations, regarding fundraising, external partnerships, and increased visibility.
QUALIFICATIONS
While no one person may possess all the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will have many of the following professional and personal characteristics:
• A commitment to and passion for SCI-Arc's mission and the ability to share an inspiring message about the value of a design education.
• Sophisticated interpersonal skills and diplomacy combined with a commitment to broad consultation and transparency – demonstrated ability to facilitate and convene, while also leading with clarity and decisiveness.
• Strategic orientation and administrative capacity with a connection to practice and teaching; a balance of intellectual credibility and capacity to translate ideas and ideals into reality.
• Appetite for creative problem solving; enthusiasm and imagination for solving challenges and seizing opportunities within the context of contemporary higher education and architecture and design.
• A nuanced understanding of financial management and administration to facilitate both short- and long-term strategic decisions with financial ramifications.
• Demonstrated fundraising capacity and ability to steward existing donors and partners and cultivate new ones.
• Experience engaging with a board of trustees or similar governing body.
• Desire and ability to embrace the Los Angeles community, build partnerships, identify opportunities, and amplify the school’s reputation within the region and amongst its peers.
• A strong sense of integrity and ethics.
ABOUT SCI-ARC
SCI-Arc was founded in 1972 by a group of architects and students who wanted to approach the subject of design and creativity from a more experimental perspective than what was being offered by traditional institutions at the time.
SCI-Arc’s mission is to teach architects to engage, speculate, and innovate; to take the lead in reimagining the limits of architecture. From design and materials to culture and experience, SCI-Arc asks questions regarding new theoretical constructs and designed realities to constitute possible futures. The school contributes an imaginative, rigorous, and forward-thinking approach to help shape the future of the architectural profession. Representing some of the most dedicated and stimulating thinkers in architecture, culture, history, and technology, SCI-Arc faculty are actively shaping the global discourse and consistently receive recognition for their contributions to education and the field of architecture and beyond.
The school is located in a quarter mile-long former freight depot in the Arts District of Los Angeles, a neighborhood that is emerging as a cultural hub known for creativity and architectural experimentation. The building includes studio-style classrooms, pin-up walls, exhibition spaces, and fabrication facilities, providing students with a uniquely inspiring environment in which to study architecture and design. Los Angeles is a huge asset to the SCI-Arc experience; students and faculty alike can use Los Angeles as a learning laboratory for thinking about architecture, urbanism, design, and creativity more broadly. Los Angeles is a cultural and creative center with entertainment, world-class museums, and more creative professionals than anywhere in the world.
Degrees and Programs
SCI-Arc was founded on the idea that architects should teach what they practice and continues to uphold that practicing architects and designers can best communicate to students the complex realities of professional practice. SCI-Arc offers a five-year Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture (B.Arch), a four-year Bachelor of Science in Design Degree (BS Design), a three-year professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch 1) program and a two-year professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch 2) program, and four one-year post-professional (M.S.) programs. During summer, the school organizes a 4-week summer program for high school students and a 4-week foundation program in architecture dedicated to those interested in architecture and design or about to enroll in a degree program.
• Undergraduate Programs: The goal of undergraduate studies at SCI-Arc is the rigorous pursuit of the creativity and critical thinking needed for success and leadership in architecture and design in the twenty-first century. SCI-Arc’s B.Arch is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), allowing graduates to pursue architectural licensure for professional practice in the United States. The curriculum is organized around Design Studio, Liberal Arts, Architectural History + Theory, Visual Studies, and Applied Studies, and is recognized as one of the most experimental and progressive architecture programs in the world. The BS Design is a new four-year liberal arts degree with its first class of students beginning in the fall of 2024. Enrolled students focus on film, gaming, or data environments, and directs students to many branches of the expanded field of architectural thinking.
• Graduate Programs: SCI-Arc offers two distinct Master of Architecture programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), allowing graduates to pursue architectural licensure for professional practice in the United States. Each program’s uniquely crafted curriculum promotes an open-ended spirit of inquiry, encouraging students to actively respond to shifts in society, technology, and culture. Core to the graduate curriculum is the Graduate Thesis, a culminating project that challenges students’ abilities to synthesize design problems and produce critical architecture.
• Post-Graduate Programs: SCI-Arc EDGE is the Institute’s Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture offering post-graduate programs that culminate in a Master of Science degree. Focused on expanding the frontiers of design and creativity in the twenty-first century, each program challenges students to confront a distinct territory among emerging disciplinary milieus and define how their ideas will influence the construction of future worlds. The programs include degrees in Architectural Technologies, Fiction and Entertainment, Design Theory and Pedagogy, and Synthetic Landscapes.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
In 2020, SCI-Arc created a five-year DEI strategic plan, led by a vision of the Institution as a leader in reimagining spatial and social environments for an increasingly diverse world and working toward eliminating barriers for people from historically excluded communities in architecture and design so everyone can experience the best of design. Understanding that working towards equity and belonging is an ever-evolving process, the strategic plan focuses on three key areas: culture, transparency, and structure.
Notable achievements under the DEI strategy to date include hiring a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria into the employee performance review process and new student orientation, and increasing the budget for equity and inclusion scholarships. The challenge of achieving a diverse community on campus is not new, especially for architecture programs across the country.
According to 2022-2023 numbers, Latino, White, and Asian students continue to be strongly represented at SCI-Arc. The largest improvement can be found in the enrollment of Black or African American students, which made up 2.6% of domestic students in the 2019-20 year and increased to 7.7% (of 207 domestic students) in 2021-22. The website on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SCI-Arc offers further information on demographics and working groups and includes an overview of student, faculty, and staff diversity statistics as well as a regularly updated progress report on the Institute’s DEI strategic plan.
Facilities
Designed by architect Harrison Albright, the former Santa Fe Railroad freight depot building was built in 1907 as one of the early Los Angeles reinforced concrete structures. In 2000, the building was reimagined and restored by architect Gary Paige, who was on the faculty of SCI-Arc at the time. The adaptive reuse project enabled SCI-Arc to make it a new home for the school. Soon after securing a long-term lease, renovation began on the quarter mile-long building. In 2002, SCI-Arc held its first semester in the renovated 61,000 SF state-of-the-art architecture school and SCI-Arc officially purchased the building as its permanent home in 2011.
SCI-Arc's campus offers students an integrated suite of tools and facilities to support academic progress and experimentation. In addition to providing dedicated 40,000 SF of studio spaces, lecture halls, and the largest architecture-focused academic library in Southern California, SCI-Arc offers 20,000 SF of space for student work reviews and studio and seminar exhibition areas. In addition, the campus houses the Analog Fabrication Shop, a 6,000 SF facility supporting hands-on experimentation with materials and construction; the Magic Box, a 4,000 SF digital fabrication lab as an environment for emulation, simulation, and animation, where computational geometry, material agency, and fabrication logistics merge; and the Robot House, 1,000 SF of research space for hands-on collaborative experimentation, advanced multi-robotic fabrication, and exploration of innovative design techniques.
Finances
The annual operating budget for academic year 2023-24 was $24.5 million. SCI-Arc has a portfolio of assets totaling approximately $56 million, including cash and investments, which has grown significantly over the last 5 and 10 years. SCI-Arc operates on a tuition-driven budget model, with tuition making up approximately 85% of revenue. SCI-Arc awarded approximately seven million dollars in financial aid in 2023-2024, a number that has increased in alignment with the DEI strategy. In the short term, addressing current enrollment fluctuations is an important priority to stabilize the business. In the long term, building a strong budget model with diversified sources and increasing the endowment will ensure sustainability for the school.
Faculty and Staff
SCI-Arc’s 70+ member faculty is primarily comprised of practicing architects and designers, which gives students pragmatic insight into the profession and connects them with opportunities for internships and employment. Faculty are deeply committed to being involved in the pedagogical vision for SCI-Arc and collaborating with leadership on decisions facing the school. All faculty appointments at SCI-Arc are non-tenured and faculty are hired on termed contracts.
The Institute’s staff of 64 sustains the ongoing success of SCI-Arc, managing the day-to-day operations, supporting the needs of students, and advancing the Institute’s visibility and fundraising success. Staff are encouraged and supported to participate in professional development opportunities to keep current with new technological tools, software, and changing trends in higher education. The staff takes pride in being exceptionally nimble, responsive, and attuned to the students and their concerns. They make it possible for faculty and students to benefit from emerging technology and facilities, as well as thoughtful financial advising, student counseling, and career resources.
Administration, staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to work with each other through a philosophy of shared decision-making at SCI-Arc, and policy decisions are made with substantive input from these groups. There are opportunities to participate in program and institutional governance through multiple venues, including the Academic Council, Faculty Council, Curriculum Committee, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Enrollment Management Committee, representation on the board of trustees, and other institutional and academic committees.
Students and Alumni
SCI-Arc students and faculty work together in a fluid, non-hierarchical manner to rethink assumptions and create, explore, and test the limits of architecture. Students are attracted to the unique reputation of SCI-Arc and the access they have to faculty who are practicing professionals. They come to SCI-Arc in pursuit of an education that prepares them to thrive as creative professionals with exciting career prospects. In 2023-2024, the school enrolled 454 students; 236 students were in undergraduate programs, and 218 were enrolled in graduate and post-professional programs.
The offices of Academic Advising and Career Services serve all students, offering personal, one-on-one meetings to assist in their overall academic planning. An International Adviser supports the distinct needs of international students, and the office collaborates with a qualified immigration attorney on workshops that provide in-depth discussions on OPT/STEM benefits and provides critical advice on immigration-related inquiries. Career counseling workshops, advising, and open studios prepare students for their career journey and connect them with industry leaders. Students also have the opportunity to be involved in the institution through the Equity and Inclusion Committee, Academic Council, Student Union, and representation on the board of trustees.
SCI-Arc has more than 5,000 alumni, many of whom are award-winning designers and creative leaders in practice across the globe. The Alumni Council, a body of eight active alumni, focuses on fostering connection and collaboration between the school and alumni and representing alumni interests and needs within the context of SCI-Arc’s mission.
Board of Trustees
Members of the Board of Trustees serve as stewards of the mission of the school and are responsible for the fiduciary policies and long-term health of the institution. The faculty has one representative (elected by the Faculty Council) on the Board of Trustees. Students elect a Student Representative to the board on an annual basis, and SCI-Arc Alumni also select a representative to sit on the board.
The SCI-Arc board is actively engaged in key strategic questions and is deeply invested in the long-term success and health of the institution. Many members are alumni or have direct connections to and investment in SCI-Arc and into architecture and design education more broadly. They represent the business, education, philanthropic, design, and architecture communities and bring a robust range of perspectives and ideas.
CURRENT CONTEXT
Since its founding, SCI-Arc has always shaped the next version of architectural education, which in turn shapes the future of the discipline and of design and creative practice more broadly. In his two terms of successful leadership, Hernán Díaz Alonso initiated a number of innovations and accomplishments. His expansive vision enabled SCI-Arc to bring on new faculty and program leadership, start new programs and new degree offerings, increase scholarships, develop a DEI strategic plan and make significant progress in its implementation, and install state-of-the-art robotics and fabrication facilities. Under Díaz Alonso’s tenure, SCI-Arc recently completed its regional accreditation reaffirmation review with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation, receiving an 8-year renewal of accreditation. An interim report for WASC will be due in 2027, and the next reaffirmation process will begin in the fall of 2031. SCI-Arc is also currently in good standing with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the professional accrediting agency for SCI-Arc’s B.Arch and M.Arch degrees. The next cycle of NAAB accreditation will begin in the fall of 2026.
As a tuition-driven institution facing changing enrollment trends, SCI-Arc is focused on increasing visibility and recruitment, as well as diversifying funding sources. International students have long made up a majority of SCI-Arc’s student body, with more than 55% international students, representing over 50 countries.
As part of its legacy of reimagining the limits of architecture, SCI-Arc continues to create alternative paths in design and architectural thinking. This includes the continued support of the professional B.Arch and M.Arch programs, the Post Graduate programs, and the new BS Design program launching in fall 2024. The breadth of these multiple programs allows SCI-Arc to cater to a dynamic and constantly shifting global design culture that reflects the continued diversity of the students interested in SCI-Arc. While the school is relatively small, it is believed that the diversification of the multiple paths of architectural thinking and expanded related design fields will continue to place SCI-Arc at the forefront of architectural and design education for decades to come.
APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS
Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-.... Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process.
Ben Tobin, Partner
Courtney Wilk-Mandel, Partner
Nella Young, Senior Associate
Isaacson, Miller
1925 Century Park East, Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90067
SCI-Arc promotes an open and ethical environment in which to work, teach, and study. SCI-Arc expects all members of the SCI-Arc community to uphold the values of honesty, respect, trust, tolerance, and civility in dealing with one another.
SCI-Arc adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws banning discrimination in institutions of higher education. The Institution will not discriminate against any student, applicant for admission, employee, applicant for employment, vendors, or contractors, on the basis of race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any resolution process within SCI-Arc or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies