Furniture Design

Officially recognized in 1997 after nearly a decade of being taught at the School, the Furniture Design concentration exposes architecture students to an ethic in craft. It trains them to think three-dimensionally while designing two-dimensionally. Available to students starting their fourth year of studies, the concentration allows students a unique opportunity to study furniture design in an architectural context.

The two-year concentration consists of four furniture studio classes. Like the School's overall focus, these courses expose students to Classical and traditional architectural detail and ornament.

Fully equipped with an assortment of both power and hand tools, students are required to construct furniture of original design maintaining a high level of craftsmanship. In the Ryan Companies Furniture Studio, students gain valuable knowledge in the properties of materials, process, three-dimensional design and the importance of craftsmanship.

Heather Reilly von Mering, B.Arch ’03, says, “Clients are always asking to have a piece of furniture to match their millwork. I use the construction methods [the Furniture Design Concentration] taught to me in the design and development of built-in cabinetry and other custom pieces.”