School of Art Building Announcement

May 30, 2018

Dear Members of the Pratt Community,

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce that the acclaimed architecture firm Allied Works has been selected to design the new state-of-the-art building for the School of Art. This is an outstanding choice and we have much to celebrate.

The new building will house the School of Art’s Master of Fine Arts and Photography programs and, for the first time, will provide a distinct destination on campus that is identified with its programs. Additionally, the new building will provide a platform for robust public programming that will welcome the Pratt community, our neighbors, and New York City’s art world.

Brad Cloepfil, the founder of Allied Works who was the recipient of the 2018 Arts and Letters Award in Architecture, and his partners have demonstrated an unparalleled ability in their work to create a vibrant learning environment. The firm was selected after an extensive search led by Pratt’s Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees, along with academic and administrative representation. As I mentioned during the State of the Institute earlier this month, the architect will conduct a feasibility study and identify a site as part of their scope of work so that the best location for the building is determined.

I am very excited by this project and the opportunity to have the work of another world-class architect on our grounds. Allied Works, with offices in Portland and New York City, has received the highest accolades for a diverse range of projects around the world, including educational institutions, arts organizations, and museums. I have visited the firm’s buildings and can tell you firsthand the visceral experience when you are in the spaces they have constructed is extraordinary.

Allied Works is deeply committed to Pratt Institute and Brooklyn. Without hesitation, I am confident they will design a defining building of the highest caliber that will house and honor the ongoing innovative work by our students, guided by our faculty. The School of Art, like the inquiry taking place inside the studios, galleries, auditorium, and beyond, will inspire the spaces of creation and social engagement.

I invite you to learn more about the School of Art building architect announcement and Allied Works’ past projects. Read the full announcement on the News page.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President