<p>What? Do you mean “traditional” as in “classical” architecture. If so, you’re wrong. UVA’s Architecture School is very modernist, which is why it has clashed with the UVA Administration re. the architectural direction of the University’s future buildings (i.e. South Lawn Project). (The UVA Administration wants a “Jeffersonian look”, while the Architecture School wants “Jeffersonian ideas.”) This fracas started a huge debate in the architecture world, where architects from across the globe including the Director of Prince Charles’ architecture foundation chimed in.</p>
<p>Personally, I found the debate to be fascinating and engaging. It got into the heart of what it means to be Jeffersonian in architecture. Is it about a timeless classical look (that stands the test of time but is unoriginal) or progressive ideas (that run the risk 20 years later of people asking “What were they thinking?” - i.e. Hereford Residential College)? </p>
<p>Kelly128, re. public schools, you shouldn’t look at the entire school population when judging an architecture program. For example, though UVA has 13,000 undergrads, the Architecture School is only a small fraction of that, and it has a very intimate environment. (I’ll have find the actual numbers.) By the way, UVA Architecture has a solid reputation and is definitely in the Top 10.</p>