An Update on the Allred Gallery Floor

The floor of the Allred Gallery in Kamphoefner Hall was inspired by the work of well-known architect Le Corbusier. As we learn more about the history of this designer from contemporary research, we are learning more about his unfortunate ties to groups that excluded and persecuted others. 

The values held by Le Corbusier, particularly those of homophobia, misogyny, and fascism, are not held by the College of Design. Our mission is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for any individual who enters our space to work and learn. 

Through the work of a group of students, we are reexamining the use and meaning of this space as part of our campus. On March 30, there was a student-led charrette in which students produced designs to reimagine the space.

In addition to that activity, Associate Dean Sharon Joines has been leading our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force. One of the results of that task force has been a critical examination of our academic curriculum and how it supports a broad range of global design perspectives. The School of Architecture and other departments have been reexamining their curricula and are making meaningful changes to the content in multiple courses. 

Associate Professor of Architecture Burak Erdim, Ph.D. will lead a participatory discussion on Monday, April 18, 2022 at 5:30 pm in the Rotunda to further discuss the connections between Le Corbusier, the Allred Gallery floor, and the results of the charrette. We encourage any member of the college community to attend this meeting and engage in participatory dialogue. 

College leadership will examine the results of the charrette and continue to develop a means to address the floor in a way that is meaningful to the college community and provides relevance and context to the current design. 

Sincerely, 

Mark Elison Hoversten, PhD, FASLA, AICP
Dean, College of Design
200A Brooks Hall
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7701