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Research Access

The Archive’s research policies are available here as a PDF.

Overview
The mission of the Architecture Archive is to record the history of the School of Architecture’s pedagogy by documenting student work, to provide students with research resources that augment and enhance their architectural education, and to produce informative architecture and design exhibitions and publications.

In 1970 John Hejduk and Roger Canon AR’70, established a method of documenting student work for Education of an Architect: A Point of View, a publication and corresponding exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1971. Supported by a recommendation of the 1980 National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Visiting Team, the Archive was established in 1983 and officially became a department of the School of Architecture in 1991. Kim Shkapich A'80, was its first Director, and Steven Hillyer AR’90 is its current Director.

A key goal of the Architecture Archive is to make its distinctive collections widely accessible for scholarship and research.

Appointments
All researchers interested in on-site access to the Archive's material must submit a completed Research Request Form prior to scheduling an appointment. Request forms should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the proposed appointment date. After the request has been approved by the Archive's director, archive staff will coordinate scheduling with the researcher.

Location
The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture Archive
The Cooper Union, Foundation Building
7 East 7th Street, Room 235
New York, NY 10003
  
Hours
Academic Year:                              Monday – Friday, 10 am – 5 pm
Summer (June, July, August):      Monday – Thursday, 10 am – 5 pm

 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.