Taubman College Taubman College Professor of Architecture Sharon Haar has been appointed the Emil Lorch Collegiate Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2027.
Haar, whose appointment was approved on May 16 by the University of Michigan Board of Regents, came to Taubman College to serve as the architecture program chair, a position she held from 2014 to 2019. In this role, she worked with faculty to revise the curriculum to include a required fabrication course, developed a collaboration with the city of Detroit to engage housing studios in pre-development design studies, expanded opportunities for student travel, and oversaw the first “digital” Master of Architecture degree accreditation review. In the time since, Haar’s continued leadership includes serving as an elected member of the college’s Executive Committee.
An expert on urban university campus design, Haar’s research spans topics that include the history of architectural practices devoted to social activism, equitable housing, and urban design. Her continuing research and advocacy regarding affordable housing have been pivotal in creating the Center for Equitable Housing at Taubman College, which she co-founded in 2020.
Haar’s contributions to architectural education on a national level include serving as a member of the Board of the Architects Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Institute of Architects, and as president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture in 2022-23.
The Emil Lorch Collegiate Professorship in Architecture and Urban Planning was established in August 1977 to honor the founder of Taubman College. In 1906, architecture was established as a program in the Department of Engineering, and Emil Lorch was appointed chair. Throughout his 34-year career at U-M, Lorch developed a nationally recognized program known for innovation, design, and technology.
Appointments to this professorship are for three years and may be renewed.
