The Board of Directors of the School of Architecture at Taliesin (SoAT) has decided to revers votes for the school's closure held on January 25 and they will keep the school open. 

In an announcement in January 29, it was announced that the school would be closing its operations after 88 years and following a statement from students of the school regarding its closure in February, the SoAT Board has now announced that they have secured additional funding and have long-term operating viability. 

The decision of the closure came with a joint statement by the School of Architecture at Taliesin and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, then a short time later, students sent a statement about the closure of the school, saying that "from our perspective, the destruction of this profound legacy and jewel in the American cultural landscape is a preventable disaster."

Taliesin West (begun 1938, Scottsdale, Arizona). Image © Foskett Creative, courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

Later, the Student Body of the School of Architecture at Taliesin started a petition and aimed to save the School of Architecture at Taliesin from closing. The petition targeted 10,000 signatures and it reached over 9,850 signatures until now.

According to Kirkland & Ellis, a public relations firm that is handling communications for the school, the decision came after the students' outcry over the planned closure. The firm added that "The Board confirmed that its financial situation is such that it has long-term viability, especially in light of new support that has come forward since January of this year.”

In the light of all these developments, however, the Board's decision still doesn't guarantee to remain the school open since the school is situated on the land in which the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation owns it. 

The school still needs to receive the Foundation's approval to extend their existing contract, which has terminated SoAT’s lease effective July 31, 2020. 

"The legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright embodied by the School is, as the outpouring of support has shown, one of international importance. The quality of the work the students have been doing in recent years is excellent," said Dan Schweiker, Chair of the School’s Board of Governors. 

"It would be a severe blow to the future of architecture if these talented students would not have the chance to continue this legacy."

Image courtesy of School of Architecture at Taliesin

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the School are formally two different entities since 2017 as a requirement of accreditation. According to Higher Learning Commission regulations, "accredited schools" must be separate from their parent institution. 

As a result of this significant change, the school suspended its enrollment period for a year to reorganize its educational structure meeting the new guidelines. Then, because of its announcement of independence from the Foundation, it struggled with financial issues. 

Top image courtesy of School of Architecture at Taliesin

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