51³Ô¹Ï

Summer 2026 in Edinburgh and Dublin

FSC is pleased to offer a Faculty Led Course in Edinburgh and Dublin
(May 26 - June 6, 2026)
 

Study Architecture and Culture (ARC 100) with prof. Orla LoPiccolo in Scotland and Ireland! This 3-credit course provides a foundational study of the art and history of western architecture and the context in which it is built. The course will focus on 20th century to newly built western architectural and urban developments. Course topics include how architecture of today has been influenced by its location, historically significant buildings, art, culture, landscapes, and urbanism. Designed to familiarize students with the architectural thinking of the built environment that surrounds them locally and during an in person or virtual study abroad/away experience to a western city, this course will give students an opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation of the architecture discipline and its design objectives. Course content is drawn from numerous fields including architectural history and theory, design studies, philosophy, and urban studies.  You'll visit iconic monuments such as the Edinburgh Castle and the Guinness Beer factory! Where better to fulfill a General Education/Liberal Arts requirement? 

Open to all students from any SUNY institution. Application deadline, January 31, 2026. 

Cost of tuition, housing, excursions, activities, one-way flight Edinburgh-Dublin, and insurance = $3650 (this cost does not include airfare from/to USA, meals, or personal expenses)

Scholarships:

• Pell awardees should apply for the (early March 2026 deadline).
• Other scholarships available at:

Eligibility:

• For SUNY students in any major
• GPA Requirement: 2.75
• Good disciplinary standing
• Rolling admission until places are filled. Upon acceptance you will be asked for a $500 deposit to guarantee your place (January 21 deadline). 

Bio.: Orla Smyth LoPiccolo is a registered architect, professor, and former Chair of the Department of Architecture and Construction Management at 51³Ô¹Ï, SUNY, where she has taught 17 courses since 2008. She earned her undergraduate and professional architecture degrees with honors from the Dublin Institute of Technology and Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland, and a post-professional degree in Architecture Urban Regional Design from the New York Institute of Technology. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Building Construction Management from New York University and is a Certified Passive House Designer through the Passivhaus Institut in Germany.

Professor LoPiccolo has professional experience in both the private and public sectors, including architecture and construction project management positions in Dublin and New York, as well as over ten years of experience as an architect and Community Development Project Supervisor with the Town of Islip. She also served as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Architecture and Design at NYIT for five years, teaching multiple architectural studio courses.

At 51³Ô¹Ï, Professor LoPiccolo has been an active contributor to campus governance and service, including the Applied Learning Review Board (Chair 2022–2023, member since 2016), the Executive Committee (Chair 2018–2022, member 2016–2022), the Public Art Task Force (former Chair), the Calendar Committee (former Chair), the Sustainability Committee, and the American Society for Engineering Education, Middle Atlantic Section (former Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer). As Department Chair (2017–2021), she oversaw three successful ABET re-accreditation visits, streamlined departmental processes to enhance student success, and strengthened professional partnerships that have connected hundreds of students and alums with employment opportunities. She has authored and presented more than 20 scholarly papers on innovative pedagogy, with a focus on spatial reasoning, sustainable construction, and service learning.

Professor LoPiccolo’s teaching and leadership have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Phenomenal Woman Award (2018), Innovative Pedagogy Award (2017), SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2018), and the American Institute of Architects Long Island Chapter Educator Award (2019). Most recently, she was named one of the 11 inaugural SUNY Sustainability Faculty Fellows, a system-wide initiative that supports faculty who integrate climate and sustainability topics into their teaching and applied learning.