NewSchool of Architecture and Design

NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool or NSAD) is a private for-profit college in East Village, San Diego, with approximately 300 students.[1] It has two schools, the School of Architecture and Construction Management and the School of Design, and is owned by Ambow Education Holding.[2] It is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

NewSchool of Architecture and Design
TypePrivate for-profit college
Established1980; 45 years ago (1980)
AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
Address
600 B street
, , ,
United States

32°42′57″N 117°09′40″W / 32.7157°N 117.1611°W / 32.7157; -117.1611
CampusUrban
Websitewww.newschoolarch.edu
Map
The metal sign on the new campus
The sign of the new high-rise building

History

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Richard P. Welsh founded NewSchool of Architecture in 1980. The school was originally located in Chula Vista, California. In 1988, NewSchool relocated to the East Village of San Diego. A year later, Bislin Education Corp. (a subsidiary of Futures in Education, Inc.) acquired NewSchool. NewSchool was primarily focused on architecture and construction management undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

According to journalist Gary Robbins, the school's move came "as artists, architects, designers and other creative people were beginning to move into East Village, changing the look and vibe of the area. Eateries also popped up along with single-occupancy residential hotels. Voters supercharged the boom in 1998, approving construction of a new home for the Padres in the village. Petco Park opened in 2004."

In 2001, ForeFront Education, Inc., acquired the school and changed its name to NewSchool of Architecture & Design.[3]

Ownership under Laureate Education (2008–2020)

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In 2008 Laureate Education acquired NewSchool.[4][5] Laureate's global network of design schools helped form a collaboration between NewSchool and Domus Academy School of Design in Milan, Italy. The collaboration lead to the creation of the Domus Academy School of Design at NewSchool which introduced several new design degrees including Interior Architecture & Design, Product Design, Design Studies and Media Design.[6][7][8]

In 2014, NewSchool was granted regional accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (SCUC).

In 2016, the schools partnered to launch a Global Design degree where students study two years in Milan and two years in San Diego.[9] In the same year, Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, DPACSA, became president and Chief Academic Officer. Malecha was a fellow in the American Institute of Architects, where he served as national president in 2009.[10][11][12] Marvin Malecha passed away in May 2020.

In 2020, the NewSchool Board of Directors appointed Denise DeZol as the Interim President & Chief Academic Officer.

Ownership under Ambow Education (2020-present)

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In the first quarter of 2020, the NewSchool Board of Directors and its parent Laureate Education, Inc. agreed to the transfer of ownership of NewSchool to Ambow NSAD, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Ambow Education Holding, Ltd. of the Cayman Islands and Beijing, People's Republic of China.[13] Later that year, the NewSchool Board of Directors appointed Tom Clawson, former Chair of the NewSchool Board of Directors, as Interim President & Chief Academic Officer of NSAD.[14]

Since 2020 NewSchool has gone through one president and four interim presidents. In 2022, NSAD received a Notice of Concern letter from WASC, its accreditor. According to the letter, the accreditor had concerns about the school's finances, leadership, and dwindling enrollment. The school is on Heightened Cash Monitoring by the US Department of Education.[15][16]

From the warehouse to the high-rise (2025)

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NewSchool of Architecture and Design moved from the warehouse in East Village to its current, high-rise ___location at 600 B St. prior to the start of its summer 2025 quarter. The new building is situated in the heart of downtown San Diego, in a building that was renovated and upgraded in 2007, and fully retrofitted in 2025 to better fit an academic institution.

Campus

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Dramatic bottom up shot of the new campus in the heart of San Diego

NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool) leases three floor of a high-rise building in the heart of downtown. The 8th floor is dedicated to leadership, admin, faculty and staff offices. It also hosts the print center, which includes large format printers and 3-D printers. The 7th and 6th floors offer classrooms, gallery spaces, studio spaces, libraries, and some faculty offices. Every floor includes a kitchen and dining area, as well as lounging areas. Small, private working spaces are available for students or faculty on the 6th and 7th floor.

The new campus affords much-needed upgrades from its previous ___location, including abundant natural lighting, updated plumbing and electrical infrastructure, improved Wi-Fi, two computer labs, and multiple high-definition galleries. Every classroom and most of the active and collaborative spaces, including the library, have panoramic views of the city.

Academics

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The school offers bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture, construction management, and design.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

The institution is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.[27] Its architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

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Ambow Education Holding Ltd is a Cayman Islands corporation. Jin Huang is the CEO and interim CFO. Ambow's current headquarters is in Cupertino, California.

In 2010, Ambow raised $107 million on the New York Stock Exchange. At its peak, Ambow was valued at $1 billion. But by 2013, Ambow liquidated its assets and reorganized the company amid "allegations of sham transactions and kickbacks at the schools and training firm."[28] In 2015, Ambow completed a reverse stock split to inflate the share price.[29]

According to Ambow Education's financial reports, the People's Republic of China (PRC) government has exerted "substantial influence" over their business.[30]

In 2023, Ambow's other US subsidiary, Bay State College, lost accreditation and closed.[31] Later in the year, Ambow Education began paying some employees in AMBO shares "to improve operating efficiency." Ambow plans another reverse stock split in February 2024 to avoid delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Robbins, Gary. "San Diego's NewSchool of Architecture & Design, once a lively 'idea factory,' is now struggling to survive". www.sandiegouniontribune.com/. San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Ambow Education Holding Ltd". money.cnn.com. CNN Money. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ "History". newschoolarch.edu. NewSchool. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Laureate Education buys two U.S. colleges". Baltimore Business Journal. July 16, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "History | NewSchool of Architecture & Design in San Diego, California". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  6. ^ "Domus Academy School of Design at NSAD Launches Product Design Bachelor's Degree". Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  7. ^ "Domus Academy in Italy". Archived from the original on 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  8. ^ Ayyüce, Orhan. "Laureate Education, Inc. Acquires NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego, California". archinect.com. Architect.com. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  9. ^ Design, NewSchool of Architecture &. "The Domus Academy School of Design at NewSchool-San Diego and Domus Academy-Milan Launch Global Design Degree". www.prnewswire.com (Press release).
  10. ^ "Meet Our President". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  11. ^ "Design Dean to Retire at End of Semester". NC State News.
  12. ^ "Marvin J. Malecha Named President of the NewSchool of Architecture & Design - Contract Magazine". www.contractdesign.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  13. ^ Ltd, Ambow Education Holding. "Ambow Education Announces Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  14. ^ "Meet Our President". NewSchool of Architecture & Design. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  15. ^ "Notice of Concern Letter". Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  16. ^ Robbins, Gary (22 December 2022). "San Diego's NewSchool of Architecture & Design, once a lively 'idea factory,' is now struggling to survive". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Bachelor of Architecture: Bachelor Degree Program | NewSchool". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  18. ^ "Bachelor of Arts in Architecture - B.A. Degree Program | NewSchool". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  19. ^ "Bachelor of Interior Architecture & Design". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Master of Architecture: NAAB Accredited Degree | NewSchool". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  21. ^ "Master of Architectural Studies | NewSchool". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  22. ^ "IPAL - Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure | NewSchool". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  23. ^ "Bachelor of Science in Construction Management | NewSchool". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  24. ^ "Online Master's in Construction Management Degree | NewSchool". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  25. ^ "Bachelor of Arts in Product Design". NewSchool of Architecture & Design.
  26. ^ "Bachelor of Graphic Design & Interactive Media". newschoolarch.edu.
  27. ^ "NewSchool of Architecture and Design | WASC Senior College and University Commission". www.wscuc.org.
  28. ^ Miller, Matthew; Aldred, Stephen (18 June 2013). "Ambow setback teaches Baring a lesson in China investing". www.reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Ambow Completes Reverse Stock Split". en.prnasia.com. PR Newswire. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Valutation August 2025".
  31. ^ Larkin, Max. "As Bay State College collapses, students feel abandoned". www.wbur.org. WBUR. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Ambow Education Announces Second Quarter and First Half of 2023 Financial Results". www.sec.gov. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
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