Message from the Chairperson
Daya Irene Taylor, Ph.D., AIA, NOMA
Chairperson and Associate Professor
I am honored to welcome you to the Department of Architecture at Hampton University. As Chairperson and Associate Professor, I have the privilege of leading this dynamic program—where tradition meets transformation. Our five-year Master of Architecture degree is a NAAB-accredited professional program rooted in rigor, relevance, and resilience. We are preparing the next generation of licensed architects, design thinkers, and community leaders. Grounded in the legacy of this historic HBCU and elevated by a forward-facing vision, the department operates on five foundational pillars that guide every decision, every policy, and every initiative.
To the prospective students reading this: Hampton is ready for your brilliance. We will nurture your imagination, challenge your boundaries, and prepare you to build more than structures—we will prepare you to build a legacy.
To the parents and guardians: Thank you for considering Hampton. You are placing your student in the hands of a faculty and institution deeply invested in their success and well-being.
To our alumni and donors: Your support makes all this possible. Your investment ensures we don’t just preserve the standard of excellence—we push it forward.
Student F1RST
This is not a slogan. It is our ethos.
The Student F1RST policy is a holistic, student-centered framework that prioritizes the personal, academic, and professional development of every individual enrolled in our program. We understand that architectural education is both a technical discipline and a human journey—and we honor both. From tailored academic advising and equitable studio culture to mental health advocacy, leadership development, and financial aid awareness, we design systems that respond to students’ lived realities while preparing them to become designers of the future.
Teaching Excellence
Teaching in our department is not passive delivery—it is active engagement.
Our faculty are selected for their passion, practice, and pedagogical clarity. Each brings deep disciplinary knowledge and a commitment to mentorship, equity, and critical design discourse.
We measure excellence not just by publications or accolades, but by how well our teaching connects theory with practice, vision with tools, and students with opportunity. Every lecture, studio, and review is rooted in the belief that education should empower—not intimidate. We challenge our students rigorously, and we support them relentlessly.
Student Competency
Competency is not a checkbox—it is a standard of readiness.
Our curriculum is structured to ensure that students graduate with measurable mastery across multiple domains: design innovation, technical execution, material understanding, digital fluency, environmental responsibility, and professional ethics. This is achieved through an integrated pedagogy that balances creativity and accountability, studio production and real-world application. We prepare our graduates not just to compete—but to lead—at the local, national, and global levels.
Departmental Efficiency & Compliance
Operational excellence is non-negotiable.
Behind every great academic experience is an infrastructure that works. Our department has implemented clear systems for communication, compliance, accreditation, and advising that maximize transparency, reduce bureaucratic friction, and support timely degree completion.
Whether you are a student navigating your semester schedule or a partner engaging with our programs, our processes are designed to be functional, equitable, and responsive.
Resource Attainment & Management
Great design requires great resources.
We remain committed to the ongoing pursuit and stewardship of financial, technological, and human capital. From competitive grants and institutional partnerships to facility improvements and expanded scholarship pipelines, we continuously work to ensure our students and faculty have access to the tools they need to succeed. As department chair, I see fundraising, innovation, and collaboration not as side tasks—but as central responsibilities. When we elevate our resource base, we elevate our students’ possibilities.
This is Hampton Architecture. Rooted in excellence. Built on purpose. Impacting our community. Designing the future. Welcome!
With vision and precision,
Daya Irene Taylor, Ph.D., AIA, NOMA
Chairperson and Associate Professor
Department of Architecture
School of Engineering, Architecture, and Aviation
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
Hampton, Virginia 23668
E:Â daya.taylor@hamptonu.edu
O:Â 757.727.5440
M:Â 407.719.3897
Mailing Address:
Department of Architecture
Hampton University
714 Orchard Road
Hampton, VA 23668
Phone number:
757-727-5440
