Christian Sottile
'The SCAD Museum of Art Celebrates 15 Years'
The SCAD Museum of Art opened to the public in 2011, becoming one of the university’s most important educational initiatives to date. Conceived by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace and executed by alum-founded architecture firm Sottile & Sottile, this award-winning structure continues the university’s longstanding legacy of adaptive reuse in its distinctive design. The structure unites the landmark ruins of the 1853 Central of Georgia Railway depot with 82,000 square feet of galleries, classrooms, art storage, and more — honoring the historical elements of the original edifice and incorporating modern materials to embody an active exchange of ideas. As an expression of the university’s mission and an extension of the SCAD academic experience, the museum serves students, the community, and global visitors alike with ambitious exhibitions, performances, and programs. Emphasizing discovery and knowledge-building through the presentation of innovative works by renowned and emerging artists and designers from around the world, the SCAD Museum of Art continues to enrich diverse creative pathways as a center for learning and inspiration.
The SCAD Museum of Art opened to the public in 2011, becoming one of the university’s most important educational initiatives to date. Conceived by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace and executed by alum-founded architecture firm Sottile & Sottile, this award-winning structure continues the university’s longstanding legacy of adaptive reuse in its distinctive design. The structure unites the landmark ruins of the 1853 Central of Georgia Railway depot with 82,000 square feet of galleries, classrooms, art storage, and more — honoring the historical elements of the original edifice and incorporating modern materials to embody an active exchange of ideas. As an expression of the university’s mission and an extension of the SCAD academic experience, the museum serves students, the community, and global visitors alike with ambitious exhibitions, performances, and programs. Emphasizing discovery and knowledge-building through the presentation of innovative works by renowned and emerging artists and designers from around the world, the SCAD Museum of Art continues to enrich diverse creative pathways as a center for learning and inspiration.
About the artist
Christian Sottile (SCAD M.Arch., 1997), FAIA, trained classically under the guidance of Savannah architect John C. Lebey, FAIA, who attended the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris during the 1920s. After graduating as Valedictorian from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Sottile was awarded a fellowship to continue urban research abroad in Florence, Italy. He earned his master’s degree in urban design from Syracuse University and was voted among the Top 100 Academics in the Nation by USA Today. Sottile turned his attention toward expanding the role of the architect as a leader in issues of community planning, preservation, and growth. He is the founding principal of Sottile & Sottile, a Savannah-based firm practicing primarily in Nationally Registered Historic Districts. The firm’s work includes urban design and civic architecture, emphasizing historic research, urban analysis, and community-wide engagement. Sottile’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Architect Magazine, and Architectural Digest. He has lectured for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Planning Association, and the Urban Land Institute. Concurrently with his practice, Sottile is a professor of architecture and urban design at SCAD and the former dean of the SCAD School of Building Arts. In this role, he led the graduate and undergraduate programs in architecture, architectural history, preservation design, interior design, furniture design, and urban design. Sottile has received more than 50 awards for his work, including three international Charter Awards from the Congress for the New Urbanism, three National Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects, the Global Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute, and awards from the American Planning Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
