April 6, 2026
Atelier Week 2026
April 6-10, 2026
What is Atelier Week?
In 1988, the School of Architecture and Planning began hosting an annual Atelier Week. Held in the spring semester, this weeklong celebration allows us to open our doors to the community in celebration of the people, ideas, projects, and values that make us who we are. From PK Night to Open Studio to the Beaux-Arts Ball, this week frontlines the work of our students and faculty, showcases the studio culture, and expresses the process of discovery across our programs.
Kickoff Ceremony
12 p.m.
Crosby Hall Lobby
Students, faculty, and staff: Join us for pizza and the tradition of taking a School-wide group photo (via drone) in front of Crosby Hall. You'll also hear more details on the rest of the week’s schedule from student clubs who are hosting the events!
Pecha Kucha Night
5:30 - 7 p.m.
403 Hayes Hall
Pecha Kucha (aka PK Night) is a presentation style invented by architects to streamline project discussions and get straight to the point. In this year's version, participants will present 20 slides, with 20 seconds allocated per slide. These presentations are not strictly school-related; they can cover serious and educational topics or be lighthearted and amusing, as long as they are appropriate.
Open Studio
4:30 - 8 p.m.
Parker; Hayes Hall, and Crosby Hall
A spirited School-wide exhibition and reception that opens our facilities to the community, friends, and family and puts the work of our students and faculty on full display. Join us as we celebrate the vibrant intellectual life of our School.
Dodgeball Tournament
5:30 - 8 p.m.
Clark Gym, UB South Campus
Teams of students, faculty, staff, and alumni compete for bragging rights.
Beaux-Arts Ball
6 - 10 p.m.
Duende at Silo City
85 Silo City Row, Buffalo, NY 14203
Join students, faculty, staff, and alumni for a night of dancing and creative costumes. The theme, costume contest details, and prizes will be announced soon!
More about Atelier's history —
Early in our history, in 1975, the School of Architecture and Planning began hosting an annual Beaux-Arts Ball, a tradition that continues today at many U.S. architecture schools. French for “school of fine arts,” École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The oldest, and arguably most famous, of these schools — the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, in Paris — has a history of training artists and architects in Europe. As the namesake for the Beaux Arts architectural movement of the early twentieth century, it seems fitting that architecture schools honor this influential piece of history with a long-standing tradition of hosting their own costume balls.
In 1988, this annual tradition evolved even further, into what is now known as Atelier Week. Held annually in the spring semester, this weeklong celebration allows us to open our doors to the community in celebration of the people, ideas, projects, and values that make us who we are. Atelier Week frontlines the work of our students and faculty, showcases the studio culture, and expresses the process of discovery across our programs.
After a kickoff ceremony, where historically the entire school gathers for a group photo (taken by drone) outside of Hayes Hall, we hold Pecha Kucha (PK) Night. Stemming from the Japanese word for “talking,” Pecha Kucha is a presentation of 20 images with 20 seconds of commentary each. This student-organized evening of storytelling is a light-hearted, engaging way for students, faculty, and staff to share personal presentations about their work or other topics.
As a nod to the translation of the French word “atelier,” meaning “workshop” in English, our signature event during Atelier Week is Open Studio— an exhibition held across our three facilities, Hayes, Crosby, and Parker Halls. This event is open to the public, featuring work-in-progress from our studios as well as faculty research and projects in the community. Open Studio is a vibrant celebration, and a living gallery, of the creative and collaborative efforts behind student and faculty work.
Following Open Studio, we host a dodgeball tournament. Teams of students, faculty, staff, and alumni compete for bragging rights through friendly competition, while building community spirit and developing teamwork and leadership skills. The tournament, in addition to PK Night and the Beaux-Arts Ball, gives students a chance to join their classmates from all different years, levels, and programs to socialize and revel in the academic year.
Atelier Week as a whole is a chance to celebrate our story, immerse the public in all that we do, promote our inclusive culture, showcase our talents, and help students feel connected to the wider School community. We’re delighted to continue these cherished traditions.