Since its founding as a department in 1914, the school has produced some of the world's leading architects, including Frank Gehry, Paul R. Williams, Pierre Koenig and Thom Mayne, among others.

[3] The current dean of the school is Brett Steele and faculty comprises notable architects including Alvin Huang, Wes Jones, Lorcan O'Herlihy and Lawrence Scarpa.

The studio is the core setting for students to learn to synthesize the cultural, environmental and tectonic thinking through informed design practice.

"[14] Director: Alison HirschLandscape architecture at USC is a design-centered program centered on a trans-disciplinary approach.

The school comprises over 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of design studios, classrooms, galleries, workshops and labs.

Watt Hall contains one of the best regional architecture libraries, and is home to extensive woodshop and fabrication facilities.

The complex also houses several gallery review spaces and, next door, the "USC Fisher Museum of Art".