The College of Environmental Design now houses the archive of Marvin Rand, a pioneering architectural photographer who documented midcentury Los Angeles and worked with major figures such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra and Charles and Ray Eames.

The collection, held in the ENV Archives-Special Collections, gives students and scholars access to a vast visual record of modern architecture and the university’s design legacy. “Students going through archive practicum class are going through the collection,” says Robert Alexander, professor and department chair of architecture. “The more we dig into it, the more we realize that aside from the famous photos, the figures that Marvin knew were foundational people at our school. Not only did Craig Ellwood teach here, but Bernard Zimmerman designed Marvin’s house, and he was one of the founding members of our faculty.”

This article was originally published by Los Angeles Magazine on April 9, 2026.