Appreciating Place & Envisioning a Future Chicago

No.9’s architectural educator introduced the students to sustainable urban planning. Students then visit a specific site in their neighbourhood and come up with a list of architectural programs that they feel would enhance this site. On day two, each student becomes an architect and is assigned a specific program. Students then develop their own ideas in drawing form. On the third and fourth days, the students build a scale model of their design while working collaboratively to ensure that their designs work together to create a cohesive vision for their future neighbourhood. On the final day, students present their projects to their peers and visiting experts.

The project’s goal is to infuse the real world interdisciplinary aspects of the architectural profession with the 7th - 12th grade core academic curriculum, while giving youth the tools they need to be agents for change in their communities. Collectively, the students’ vision for their sustainable city led to discussions of civic engagement, governance and living a sustainable lifestyle.