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Should we put laminated furniture in the common
area? Where should the inside walls go? And do we need windows in the
bathroom?
These are some the nitty-gritty details
involved in architecture and interior design, as two groups of Albany
High School students learned when they recently teamed up with
professionals to design a school library.
The pilot project was part of Albany High’s
“Engineering Explorations” program, which gives students hands-on
introduction to a variety of careers by combining classroom and
real-world experience. The aim of the program is to encourage students
to continue their education beyond high school, according to Abrookin
Vocational-Technical Center teacher Bruce Romanchak.
So when local architectural firm CSArch
suggested partnering on a student architectural-design project,
Romanchak was eager to cooperate.
“Things are changing so quickly that we can’t
keep up. That’s why these partnerships are so important,” he said.
Under the guidance of CSArch staff, two teams
of six students each literally designed a school library from top to
bottom using real tools of the trade. CSArch staff repeatedly challenged
students’ choices. “Because I like it,” was not an acceptable answer.
Students decided what went where, what colors
to use, what fabrics to use and where to put windows and walls. They
learned ways to use light and color, where to put fixtures and flooring.
They learned how to make a presentation to a client about their design.
And they seemed have fun throughout the
process.
It remains to be seen whether any of the
architects-for-a-day become architects for real. Even if they don’t,
they’ll probably continue their education if they’re anything like
Romanchak’s Engineering Explorations students from prior years. Of 60
students, all but one went on to college. |
