think wood

Academic Event | Lead Organizer: Katherine Neuner

CONCEPT:

Our chapter was approached by AIAS National with the opportunity to bring the Think Wood Tour to our campus. This portable display described the benefits of mass timber construction through interactive elements, products, and models.

PRE-EVENT:

PROBLEMS REALIZED:

+ Finding an outdoor area on campus that could have a connection to power.

+ Whether the event could go through Cal Poly Architecture, or if we would need approval from Cal Poly Facilities.

+ Getting the event approved by the university.

+ Ensuring overnight security was present.

SOLUTIONS PROPOSED:

+ Email and call Cal Poly facilities to ensure the location has power

+ Secure venue ahead of time to ensure that it is not booked by another organization

POST-EVENT:

WHAT WORKED:

+ Setting up in front of the Math and Sciences building next to Dexter Lawn was convenient for architecture students and had great visibility to the general student population.

+ The event can only be approved if a club member submits the E-Plan. Ask for the Architecture Department to provide payment information to Facilities.

+ High interest from architecture and nonarchitecture students, highly recommend holding similar events in the future

WHAT TO IMPROVE:

+ Calling facilities is the fastest option, as they can be slow responding to email.

NOTABLE ATTRIBUTES:

+ 200+ attendees over 2 days

+ Faculty tied the exhibit into their studio and tech courses

Items Needed: Power supply box (provided the morning of by Facilities)

Overnight security

Talk With An Architectural Photographer

Academic Event | Lead Organizer: Kai Parel-Sewell

CONCEPT:

For this event, I brought in a guest speaker, Sam Chen, a professional architectural photographer from San Diego. I wanted to hold this event to discuss career paths from an architecture degree

PRE-EVENT:

PROBLEMS REALIZED:

+ The main issue was scheduling for this event.

+ Determining a topic that students across years would be interested in.

SOLUTIONS PROPOSED:

+ We decided to hold this event on a Wednesday evening both to avoid scheduling conflicts with classes and becauses this is historically when similar guest speaker events have happened.

POST-EVENT:

WHAT WORKED:

+ I think this event succeeded in providing alternative perspectives on the architecture industry and architectural representation; participants were engaged with questions and comments.

WHAT TO IMPROVE:

+ This event did run on for quite a long time past our original schedule, so in the future better time and expectations management would be productive.

Items Needed:

Since this was a virtual guest speaker event, no materials

Time and Venue: This event was held on a Wednesday evening to avoid

Turn-out: 12 approx.