MT: It’s been two months since the Day of Service. What’s next? How have you been able to harness the momentum from the event? KM: The A’18 Day of Service was so successful that AIANY hopes to offer this as an annual event. I followed up with all of the project teams, sponsors and volunteers to get feedback to use towards improving future events. We had some ‘day two’ work at one of the sites, which was also well-attended. I already have ideas and feedback about potential projects now that we have tested the model. We received great coverage from AIA national and our local component which helps to spread the word. WB: AIANY has been very informative and helpful with weekly updates to the volunteer teams since the project wrapped up. We’re looking forward to watching the professional and social relationships formed through the Day of Service develop into additional service opportunities. MT: Any advice for someone looking to spearhead a similar event in their local component? KM: Yes, one of the goals of this event is to spread the word and inspire other architects and AIA components to hold similar events in their cities and communities. There are more logistics to these events than I have mentioned here. Construct Connect was very helpful in providing all of their documentation and planning. There are legal components to any event like this, so waivers and media releases are important. Make sure that the planned event can be completed in the allocated time, so that you can leave the organization with a finished product. Document the work with photos and video, these can be used to promote the next event and to get funding. Treat each project as you would any architectural project, track timelines, budgets, scope and responsibility. If you plan your event(s) during a temperate time of year, encourage work outside with a contingency plan for inclement weather. Involve the organization and end-user input as well as the expertise of the volunteers. We had a couple of projects that had design charrettes as a component. Keep an open mind about the projects- you might be pleasantly surprised with the results!
Matthew Szymanski, AIA
has served the AIA at the state, regional, and national levels and is currently President-Elect of his local chapter. Early on, he took a leading role in reaching out to partner organizations to maximize the visibility, participation, and impact of AIA initiatives in the Raleigh-Durham area. Broadfield has launched multiple programs to equip Emerging Professionals for their careers and has demonstrated the importance of successful design and planning through interactive public outreaches.
SCALEUP – K-12 EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW SZYMANSKI, AIA
ScaleUP, a North Carolina-based grassroots program designed to educate young students about architecture, is receiving national recognition for its success in engaging elementary through high school age students in the design process. The interactive workshop utilizes kits of PVC pipes and fittings to teach students what architects do, starting with creation of a sketch model, which gets documented into “construction documents” on gridded paper. Students then team up to “scale up” their designs to a full-size version using the PVC kits. The program curriculum is flexible by design, so it can be adapted to different age groups as required. Matt Szymanski and his team at AIA Triangle have grown the program, which was first implemented at a local farmer’s market, into a statewide initiative focused on educating students about the importance of architecture. Matt Toddy (MT): What does a ScaleUP workshop look like? Matthew Szymanski (MS): At first glance, it looks like organized chaos because we want students to unlock their creative energy. You can’t harness excitement if you haven’t generated any. Typically, teams of chatty students gather around tables building small structures out of ½” PVC pipe around a paper scale figure they have sketched. The kids struggle not to talk over each other, as they frantically dig through the bags of fittings. Occasionally, you'll hear something collapse, which is part of the fun. AIA volunteers walk around and ask strategic questions, complement innovative designs, and encourage teamwork. In the background, you see other students working on the floor, assembling 2'6" lengths of 2 1/4" bright AIA red PVC into full-scale versions of the shelters they modeled earlier. If phones are allowed, participants usually take selfies through the process. Things do not really get quiet until the end, when we wrap up with a discussion time.
ABOVE: A'18 DAY OF SERVICE - volunteer at brooklyn's center against domestic violence - courtesy of Jake Frisbie
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CONNECTION
THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN JOURNAL OF THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM