Architects give Baltimore students lessons to build on

When Beechfield Elementary/Middle School fifth graders were asked to design their dream homes fifteen years ago, they almost always included a "safe room," a place where they could escape violence, says Ayers Saint Gross president Jim Wheeler.

Today, none do. Their dream houses have video game rooms and swimming pools.

It's a particularly gratifying shift for the architects volunteering in the West Baltimore public school to see.

"One day, we'll hire one of these students," Wheeler says. "That's our long-term goal."

Ayers Saint Gross employees have been involved with the school in various capacities since 1997. They hold clothing and food drives. They provide backpacks with school supplies. And several years ago, the firm created a coloring book, "Colorful World of Architecture" to expose Beechfield students to architecture.

The book has become the basis of a program called "Careers in Design." This year, 16 students participated in the seven-session program, learning about planning, building architecture, construction, graphic design, interior design, and landscape architecture.

"It ties into math, reading, social studies and science skills," said Rashedda Carroll, who teaches fifth grade at the school.

One week, students designed a house for a classmate. They had to interview their classmates to find out what was important to them, and reflect those preferences in their designs. Then, they had to present to the class. The next week, they picked a room to design, using magazine pictures and material samples.

"They ask insightful questions," said Joel Fidler, a senior associate at Ayers Saint Gross. "To see their expressions, their curiosity it's rewarding."

In the construction lesson, students used toothpicks and gumdrops to create the tallest structures they could. In landscape architecture, they used an aerial photograph to rework their school grounds. And in a graphic design session, they created names and logos for businesses.

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Architects give Baltimore students lessons to build on