AIA Chicago, Chicago Public Schools Partner for Girls Architecture Workshop
Last Tuesday, the UIC School of Architecture hosted 80 6th-7th grade girls from three area Chicago Public Schools for AIA Chicago’s third annual youth and architecture event. LBBA’s Terran Wilson and Maggie Jarr helped lead the girls in a model-building activity that aimed to spark their interest in architecture and design through an exploration of the house. Using the traditional Chicago lot as a site, “Yeah, I’d Live There!” asked the students to build a house of their own through a 3D exploration of program and living arrangements. Following a brief presentation on traditional Chicago housing (three-flat, bungalow, courtyard apartments) and non-traditional housing (contemporary designs), the volunteers guided the girls through the programming exercise, considering the needs of the student and her family. At the end of the half-day event, the students arranged their houses collectively into a Chicago neighborhood.