An In-Schools Program in partnership with Buffalo Public Schools
The award winning Architecture + Education (A+E) program brings over a decade of momentum and successful public outreach. Architecture + Education was founded to increase awareness and involvement in the built and natural environment and to use architecture as a multidisciplinary form of active learning. Running biennially, the Architecture + Education Program uses architecture to teach students math, science, history, art, and technology aligned with the Common Core, while raising awareness and appreciation of the built environment. Children are introduced to the profession of architecture, local practicing professionals, and the distinctive way of viewing the world and tackling problems through architecture as the tool. The program’s success lies in the collaboration between Buffalo Public School teachers, University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College students, and volunteer architects working collaboratively.
Over the past 10 years, the program has been involved with 25 schools, 115 architects, and 115 classes, and over 3,500 students.
Architecture + Education was awarded the 2007 Commitment to Education Awards Corporate Silver Award from the Buffalo Alliance for Education and the 2013 American Institute of Architects National Diversity Recognition Program Award for promoting and supporting diversity in the profession of architecture.
Program Structure
Pre-Symposium Meeting
The meeting will outline the A+E Program, its history, and the time commitments/ benefits for potential volunteer architects and classroom teachers.
Symposium
All participants become “students for the day” exploring architectural principles and concepts through a series of lessons and activities. The symposium concludes with the architect/teacher teams developing unique lesson plans that will be implemented in the classroom.
In-Class Sessions
During the 8-10 in-class sessions, architects lead classroom discussions about the profession of architecture and how it relates to the topic that the students will be focusing on. During each class, the architect teaches a short lesson, and the students complete an activity related to the lesson and overall project. Activities are hands on and encourage students to creatively explore the task. Each lesson is built off of the last, so that in the end of the 8-10 weeks, the students have produced tangible projects that show their process and progress for learning.
Exhibit of Student Work
The culmination of the program is a public exhibit of the students’ work held at the CEPA gallery. This has been a great source of pride for students, parents, teachers and architects alike.
Program Resources
Volunteer
The Architecture + Education Program offers design professionals a unique opportunity to collaborate with creative educators, to engage school-age children with architecture and to develop innovative curricula. Participating architects will have the opportunity to earn continuing education credits and interns will be able to gain Internship Development Program (IDP) Professional and Community Service hours. To volunteer, or request more information, please contact Program Chairs, Luke Johnson or Cheri Weatherston, or emailing [email protected].
Architecture + Education Planning Committee
Elizabeth Fuller, Karin Kosmala, Melissa Delmonte , Yadira DeSantis, Luke Johnson (Chair), Paul McDonnell (Buffalo Public Schools, Director of Facilities Planning, Design & Construction), LaLuce Mitchell, Beth Tauke (UB Coordinator and Faculty), Cheri Weatherston (Co-Chair), Aimee Zielinski
Past Program Participants
2019 Program:
#32 Bennet Park Montessori; #37 Futures Prep; #50 North Park Academy; #92 B.U.I.L.D. Community School; #212 DaVinci High School
Volunteer Architects: Tierra Barnes, Mark Brooks, Marisa Caban, Dan Chorley, Elisabeth Decker, Justina Dziama, Hector Garrido, Katerina Kalyoncu, Stephanie Koch, Ingrid Martinez, Sean McKenzie, Joe Molek, Rebecca Morris-Chatta, T.J. Mulligan, Mike Ohar, Chris Osterhoudt, Russell Roberts, Crystal Schomger, Justina Zifchock; University at Buffalo Architecture Students: Hadi Al-Jabi-Lopez, Ashley Alfau, Aleiya Als, Michelle Chen, Lisha Chouhan, Jeff Chouloute, Andrew Gunther, Michelle Jeong, Sawyer Kost, Jason Lieng, Stanicka Mathurin, Natasha Mendis, Serena Minix, Taylor Mortorff, Mehrdad Naghizadeh, Kajal Patel, Hunter Perez, Jaidon Ramirez-Zeno, Althea Seno, Taylor Stewart, Christa Trautman, Rosanna Valencia, Courtney Vona, Pablo Wikander
2017 Program:
#32 Bennett Park Montessori; #53 Community Pre-K; #156 Olmsted Middle School; #192 BAVPA High School; #212 DaVinci High School
Volunteer Architects: Jacki Adelizzio, Deanna Ernst, Brad Everdyke, Shannon Haley, Nate Heckman, Aaron Henderson, Paul Kinney, Megan McCann, Rebecca Morris-Chatta, Paul Murawski, Tim Rider, Austin Tylec, and Harrison Walsh, Justina Zifchock; Buffalo State Interior Design Students: Claire Gambacorta, Nicky Gurowicz, Katelin Hamann, Erin Kontz, Danielle Macken, Ashley Maggiacomo, Bahieh Mansour, Helen Mills, Alexis Palmieri, Christal Smith; Villa Maria College Interior Design Students: Rene Miller, Jamie Wesoloski, Claire Witt; University at Buffalo Architecture Students: Samendy Brice, Rion Codrington, Ashley Dellipaoli, Michael Gac, Kassandra Hazelhurst, Jenna Herbert, Jocelyn Juarez, Sydney Kaplan, Emily Minkowitz, Jazmine Nijar, Holly Raesly, Alessia Randazzo, Courtney Ryan, Matt Straub, Alexandria Volungas.
2015 Program:
#32 Bennett Park Montessori; #33 Bilingual Center; #37 Futures Academy; # 53 – Community School; # 192 – BAVPA; # 156 – Frederick Law Olmsted (Upper); #198 IPrep
Volunteer Architects: Danielle Johnson, Bob Palgutt, Daryl Ryan, Phil Gusmano, Will Ransom, John Whaley, Nick Misso, Austin Tylec, Hillary Hadley, Carl Reeves, Rebecca Williams, Stephanie Goris, Tim Schnaufer, Chelsea Davis, Michael Wysochanski, Daymond Robinson, Brian Podleski, Dan Lamm, Tim Ung, Benjamin Spitler, Ana Misenas, Nellie Niespodzinski; Buffalo State Interior Design Students: Samantha Shank, Clarisa Massey, Michelle Muniak, Chelsea Balistrieri, Rebecca Sturniolo, Elizabeth Decker, Guinihai Yilmaz, Olushola Mogaji, Darcy Engle; Villa Maria College Interior Design Students: Jessica, Ryan, Ali, Melanie, Danielle, Lindsey; University at Buffalo Architecture Students: Allysa Gozdziak, Noor Alwan, Dan Avilan, Elyse Skerker, Rebecca Gamarra, Samira Sheikholeslami, Ross Moretzsky, Josh Erni, Dylan Burns, Eliana Drier, Randy Fernando, Dan Kleeschulte, Erika Foti, Ashwini Kave, Chris Gomez, and Haithem Daza.
2013 Program:
# 67 – Discovery School; # 64 – Frederick Law Olmsted (Elementary); # 53 – Community School; # 81 – Buffalo Public School; # 192 – BAVPA; # 156 – Frederick Law Olmsted (Upper)
Volunteer Architects: Courtney Creenan, Christina Weber, Danielle Johnson, Dan Chorley, Cheri Weatherston, Joe Dorobiala, Mark Nowczyk, Brian Swartz, Amy McGee, Bob Palgutt, Manny Rivera, Alex Nowak, Rob Szudzik, Mike LaValley, Audrey Ross Sanders, LaLuce Mitchell, Shawn Faulkner, Melissa Fox, Bhakti Sharma and Gina Neureuther (Martin House Education Coordinator), Alyssa Phelps, Kristen Gabriele, Olivia Arcara, Micaela Barker, Priya Panse, Ryan Hughes, Trenton Van Epps, Olga Lyubezhanin, Jan Poness and Darcy Engle (Buffalo State College)
2011 Program:
# 67 – Discovery School; # 64 – Frederick Law Olmsted (Elementary); # 53 – Community School; # 192 – BAVPA; # 198 – International Preparatory
Volunteer Architects: Brian Swartz, Madelyn McClellan, Wendy Manhardt, Cesar Cedano, Kristine Kemmis, Stephanie Vito, Paul Dudkowski, Darrell Rowser, Ochuko Edema, Michele Han, Paul Kinney, Penny Armitage, Paul Murawski, Luke Johnson, Kathy Callesto, Jacqueline Reinhard, and Audrey Ross Sanders, Robert Garlow, Greg Andriano, Lauren Massari, Kevin Perreira, Sampada Pulekar, Daryl Ryan, George Behn, Kristen Gabriel, Justina Zifchock, and Kathy Yuen
2009 Program:
# 67 – Discovery School; # 64 – Frederick Law Olmsted (Elementary); # 95 – Waterfront Elementary School
Volunteer Architects: Kenneth Schmitz, Jeffery Coutch, Gerland Strickland, Julia Ahlet, Debbie Pease, Chris Less, Ben Siegel, Kimberly Williams, Matt Zinski, Manuel Rivera, Stephanie Goris, Seth Amman, Felicia Ridgeway, Carly Rugg, Jane Siebert, Matthew Owczarczak, Rishawn Sonubi, Rich Nardini, and Michael Watson, Karin Crumb Kosmala, and Paul Murrett, Adam Feit, Satish Shivram, Linsey Graff, Jonathon White, Jamie Yengel, and Michelle Muhlbauer
2007 Program:
# 67 – Discovery School; # 304 – Hutchinson Technical High School; # 192 – BAVPA; # 95 – Waterfront Elementary School
Volunteer Architects: Melissa Cameron, Scott Kuebler, Paul McDonnell, Jerry Young, David Misenheimer, Erika Abbondanzieri, Melissa Delmonte, Joy Kuebler, Ted Fyda, James Lai, Don Gray, Dan Keefe, Gerald Strickland, Chris Guerra, Jefferey Coutch, Edward Watts Jr., and Tracy Coniser, Swapnil Ukey, Erin Rossier, Kirk Miller, Tesia Walsky, Anne Elrod, Haleh Mousavi, and Nicole Crapez
