by Center for Architecture
The Center for Architecture is thrilled to announce the receipt of a $10,000 grant from Con Edison to support our Green Architecture Student Day program. This program introduces students in grades 3 and up to the principles of sustainable design, connecting hands-on, skills-building activities with pressing issues related to our climate crisis. Thanks to support from Con Edison, the Center for Architecture was able to offer this vital program at a reduced cost to all schools and free to low-income Title I schools during the past school year, and will do so once again in the upcoming year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we quickly adapted to offer Green Architecture as a virtual, two-part workshop. During part one of the lesson, Center for Architecture educators introduced students to sustainable development and design strategies that can mitigate the negative impacts of buildings on the environment. In part two, students participated in a hands-on design workshop, using recycled materials they collected themselves to build their own green building. This year, as schools and Center for Architecture educators return to in-person programming, we will also offer the program in an in-person format.
In 2021, the Green Architecture program reached 41 classes, two-thirds of which were classified as low-income Title I schools, meaning that more than 60 percent of students’ family incomes fall below the poverty index. Many of the schools we reached were new partners, as our discounted virtual programs were able to reach schools that otherwise would not have been able to access our offerings. In the coming year, thanks to generous support from Con Edison, the Green Architecture program is hoping to once again reach at least this many students.
As AIA New York aims to become a leader in sustainable practices, bringing climate change to the forefront in building design, the Green Architecture program allows the Center for Architecture to bring similar principles to a younger generation, instilling an interest in sustainability and architectural design through engaging workshops that enrich their classroom curriculum. Thanks to the continued support of Con Edison, the Center for Architecture looks forward to introducing new students to the principles of green architecture and sustainable design during the upcoming school year.