DESIGN BUILD

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE:

The 2024 Design-Build program intends to introduce and expose high school students to Architecture and other Design Fields through an array of educational and participatory activities which includes guest speakers from various professions, firm visits, skills training, designing and building furniture, construction site tours, and more. 

Every Saturday for 5 weeks, students will be introduced to a series of design tools and learn new ways to think critically about their community. The goal is to understand different design career paths, gain the skills needed to excel, and learn more about the work behind a project proposal and development. The five sessions will loosely follow a typical architecture project design sequence: Pre-Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Construction Administration.

DELIVERABLE:

Working with local nonprofit BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development), the students will design and build furniture incorporating seating, storage, workspace, art, and more to meet the organization's needs. Since 1969, BUILD has helped thousands of young people transform their lives, and today reaches over 6500 youth and families annually offering a rich variety of experiences in the arts, athletics, college & career preparation, entrepreneurship, leadership development, technology, and mental health programming.

LOGISTICS:

This year, the location of each session will vary, and be typically hosted at the BUILD community center ( 3 sessions) and different architecture firms (2 sessions), so students will get to see a variety of work environments (see locations in the full schedule below).

Lunch will be provided for each session.

See information below to sign up for this year’s program as a volunteer or student. Please send all other questions to designbuild@i-noma.org. 

STUDENTS

Applications are open for 2024 Teen Programming! If you'd like to apply to join our 2024 Program, here's what you need to know:

SCHEDULED SESSION DAYS: Saturdays ( 10/12, 10/19, 11/02, 11/09, 11/16 2023)

TIME: 9am-1pm

AGE: High School Students, Incoming Freshmen - 12th Grade

COST: $50 Due At Registration (To reserve spot)

FULL SCHEDULE:

October 12th, 2024 Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: INTRODUCTION & DESIGN SPRINT (Location: BUILD | 5100 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL)- Students will learn about the different design professions and interview the “client” to get all the information needed to start the design process.

October 19th, 2024 Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: DESIGN CHARRETTE (Location: JGMA Architecture & Design | 223 W Ohio St, Chicago, IL)- Students will engage in a design charrette and planning session to start the design process.

November 2nd, 2024 Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: SKILLS DAY (PRESENTATION & SOFTWARE) (Location: Lamar Johnson Collaborative 35 E Wacker Dr Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601)- Students will learn about the visual and presentation tools that make projects come to life. Students will create a 3D model of their designs and the group will narrow down on their final designs.

November 9th, 2024 Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & BUILD DAY #1 (Location: BUILD | 5100 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL)- Students will learn about neighborhood development and construction. Students will begin building their furniture designs.

November 16th, 2024 Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm: BUILD DAY #2 (Location: BUILD | 5100 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL) - Students will learn more about construction and continue and complete their furniture build.

November - Week of 18th (TBD): FINAL SHOWCASE (Location: BUILD | 5100 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL) – Final Showcase where the students receive certificates and the program is closed.

VOLUNTEERS

Thanks for your interest in guiding the young architects of the future! Here are some details you'll need to know:

As a volunteer, you will be mentoring high school students through their projects along with helping coordinate the Design Build program. Through participation in this program, you will have the opportunity to help in areas where you are skilled, and work on areas where you would like to improve (we mentor each other as well!) Our specified areas include logistics and planning (organizing stuff), design and procurement (finding cool donations for the project), production (doing drawings and models for students to work off of), curriculum development, and of course actual mentoring, just to name a few.

You’re invited to join the I-NOMA Design Build leadership.

Meeting to plan and prepare during our weekly meetings, attend only the build-day sessions, or both. Also, you can use these hours as service or volunteer hours if desired.

SCHEDULED SESSION DAYS: Saturdays ( 10/12, 10/19, 11/02, 11/09, 11/16 2023)

TIME: 9am -1pm

AGE: College and above, ideally with experience in architecture, construction or design related professions.

COST: Free

MENTOR PLANNING MEETINGS: Tuesdays from 6-7pm

PHOTO GALLERY OF PAST YEARS (Photo Credit: Kai Brown)