By Lorenzo Lopez, AIA
University Outreach is a new committee of the Academy of Architecture for Justice. It is intended to be another means to reach out to emerging professionals; specifically, those still enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate architecture program. The goal is to partner with architecture programs to help influence the projects in design labs and collaborate on projects for presentation at AAJ conferences. This program may also provide opportunities to involve the universities in AAJ research.
The idea of the University Outreach program developed out of a unique professional experience. A few years ago, I was invited to help my alma mater, the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, with a 3rd year design studio. I secured permission to share our client’s space program for a 400K SF courthouse project. I guest lectured the first week of the quarter on court planning basics, and challenged the class to not only focus on design, but on resolving structural spans, circulation, and exiting challenges that are inherent to courthouses. The second week of the quarter I met the class at the selected site and discussed off-site circulation requirements and context. I visited the studio once at mid-quarter to provide advice to the students on their projects. When I returned at the end of the quarter for final critiques, I was amazed at what the third year studio had produced. They accepted my challenge and came up with very well-conceived designs, many of which I would be happy to share with clients. The students had a wonderful time and were the envy of the other studios because of the amazing projects they were able to produce.
This kind of interaction between members of the Academy of Architecture for Justice and architectural universities is what the University Outreach committee is about. Other AIA Knowledge Communities, such as those that focus on technology or sustainability, are more successful in recruiting emerging professionals because those topics resonate with younger architects. Furthermore, very few interns focus on a specific project type, and fewer belong to firms which will let them focus specifically on justice projects. However, if we are able to get university students excited about justice projects, as well as provide them with the skills to contribute to the design and planning of these buildings, we hope they will then join firms that allow them to focus on the project type and allow them to join and contribute to the AAJ.
The University Outreach committee will also influence the selection of national conference locations. It is now a priority for each conference to be located near an architectural university to engage with the students in conference sessions.
We are currently looking for volunteers for this committee. We need people to help plan the outreach efforts as well as volunteer to guest lecture. If you are interested, please let me know. I can tell you from experience, working with students at a university was one of the most rewarding experiences in my career. The students jumped at the opportunity to expand the types of design studio projects they could create. We are simultaneously helping the students and expanding the creativity and experience in the justice design community.
If you are interested in becoming a member or Chair of the University Outreach committee, please contact Lorenzo at llopez@nachtlewis.com.
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Lorenzo Lopez is a Vice President at Nacht & Lewis and is a member of the AAJ Leadership Group (LG). Lorenzo will serve as LG liaison to the University Outreach Committee.
(Return to the cover of the 2016 AAJ Journal Q1 issue)