by Center for Architecture
The Center for Architecture is delighted to announce our continued partnership with Con Edison in support of our K-12 educational programs. Con Edison’s generous grant of $25,000 will enable us to expand our Learning By Design:NY Green Architecture programs. These programs introduce New York City students from grade 4 and beyond to the principles of sustainable design, combining hands-on, skill-building activities with a deeper understanding of the challenges posed by climate change.
Our Learning By Design:NY programs reflect our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable built environment by creating opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to develop skills in visual literacy, design thinking, and creativity, participate in design challenges, and gain knowledge about careers in architecture and design. New Yorkers interact with architecture every day: architecture shapes the physical environment we experience, impacts how we live, work, study, and move through the city, and shapes how we see the people and communities around us. Young people in particular are avid users of urban space, journeying across the city for school, and using streets, parks, and playgrounds for after-school, cultural, and sporting activities.
Yet, despite its importance, design education remains scarce in many New York City schools. Thanks to the continued support of Con Edison for our Green Architecture programs, we look forward to expanding access to sustainable design education for more students this year, with the addition of new programs exploring coastal resiliency and socio-ecological design. The grant will specifically allow us to offer reduced fees to Title I schools in NYC—schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families and face limited resources for enriching educational programs.
As AIA New York aims to become a leader in sustainable practices, bringing climate change to the forefront in building design, the Center for Architecture’s green architecture programs bring similar principles to a younger generation, instilling an interest in sustainability and architectural design through engaging residency programs that encourage students to think about why their environment looks the way it does and how they can help shape it in the future.