Architectural Summer CAMP Hopes to Build Diversity in Design Field

More than 20 local middle-school students will participate in an Architectural Summer CAMP (Cincinnati Architecture Mentoring Program) offered at the University of Cincinnati’s nationally ranked College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) July 9-15.

During the week, the camp – specifically for rising 8th and 9th graders – will include design instruction Monday thru Friday, July 10-15, as well as tours of architecturally significant building in the local area, visits to local architects’ offices along with a visit to a recent design project, specifically Jordan Crossing in Bond Hill.

The design instruction, led by Michaele Pride-Wells, director of UC’s School of Architecture & Interior Design, will include student participants working on their own designs and models for a personal vacation cottage on Thursday and Friday, July 13 and 14. Pride-Wells stated that the goal of this week (and of future efforts that CAMP is planning) is to foster greater awareness among younger students, minority students in particular, regarding the possibilities for and requirements of a design career.

She explained, “Diversity within the profession is being demanded by design employers, not only in Cincinnati but nationally. And locally and nationally, design employers look to UC to fulfill their needs for top-level training of students who are the future design professionals. We want to start early in attracting a diverse group of students into design, seeing them through their education and then on into the working world.” 

Previewing the week will be an information session for participating students and their parents from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, July 9, in Room 3420 of DAAP. That session will focus on needed high school preparation – like courses in physics and art – necessary for entering U.S. architecture programs.

Then, the agenda for the week is as follows

Monday, July 10
Design instruction: 9 a.m.-noon, Room 7270, DAAP
Tour: 1-4 p.m., the UC campus

Tuesday, July 11
Design instruction: 9 a.m.-noon, Room 7270, DAAP
Tour: 1-4 p.m., Jordan Crossing (formerly Swifton Commons Mall) in Bond Hill

Wednesday, July 12
Design instruction: 9 a.m.-noon, Room 7270, DAAP
Tour: 1-4 p.m., GBBN Architects, downtown, and DNK Architects, Inc., Clifton

Thursday, July 13
Design instruction: 9 a.m.-noon, Room 7270, DAAP
Tour: 1-4 p.m., Contemporary Arts Center, downtown, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, downtown

Friday, July 14
Design instruction: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Room 7270, DAAP

Saturday, July 15
Exhibit of work and closing celebration, 1-3 p.m., Room 7270, DAAP

CAMP is the result of a collaboration between the university, the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Midwestern Region.

Individual members of the Cincinnati Architecture Mentoring Program (CAMP) who organized this effort are

• Michael Burson, director of facilities at the Cincinnati Public Schools

• David Kirk, principal with DNK Architects, Inc., and regional vice president of National Organization of Minority Architects 

• Michaele Pride-Wells, director of UC’s School of Architecture & Interior Design

• Alan Warner, principal with GBBN Architects and former president of the American Institute of Architects' Cincinnati chapter

Pride-Wells, along with Terry Boling, assistant professor of architecture, will lead the UC-based design instruction for the week-long CAMP with additional assistance from current UC architecture students and recent grads. David Kirk will generally lead the afternoon field trips. 

The student participants represent the following schools where they currently or will attend in the coming year:

• Bellbrook High School in Bellbrook, Ohio (north of Middletown)
• Clark Montessori High School in Hyde Park
• Finneytown Middle School
• Holy Trinity Junior High School in Newport
• Oak Hills High School in Bridgetown
• Rapid Run Middle School in Delhi
• Roselawn Condon School in Roselawn
• The School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Over-the-Rhine
• St. James Elementary in Wyoming
• Schroder High School in Kennedy Heights
• Walnut Hills High School
• W.E.B. DuBois Academy in Over-the-Rhine
• Western Hills Design Technology High School