Ar KID tecture

I was reading my American Architectural Foundation’s fall newsletter and noticed that two programs in Cincinnati received grants in 2007 from the Foundation's Accent on Architecture Community Grants program.

"The American Architectural Foundation’s Accent on Architecture Community Grants program assists local nonprofit design and civic organizations in producing innovative public education programming . . . Accent Grants have supported creative programming initiatives, from local television programs to symposia, design charrettes, and teacher education. In addition to enhancing the visibility and public understanding of architecture, this program aims to strengthen long-term relationships between communities and local design groups."

The two programs that were the recipient of those grants were Bond at the Betts House and AIA Cincinnati's Architecture By Children.

"Bond at the Betts House offers children, ages 7 to 18, from the West End and other inner-city neighborhoods and community centers, a hands-on introduction to the building trades in the backyard of this 1804 historic house. The activities include mixing mortar and laying brick; introduction to archaeology and architecture; housepainting; roofing, blacksmithing and introduction to architecture. Our youth are instructed and guided in these activities by qualified professionals with long and distinguished careers in these fields."

"Since 1994 Architecture By Children has been providing an opportunity for children in grades K-12 to learn about architecture directly from local architects & designers . . . Through ABC, AIA Cincinnati aims to educate our community about the value of the role of the architect, and how what architects do affects all our lives through the design and development of our shared environment. Students are given an opportunity to connect skills learned in the standard curriculum to real-world problem solving through the conceptualization, design and presentation of a themed building project."

This year's ABC program, "Think Green", was to design places and spaces that connect downtown Cincinnati to the riverfront for the proposed Fort Washington Way 'covers' between Broadway and Race Streets utilizing sustainable building practices. Below are a few pictures of the student work. See more photos on the ABC website highlighted above.