Earlier this month, the Center for Architecture and Design's Architecture and Design Education Program (ADE) welcomed schoolteachers, architects, and other design professionals to collaborate while creating design-centric curriculums during the onboarding session.  Professionals gathered and brainstormed ideas on how they will incorporate skills and supplies into their lessons so all students walk away with a better understanding of the career field. We are excited to announce 12 volunteer firms partnering with 17 classrooms within 7 different schools in the School District of Philadelphia. A big thank you is extended to the following firms and individuals for dedicating their time and expertise to our classrooms this upcoming Fall semester: Jacobs Engineering Group, DIGSAU, d2 Groups, Looney Ricks Kiss, WRT Design, Moto DesignShop, The S/L/A/M Collaborative, Ballinger, Stantec,  Francis Cauffman Architects, and Kate Rutledge from the University of Pennslyvania. 

Together, we will prioritize access to design education in Philadelphia’s public school classrooms where the student population is more than 50% Black/African American and/or Latinx, as well as more than 70% economically disadvantaged. The program is provided at no cost to Philadelphia public school classrooms and teachers and spans the course of up to 6 weeks. We look forward to seeing how the many partnerships will increase knowledge of the professions and confidence within the K-12 classrooms this fall.