Architecture graduate studio instructors Bradley Walters and Lisa Huang came up with a new way to teach studio.
Walters and Huang wanted their students to work hands-on with real construction materials in a studio setting. Doing so would give student’s valuable insight on how the materials function in practice. “Students need to understand the weight and gravity of the building materials they are working with,” said Huang.
Determined to make this change happen, Walters and Huang applied for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) grant, which allowed them to innovate their curriculum to blend practice and education.
In the fall of 2015, Walters and Huang’s proposal was chosen by the NCARB Award Jury for the prestigious $35,000 grant. The jury recognized the proposal for its collaboration with manufacturers and for challenging students to change the way they think about their profession.
This video highlights the results of this endeavor. A camera crew visited the studio in its second year, Fall 2016, and features Walters, Huang and students talking about how this teaching methodology has improved their studio experience.