At DLA Architects, our focus is school design and we’re experts at creating spaces that enhance a 21st century education. This means we create environments that encourage critical thinking and problem solving by providing opportunities to develop communication, collaboration, and creativity skills. More and more educational programs are imparting these attributes in conjunction with industry-specific technical skills.
For us, this is an opportunity for greater involvement with the educational community. One of the ways we collaborate with educators is by mentoring students with an interest in architecture.
What is mentoring?
According to the career coaches over at Mind Tools:
“Mentoring is a relationship between two people with the goal of professional and personal development. The “mentor” is usually an experienced individual who shares knowledge, experience, and advice with a less experienced person, or “mentee.” Mentors… support and encourage their mentees by offering suggestions and knowledge, both general and specific. The goal is help mentees improve their skills and, hopefully, advance their careers.”
It requires more of a time commitment than, say, serving on a jury for student presentations, but it’s very rewarding.
Mentoring for Mock Firms
For the spring semester, our own Jonathan Murawski volunteered and mentored the architecture class at Naperville North High School. He helped prepare four students for this year’s Mock Firms competition. The competition was held at the Congress Hotel, and high schools nationwide competed in either the skyscraper or residential division.
The students created their “mock firm” from the ground up. They formed an organization with specific roles and responsibilities. Naperville North decided to compete in the residential division, which focused on a multi-family dwelling on or near a college campus that couldn’t resemble a fraternity house or dormitory setting. They did everything from site selection to design to creating a marketing plan. Throughout, Jonathan served as a sounding board for the students, providing guidance and feedback.
At the competition, they “pitched” their design concepts (jazzed up with a presentation model created from the school’s brand new 3-D printer) and marketing plans to a jury of industry professionals who judged both their presentations and their projects.
The Naperville North Team did a great job. The group placed 1st place in Illinois and 2nd place in the Midwest.
2013 Illinois State Champion Mock Firm:
First Place: Naperville North Architecture, Naperville North H.S., Naperville, Illinois
2013 National Regional Home Design:
First Place: Studio 2102, Grand Haven H.S., Grand Haven, Michigan
Runner Up: Naperville North Architecture, Naperville North H.S., Naperville, Illinois
2013 Top Architecture Mock Firm Home Design:
First Place: Studio 2102, Grand Haven H.S., Grand Haven, Michigan
Runner Up: Naperville North Architecture, Naperville North H.S., Naperville, Illinois
2013 Top Marketing Mock Firm Design:
First Place: Studio 2102, Grand Haven H.S., Grand Haven, Michigan
Runner Up: Naperville North Architecture, Naperville North H.S., Naperville, Illinois
Read more:
Daily Herald: Naperville North students capture state title for home design
