Frederick Architect’s Design Project Connects Elementary and High Schoolers
Bates Architects' Forrest Popkin, AIA (pictured far right, in front) just wrapped up a multi-year coordination with Lincoln Elementary School, Frederick High School, and other community partners. The Frederick students in 3rd grade designed benches, using hand drawing and cardboard modeling techniques under Forrest’s assisted instruction. A year later, while in 4th grade, those same children got to see 10th and 11th graders from a neighboring school they will also likely attend, build it.
"Design is about communicating vision, working with partners, and following through. These students can look at this bench once it’s set up in their school lobby and remember all the work that goes into crafting a bench. They will apply this understanding to all the designed objects in their lives, from their furniture through to their buildings,” says Forrest.
Forrest has been engaged in his local Frederick community, volunteering his time to students of all ages, hoping to inspire an organic interest in architecture.
Learn more about the project at this link: https://fcpsmaryland.exposure.co/bernies-bench-collaboration
