KNOXVILLE — High school students from across the country converged on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, this week to participate in the second annual Design Matters summer camp hosted by the College of Architecture and Design. The camp runs through Saturday, July 19.
In a program similar to last year’s camp, students are learning about design fundamentals and will participate in design studios, building tours and field trips. Each student also will design and build a model of a cliff-side dwelling for rock climbers. The camp will conclude with an exhibition of student work at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday in Room 103 of the Art + Architecture Building.
A workshop on the relationship between architecture and the environment is one highlight of the program. Using sun dials, students will evaluate how much useful sunlight enters the interior spaces of architectural models they built earlier in the week. Daylight and solar heat gain are maximized or mitigated depending on the time of year and help make buildings energy-efficient and comfortable. This workshop will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 18, outside the Art + Architecture Building.
The students arrived on campus last Sunday and will stay through the weekend. In addition to staying in the university residence halls, students have occupied work desks in the studio space in the Art + Architecture Building and are using the college’s equipment and materials for their design work.
Architecture professor Tricia Stuth has returned as camp director this year, as has assistant director Emily Pace. “We are excited that so many students are interested in learning about design and the built environment, and we had an overwhelming number of applicants for the second year of the camp,” Stuth said. “We are also pleased that the experience inspired many of last year’s campers to return to UT this fall and enroll as freshmen in the architecture and interior design undergraduate programs.”
In response to growing demand, the camp expanded this year to accommodate 50 students, compared with last year’s 35, and maintains a waiting list. Campers have come from as far away as Alaska and Colombia, South America, to participate.
Several firms, companies and individuals from the area provided full and partial scholarships for campers: Hinson Miller Kickirillo Architects; Hastings Architecture Associates; Earl Swenson Associates; Community Tectonics; George Armour Ewart Architect; Design Innovations; Construction Specification Institute; BB&T; Rivers Street Architecture; SRR and Associates; AIA East Tennessee; Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum; Jim Christian and the College of Architecture and Design provided scholarships and other financial contributions.
Local design firms, development companies and government departments hosted students at their offices and sites. Hosts included Cockrill Design and Planning, Sanders/Pace Architects, Studio Four Design, Smee + Busby Architects, Dewhirst Properties, Design Innovations Architects and the City of Knoxville Building Department.
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Contacts:
Kristi Hintz, UT media relations, (865) 712-6450, khintz@utk.edu
Tricia Stuth, camp director, (215) 266-2631, tstuth@utk.edu
Emily Pace, assistant camp director, (865) 293-2107, epace1@utk.ecu