This past summer, the College of Built Environments (CBE) partnered with Sawhorse Revolution, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering confident, community-driven youth through the power of carpentry and craft, to host a transformative three-week intensive program on campus.
Fifteen students participated in this hands-on experience, where they designed and built a “pollinator village” in the meadow outside the Burke Museum on the University of Washington’s Seattle campus. The project aimed to give students real-world exposure to design and construction, inspiring future careers in the built environment.
Drawing inspiration from the rich flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, the students also created a unique folk narrative to accompany the three village structures. Their stories were artistically represented on copper bands encircling the base of each structure, adding a personal and creative touch to the project.
“While professionals in architecture and construction remain primarily white and male, this program creates pathways for BIPOC youth to access careers in these fields. The creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills developed here will not only shape the students’ futures but also positively impact the communities they will serve,” said Christopher Campbell, CBE’s Associate Dean for Students.
Read more about the project on Sawhorse Revolution’s website.