AIA Design for the Future: Studio Exchange

On Friday, April 17, AIA Newark & Suburban Architects brought Architecture Week to life with a hands-on design-build workshop at the Newark School of Architecture & Interior Design, a school serving an underrepresented community

Students were challenged to think like architects—using design as a creative and problem-solving process to shape TWO community-driven city blocks that respond to how people live, gather, learn, and move through space.

Working in teams, they explored real architectural typologies including housing, healthcare, recreation centers, community centers, places of worship, libraries, retail, restaurants, and office spaces Each group developed how these programs come together to form connected, functional environments—considering structure, building envelope, circulation, spatial experience, and how each site connects to its surrounding context.

With support from AIA professionals and university partners from New Jersey Institute of Technology, Kean University, and Union College of Union County, NJ, students experienced an iterative, real-world design process—testing ideas, refining concepts, and building confidence through making.

The day wrapped with a live showcase where students presented their work with clarity, creativity, and pride.

A huge thank you Newark Public Schools NSA&ID Principal Soraia Mendes for your partnership and for leading your brand-new school with such incredible vision, leadership, and dedication to creating meaningful opportunities for students

A huge thank you to AIA Newark & Suburban Architects President Kelli Glasgow, Nancy Dougherty, Christopher Townsend, Marvin Clawson for your leadership, to all the amazing volunteers who helped make this experience possible, and to the students who showed up with imagination, energy, and vision for the future of design!