Giving Back

Some of the BuildSense team recently attended the annual AIA (American Institute of Architects) Conference in Denver. The focus of many of the lectures was on community focused design. The question arises as to how architects use their training and solution based thinking to give back to their community and beyond?

It makes me proud to know that this is nothing new to BuildSense. Our recently updated website includes a new “community” page (http://www.buildsense.com/community.aspx) that highlights work that we do to give back to our local community, students, and non-profits, as well as globally to impoverished areas in Nicaragua. These successful projects demonstrate how providing more thoughtful design and execution benefits the users as well as the designers and builders. A day, a week, or a summer semester of time proves to be an investment with great return. Perhaps our work for others in addition to our regular work flow was a reason we were recently voted INDY Week’s Best Green Builder and runner up Best Green Architect for the Triangle.

While recognition is nice and appreciated, it falls short of the feeling of accomplishment from helping those in need by doing what we do best. We are currently teaching the Summer Design/Build Studio for NC State’s School of Architecture. The students are working on a floating classroom for the HUB Farm; a teaching farm underway for the Durham Public Schools behind Eno Valley Elementary School. There is nothing better than leading a project for students by students. The learning on the front end will forever result in continued learning for younger students upon completion. Please stay tuned for more on this as the HUB Farm, Durham Public Schools, NCSU, our collaborative team are depending on donations to help support our work efforts.

Current rendering of the student project for Durham Public Schools' HUB Farm. If you have any interest in providing financial support to this project and the HUB Farm in general, please contact us and we will put you in touch with the proper contacts at Durham Public Schools. Thanks for your support.