Issue and Proposed Solutions:
Sarah Gould, KKT CEO, comes from a family of educators (4 siblings and 1 parent), which naturally fuels her passion for creating impactful learning environments. At KKT, we believe that architectural design can significantly influence student outcomes. As we actively involve students in the design process for their schools, we found that many of them are unaware of architecture as a profession. In architecture, barriers to entry have historically existed. In response to this, after years of developing outreach programs, we recently launched the nonprofit ThinkArchitecture. org, dedicated to providing additional opportunities for K-12 students. This nonprofit has allowed us additional opportunities to engage with students beyond our traditional project boundaries.
What was your approach in working toward a solution?
We started to engage students through office shadows, guest lecturers, after school clubs, as well as semester long internships that supported their graduation and academic requirements. Through these efforts, we shared our passions for design and critical thinking, while also gleaning interest from our education partners in these types of engagements.
Our focus has been to equip students with architectural thinking and problem-solving skills that they could apply in various aspects of their lives. By engaging students directly, we not only helped them understand the power of design but also sparked their interest in the architectural industry or related field as a potential career path.
How were you able to resolve/ minimize this challenge and what was the overall impact?
One of the significant challenges we faced was ensuring that our engagement with students was both meaningful and sustainable. To address this, we developed a structured mentorship program that pairs architects with students, allowing for ongoing interaction and guidance. This mentorship offers students real-world insights and experiences that they might not otherwise have access to.
The results have been overwhelmingly positive. Students are not only more engaged in their studies, but many have expressed interest in pursuing careers in architecture or related fields. The launch of our nonprofit has further extended our reach, allowing us to develop new programs and share more resources that support young people’s growth and development.
The overall impact has been profound. We’ve seen firsthand how our approach fosters creativity, critical thinking, and confidence in students. Moreover, it’s strengthened our ties with the community, reinforcing the idea that architecture is not just about buildings but about the people who use our spaces and the futures they help shape.
