For the past four years, WBA has expanded our partnership with the Boston Arts Academy (BAA) to offer their students an opportunity to learn architecture concepts and introduce them to a design profession in the AEC industry. In 2019, WBA created “Architecture Building Blocks: Designing the BAA from the Ground Up” to bring architectural education and appreciation to the next generation of problem solvers. After holding our 2020 and 2021 sessions virtually, we were thrilled to have the 2023 edition in the newly completed Dr. Elma I. Lewis building, BAA’s new home.

Presented during BAA’s innovative Intersection Program –a week in January where regular classes are suspended to make way for artistic, interdisciplinary, and project-based explorations–the program included an introduction to fundamental architectural notions, hands-on design activities, and construction of a site model of the new BAA facility. Over the course of five days, students were guided through these design activities that culminated in the creation of their own design project: a new adjacent building that would benefit the Fenway neighborhood, where BAA is located.

The 2023 program was led by WBA’s Leah Solomon and Vivian Nguyen, AIA.  Additional guest speakers Alastair Battson, Rebecca Durante, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED AP , and Josh McDonald spoke of specific topics ranging from modelmaking, interior design, and 3D visualization.  ­

We are honored to have the opportunity to work with such talented and creative students while sharing our passion for design with the next generation of architects!