DESIGN VERITAS
south high community school,
worcester ma
The Created Impact Program for the South High Community School and Lamoureux Pagano Associates and Architects consisted of developing 5 customized student led design challenges for the school’s new entrance lobby. The students were challenged to capture the experience and sentiments of a diverse socio-economic and cultural school promoting the sense of community that South High is significantly known for for. They were tasked with designing for the present, while honoring a strong past and addressing the sustainability of Worcester’s future generation. As one of Worcester’s largest High Schools, their impactful contribution will accelerate future empowerment, wellbeing, equality and justice in their community.
CREATED IMPACT:
SOUTH HIGH NEW SCHOOL LOBBY DESIGN
a student led architectural design project
SOUTH HIGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL
WORCESTER, MA
ARCHITECTS:
LAMOUREUX PAGANO
ASSOCIATES AND ARCHITECTS
PARTNERS:
Worcester Public Schools
New England School of Protocol
COLLABORATORS:
Worcester Historical Museum
ArtsWorcester
Che Anderson, City of Worcester
Fred DiMauro
*This project designed for inclusivity, diversity and equity.
Learn more about this aspect of the project.
PHASE 1
The Created Impact Empowerment Program is founded on
Design Veritas' strong belief in the investment of future generations.
Design Veritas worked with architects
Lamoureux Pagano Associates and Architects
(LPAA) from Worcester, MA to develop and
implement the New South High Design Club.
We worked closely with the students, the architects, the school and the Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools, Maureen Binienda to create customized design projects for the students. They were given the responsibility to contribute to design of their new school lobby and learning hands on the real life process of design. This gave them a voice, and an opportunity to share their student experiences to showcase South High's unique character. This integral part of the design would have been missing had the architects, faculty or administration carried out this project without the students' voice and collaborations.
Original South High Lobby
Design Veritas created a foundation which integrated the architects' intent with students' ideas and creativity.
This facilitated the architectural process and identified the unique school culture which was significant in the development and impact of this project. The result was a customized lobby that will leave a meaningful and lasting impression on students, alumni and visitors alike.
Design Veritas' Created Impact program with South High is an unprecented project which will lead the way for other schools to follow suite with student involvement in the design process, community collaborations with real life experience, and gaining valuable skills to navigate change in the 21st century.
SCHOOL WIDE ESSAY - Students were required to write an essay on what South High meant to them. All the essays were reviewed by members of the architectural team, Design Veritas, Mr. Ben Badu, South High Art Teacher and Mrs. Binienda to determine the most fitting theme for the the new school lobby design.
Design Veritas helped developed 5 challenges that covered various areas of the new school lobby for students to design. The students were challenged to represent 'community' through their concepts.
COMMUNITY
1
The History Wall
South High comes with a rich history.The students were asked to design a history wall to showcase the many artifacts and memorabilia representing South High since 1901.
2
The Entrance Lobby
This challenge was to best showcase the school, the students and their culture in a 2D and 3D display in the entrance of the New School.
3
The Digital Wall
South High has a rich diversity with various cultures. The digital wall's challenge was to use technology to connect the students to theses cultures, the alumni, the community as well as the school events and happenings.
4
The Word Wall
The design challenge was to create a word wall that will extract ideas from all wide school essays to be a part of the new school design.
5
The Mural Wall
This challenge is to create a South High 'community' mural to represent the school community and what the school means to its students.
Navneet Anand - Design Veritas,
Ingrid Adelade - Created Impact Volunteer,
Mr. Ben Badu - South High
Architect Eric Moore from LPAA shows
students the latest software with a 3D walkthrough of the new school lobby.
Student Presentation & Discussion
Working with South High Art Teacher & South High Project Lead, Mr. Ben Adwetewa-Badu; Ingrid Adelade; and Design Veritas; the students started working in January 2019.
In March, Design Veritas, worked with the New England School of Protocol to help the students with their communication and presentation skills. They then presented their final ideas to the architects, the faculty, the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools, the Worcester Mayor's Office and the Worcester School Committee. The students were featured in local publications and media after completing Phase 1.
Mr. Ben Badu - South High
Navneet Anand - Design Veritas,
Nikki Sawhney, New England School of Protocol
Design Club Students:
Tia Tomco, Julie Do, Miles Appleton
FINAL PRESENTATION PHASE 1
THE ENTRANCE LOBBY
Presenter: Gianna Caforio
THE HISTORY WALL
Presenters:
Julie Do,
Tia Tomco,
Miles Appleton
THE DIGITAL WALL
Presenter: Iteolawakissi Talabi
THE WORD WALL
Presenter: Eliana Lamptey
THE MURAL WALL
Presenters:
Julie Do,
Tia Tomco,
Miles Appleton
Mrs. Maureen Binienda, Superintendant
Worcester Public Schools
Mr. Jeff Creamer, Principal South High
LPAA Architects: Katie Crockett, Bill Senecal, Chris Lee & Maureen Binienda
Tia Tomco, Julie Do - Students Presention
Channel 3 News, Reporter Chandler Walsh
Worcester, MA
FINAL PRESENTATION to the mayor of worcester
and the school committee
may 2019
Students: Iteolawakissi Talabi, Eliana Lamptey,
Tia Tomco, Gianna Caforio, Julie Do,
Miles Appleton
With: Mr.Ben Badu, Mr. Creamer,
Nikki Sawhney, Eric Moore, Navneet Anand
PHASE 2
septemeber 2019 - june 2020
DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT
&
COMMUNITY
PARTNERS
Design Development and Real Life Collaborations.
JANUARY: The aim of phase 2 was to interconnect the challenges with real life professional feedback. Design Veritas customized
community collaborators to be a part of this project. Invited guest speakers helped students understand the real world impact of design, collaborations and innovation with regard to each challenge.
Design Veritas worked the architects LPA|A, South High's Principal Creamer and Mr. Badu for this Phase along with The New England School of Protocol (NESP). The Created Impact Lab, the curriculum aspect of the program promoting 21st century skills along with project development was customized with project partner NESP.
CURRENT: JUNE 2020 Once ideas are fully developed, the next step is to work with the architectural consultants working on the Project to integrate the students work into the final project. The program had to be altered and move virtually to complete the final presentation due to the Covid -19 pandemic.
GUEST SPEAKERS
LAUNCHING PHASE 2
To kick off the second phase, the architects presented to the students the latest developments in the new school construction while also addressing the consultant and contractors role in the architectural process.
Lamoureux Pagano Associates and Architects (LPAA)
The launch of Phase 2 included an update from the architects on the progress of the New South High School construction.
Peter Caruso (AIA) and Bill Senecal (AIA)
then presented to the students an overview of the architectural process.
1
Presentation of The Architectural Process of the New South High School
Bill Senecal spoke the students about the design process while Peter Caruso discussed the architectural process with consultants, budget and timeline.
THE ENTRANCE LOBBY CHALLENGE -
In Phase 1, Design Veritas introduced many concepts and ideas to help students in the ideation stage. The students were very interested in artist Stephen Knapp's Light Paintings as a theory to explore for this entrance space. Design Veritas brought in an expert speaker on Stephen Knapp to present to the students a history of art in design and Stephen Knapp's work to help them understand the theory behind the lightpaintings and the artist's work.
2
Fred DiMauro, Pinck & Co
Fred DiMauro, Assoc. AIA, presented a colorful presentation on Artist Stephen Knapp's work and method. He explained the theory of light in architecture and art which in turn helped the students understand daylight and lighting for the 2 story entrance lobby area.
Stephen Knapp Light Paintings
Fred DiMauro answered many of the student's questions while moving the discussion further with the architects, Eric Moore and Bill Senecal. This presentation gave an understanding of lighting, reflection and glass in conveying a message through design.
THE WORD WALL CHALLENGE -
In Phase 1, Design Veritas coordinated to have an advisor for the Word Wall challenge, a South High Alumni, English Teacher and current South High Vice Principal to help the students communicate the school's sense of community through words.
3
Olga Papadapolous,
South High Vice Principal was a guest speaker as well as a advisor on this challenge.
The students discussed Phase 1
final concepts for this wall and were further challenged to explore and dissect all ideas for a Final Phase 2 presentation understanding the impact of words and phrases.
THE ENTRANCE LOBBY - ART SCULPTURE & CALL FOR ARTISTS
Phase 1 concluded with the decision to have a local professional artist design a sculpture based on the students ideas to convey South High. The notion to tie in the community with the school and create an access for community collaborations was established during Phase 2.
4
Juliet Feibel, Director
ArtsWorcester
Worcester, MA
Juliet Fiebel spoke to the students about the 'call for artists' process for the 3D sculpture in the main lobby entrance. Bill Senecal from LPAA also participated in the discussion, helping the students analyze their final concept and next steps.
This was an informative discussion on the realities of budget and real world considerations while understanding the requirements needed to put out a call for artists proposal. The new school's entrance 3D art piece would further the existing school's entrance lobby flags experience with a new visual expression.
THE HISTORY WALL
This challenge required the students to evaluate, document and sort the various artifacts dating back to the 1900's until now. This challenged them to understand how to navigate the historical process while speaking to the students of today.
An overwhelming project, the Worcester Historical Museum was invited to help advise the students on this process.
5
William Wallace
Director, Worcester Historical Museum,
Worcester, MA
An ideal collaborator, Bill Wallace helped the students make sense of the various artifacts and memorabilia of South High while understanding the importance of displaying history in the modern age.
A lively presentation on museum displays and representing history through visuals was well received by the students for their ideas for the history wall. The students were educated and inspired by Mr. Wallace and his experience of design, history and display intent.
OVERALL THEME & GRAPHICS
To ensure a cohesive design theme throughout all 5 challenges, we felt it was important to have a professional creative design and graphic professional to help the students bring all their different ideas under one cohesive design umbrella.
6
Julian Wade
Davis Publishing
Worcester, MA
The Printers Building
Julian Wade is the President of Davis Publishing and owner of The Printer's Building, a creative space for art, invention and education.
The students were scheduled to tour the Printers Building in Worcester and innovate with Julian Wade in their creative offices. The intent was to have Julian oversee all the projects for a cohesive project design with students working in Davis Publishing's creative studios, providing a real world working environment and experience Due to Covid-19, the tour and work in their creative offices were canceled.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION & THE CITY OF WORCESTER
It was important for this project to have a community link and have access to the opportunities found in Worcester. Che Anderson, with his energy and art enthusiasm was the perfect person to speak to the students about city government and local community outside of school.
7
Che Anderson
Deputy Cultural Development Officer, City of Worcester
Founding Director of POW! WOW!
Worcester, MA
Che Anderson, originally from New York City and a graduate from Holy Cross, spoke to the students about his journey and working for the City of Worcester. He motivated the students to get involved within the community, spoke of the many opportunities and encouraged the students to know their voice in their making their future and contributing to the City of Worcester's future.
SOUTH HIGH LOBBY DESIGN PROJECT 2018-2021
PHASE 1 & PHASE 2 VIDEO PRESENTATION
created impact partner:
Created Impact is working with The New England School of Protocol to help the next generation with 21st century critical skills such as digital responsibility and presentation skills.
New England School of Protocol aims to give every individual a strong foundation in social skills and dining etiquette to empower them with confidence & courtesy and propel them towards personal and professional success. For more information, please visit their website at
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