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The Next Generation of Green Architects and Builders

If you’re an architect or designer who knows how to use Autodesk’s Revit building information modeling software, how long did it take you to become proficient with the program? While Revit is often thought to have a steep learning curve, teenage students at Northeast Portland Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Academy find learning the program relatively easy. In fact, ACE Architecture Instructor Marjan Rotting reports that students often design entire houses using Revit, over the course of a weekend. Meet the next generation of architects and builders in our community.

ACE Academy is a relatively new public charter school that serves seven high schools in the Gresham-Barlow, Parkrose, Reynolds, and Centennial school districts. Students from those districts apply to ACE and attend the school part-time during their junior and senior high school years. Last spring, the school celebrated its second graduating class, with students headed off to colleges and universities to further their studies in architecture or engineering, or seeking careers in construction trades.

I had the privilege of spending some time at ACE Academy last week and seeing their motivated students and dedicated teachers in action. Although their courses focus on architecture, construction, and engineering, traditional academic subjects such as math and English are integrated throughout the standards-based curriculum. ACE students learn how to apply algebra, geometry, and trigonometry directly to design and construction projects. They are also evaluated on real world proficiencies such as meeting deadlines, giving presentations, and writing professional proposals.  Makes sense, doesn’t it?

As I walked through the school hallways, I saw a classroom of students at computers working on 3-D designs, a roomful of teams constructing architectural models out of balsa wood, and a small group of students working on the applied capstone projects each senior is required to complete.  As companies look to fill positions, they should keep these talented young ACE Academy students in mind. The students told me they would welcome the opportunity to have a seasoned green building professional serve as a mentor while they design and complete their capstone projects or come in as a guest speaker in one of their courses.

To learn more about ACE Academy, visit their website, or come to the Earth Advantage Earth Day Run on April 23^rd, where ACE students will be volunteering and proceeds from the event will go to support the school. 

About the Author

Angela Schmiede

Angela Schmiede has been director of education at EAI since 2009. She has a Ph.D. in education from Stanford University and 20 years of experience as an educator in universities and nonprofits. As a faculty member at Stanford and Vanderbilt Universities, she taught service-learning and social entrepreneurship courses. She brings her experience as former co-owner of a real estate development and construction firm to developing opportunities for building industry professionals to learn about sustainability.