Juniors and seniors in Mrs. Bellone’s architecture class in the CTE pathway at Richardson High School took their learning to new heights when they presented their visions to City of Richardson Mayor Amir Omar, city leaders, district leadership, and Superintendent Branum. Their projects included groundbreaking ideas to revitalize the downtown Richardson area around Beltline Rd. and Highway 75, city parks, and more.
What began as a project meant for the annual Texas Society of Architects Cultivate competition, kept growing in scale as the students dug deeper into their designs and planning. “I quickly recognized the depth and thoughtfulness of their solutions to current design challenges in Richardson. Interestingly, these project ideas aligned closely with topics Mayor Omar and I had discussed in a meeting before the school year began—but I didn’t share that list with the students until after the project was completed. I simply mentioned that I might share their presentations with the Mayor, and from there, the interest and excitement grew naturally, from all parties.” said Laura Bellone, RHS Architecture Cluster Lead.
Their professionalism was apparent as they showcased their knowledge gained through hands-on learning. Complete with business models, site analysis, historical research, environmental considerations, and target markets, their proposals came to life and showed a strong vision for the future for downtown Richardson. Each group created a master plan with expert level 3D rendering that showed their creativity with real world, relatable solutions.
Mayor Omar praised the students for their work and said, “This is next-level thinking. What you’ve done is take ideas and make them real. It makes me want to champion your vision for the future of downtown Richardson”. He also asked thoughtful questions and provided feedback on how they could take plans to the next level.
From a vibrant library cafe concept, theatre space, and rethinking unused space underneath the Dart underpass and redesign of the Downtown area, students showed their mastery of the subjects. Superintendent Tabitha Branum said, “I’m beyond proud of our students and the way they presented their ideas, innovation, and also the way they’re thinking about problem solving. They’ve come up with great solutions to solve those problems.”
Out of 163 projects entered in the Texas Society of Architects competition, 2 students placed as semi-finalists placed in the top rankings in the state.
The Richardson High School communications and photography magnet students were also present to cover the event. All photos below were captured by Richardson High School Photography Magnet Students.
Our students are dreaming big and envisioning an incredible future for our city, and their experiences in programs like these are what make RISD the ONE.
