Building Futures: Local Teens Discover Architecture Through Summer Program
Kelly Sheldon August 18, 2025
High school students participate in design studies at artist Dennis Maher’s The Assembly House through the Model City Builders program. Photo by Meredith Forest Kulwicki
On the morning of August 1, a cohort of high school students gathered with their families at artist Dennis Maher’s The Assembly House, an “architectural dreamworld” for the building arts inside a historic former church in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood. They were there to celebrate the conclusion of this year’s Model City Builders program. A joint effort between The Assembly House and the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, Model City Builders provided 11 students with a 4-week, personalized introduction to the discipline of architecture this summer.
Maher – founder/director of The Assembly House and clinical assistant professor in the UB Department of Architecture – welcomed the attendees and shared a few words. “Young people have fewer and fewer opportunities to work with tools and materials in a hands-on way,” he remarked. “I’m ecstatic about opening opportunities for people to get engaged with building things and to be in touch with tools and materials at a time when I think that’s increasingly important.”
Casimir Garrison served as the lead instructor for the program. Photo by Meredith Forest Kulwicki
Designed to welcome students from diverse backgrounds who share an interest in architecture and the built environment, the program offered many participants their first real exposure to architectural design. For most, working with tools was also entirely new. To ensure accessibility, most of the students attended free of charge and received a weekly stipend, contingent on attendance.
Serving as the lead instructor for the program, Casimir Garrison – co-founder of Industrial Arts Studio – was responsible for curriculum development and guiding the students through foundational architectural concepts and their practical applications. A University at Buffalo alumnus and former building arts instructor at The Assembly House, Garrison has a deep love for building in its full spectrum, whether it be studying historical styles and labor movements, maintaining machinery, or the very act of crafting itself.
The first two weeks of the program were spent at The Assembly House, amid its unique collection of architectural installations and workshop areas, where Garrison helped the students develop base-level skills in object study, sketching, photography, and collage. To develop their visual literacy, the group went on a series of walking tours that included the Victorian-style homes of the surrounding neighborhood, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House, and the Robert T. Coles House and Studio.
Maher explained the process. “They were first asked to go on a structured walking tour of the historic houses, and then repeat that tour but with their eye focused on certain elements that they captured through photography in a very selective way. Then they came back here and synthesized what they experienced through exercises of abstraction.”
For the final two weeks, the students were welcomed to UB’s South Campus, which houses the Fabrication Workshop, a vital hub for the School’s learning-through-making curriculum. There, Steph Cramer – workshop director and clinical assistant professor – and Wade Georgi – manager of shop services – introduced the students to essential skills and safety protocols for using the workshop’s tools, including those in the wood and metal shops.
As they developed these foundational skills, the students brought them to life through a three-part project that spanned the four-week program – an experience that not only challenged their creativity and craftsmanship but also deepened their understanding of architectural design and personal expression.
Part One: Object Study
Each student selected an architectural element at The Assembly House (e.g., cabriole leg, newel post cap, piece of crown molding, etc.) and closely examined its design. They then crafted a paragraph responding to a series of questions exploring the object’s form, function, appeal, and composition. Following this analysis, the students each created a plan, section, elevation, and rendered perspective drawing of their object.
Part Two: Architectural Photography and Collage
In groups of three, the students revisited the Victorian houses of Allentown, this time equipped with cameras and a new assignment: to capture well-composed photographs that directly related to their objects of study. They were encouraged to observe and document variations in patterns, textures, and functions. They later assembled these images into collages that served as visual extensions of their initial studies.
Part Three: Environment for the Object
Using their collages as inspiration, the students designed and built an environment to house or complement their architectural object with at least one aspect of the final product being crafted out of wood. “They were asked to make a big jump from 2-D to 3-D as well as work with the tools in the shop to build a model environment,” Maher explained.
Model City Builders projects began with an object study, including written descriptions and sketches. Photo by Meredit Forest Kulwicki
The morning of the graduation ceremony, the students faced one final challenge: presenting their completed projects to a panel of faculty from the UB School of Architecture and Planning, including Dean Julia Czerniak. As they shared their models, each student articulated their design decisions, the rationale behind their choices, and the overarching vision that guided their work. The panel responded with thoughtful feedback, insights, and suggestions—offering students a valuable opportunity to refine their thinking and deepen their understanding of architectural design.
“That’s hard to do,” Garrison pointed out. “It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I felt comfortable contextualizing my ideas and explaining what a project is about. It’s a really hard skill, so these students have a jump start and a very bright future. No matter what they choose to do, these skills will be useful.”
One junior in the program, echoed that sentiment. “This made me expand my horizons,” he explained. “There’s so much you can do with these skills. Once you learn them, you can see how much it can impact even your regular lifestyle.”
The students’ progress over just four weeks was remarkable. Their final projects showcased not only creative thinking but also strong presentation skills. “It was a super quiet group three weeks ago,” Maher reflected. “What we saw today at the presentations was a lot of confidence, a lot more declarative, assertive statements about what they were trying to do and what they achieved, which is really key. You can see the self-assurance that’s been built in a short period of time.”
One rising senior joined the program with future aspirations of pursuing a career in architecture. Sitting beside his proud grandmother following the ceremony, he reflected on his time in the program. “The fact that I got to do this and meet other people who share the same goals and want to do the same things – it was the greatest experience you could ever imagine.”