Students in the School of Architecture’s AIAS Freedom By Design™ chapter recently completed Phase 1 of a two-phase project at the Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool, run by Families First in Cabarrus County. Families First in Cabarrus County is a non-profit organization that serves low-income families through bilingual (Spanish and English) programs for children and parents.
The finished Phase 1 of the project includes a privacy fence weave (colorful nylon strips woven through the existing chain link fence), a series of interactive wooden panels fixed to the fence, and a large gardening area. Phase 2, which will be completed in the coming academic year, will explore the infill of the playground, possibly adding a race track, a mound for climbing and sliding, and seating/meeting areas for picnics and gatherings.
As the American Institute for Architecture Students (AIAS) community service program, Freedom By Design™ encourages architecture students to use their skills to “radically impact the lives of people in their communities,” says the AIAS website. The UNC Charlotte School of Architecture started a Freedom By Design™ program in 2007 under the mentorship of architecture faculty John Nelson, Greg Snyder, and David Thaddeus. The UNC Charlotte chapter was nationally recognized as the 2014-15 Chapter of the Year and was also awarded the 2014-15 Project of the Year award for a play structure designed and built for the playground at Chantilly Montessori Elementary School.
