New Tampa News Room

View ALL News

Letter to NTCC regarding Taste of New Tampa grant

Dear New Tampa Community Council:

First off I would like to thank you all for allowing me the chance to attend Washington University in St. Louis’ Architecture Discovery Program. Without your generous support I would not have been able to pursue my interest in architecture or meet such an inspiring faculty and group of friends.
I left for Washington University on Sunday June 19th, saying “Happy Fathers Day!” as I left. When I arrived on campus I met forty-eight other high-school seniors, who like me, longed for architectural enlightenment. As we met with our soon-to-be professors that day, a highly detailed schedule was distributed and we began to wonder how everything was going to get done in such a short amount of time. The schedule showed fun, interactive, and educational field trips in the morning to places such as the St. Louis Arch, Union Station, The Missouri Botanical Gardens, Muny Opera House, as well as several art museums and parks. In the afternoon however were five hour long studios in which we would learn hands-on about architecture, creating model after model in hopes of designing a conducive space for our mock client. In addition to studio time were three hour long drawing classes and lectures on things ranging from Tectonics to Geodesic Domes, topics most of us had never heard of.
Despite the demanding schedule and initial panic all forty-nine of us settled in and relied on each other for support and comfort. My roommates became some of my best friends, and I was surprised when I learned as much about lifestyles as I did architecture. I gained friends from regions of the country I haven’t even visited like California, Washington, and Texas. Within my studio was a group of 12 students whom I also became very close with. Because studio proved to be more demanding then any of us expected we formed a close bond under our professor, Liane Hancock, a graduate of MIT, and pitched in to assist in each other’s projects. At our mid-review held only five days after our arrival my peers in studio, as well as Liane, judged my work and provided helpful ideas and commented on the future of my project.
Another week passed and I took the ideas of my studio and professor and applied them to my final project. By my final review I had completed three models as well as several drawings of my model: elevations, floor plans, etc. Despite the few days I spent in the studio until three in the morning I was ecstatic that I had such great work to show and a sense of self-fulfillment overcame me. At my final review an outside architect came to judge our projects as well as my professor and studio friends. My review was successful, the architect was impressed by the amount of work I had done and gave me several ideas to expand my project and enhance the work I had done.
Looking back I realize that I have never done so much in two weeks in my life. From classes to activities to touring the city and just interacting with other students my time was always occupied. I learned not only about architecture but I also learned about the workload for an architecture student in college. The Architecture Discovery Program taught me how to manage time in the studio, how to problem solve, and how to take criticism from others. I believe I became more outgoing as well as knowledgeable, transforming both my mind and personality as a result. I will remember my time at the Architecture Discovery Program for the rest of my life, both the lessons I learned and the people I met. I thank you once again for allowing me to attend such an enlightening program and now I know that dreams really do come true, sometimes all you need is a little assistance.

Sincerely,

Brandi Wyskocil