31
May
2023
|
16:14 PM
America/Chicago

STC architecture students giving hope to communities in need

Summary

South Texas College Architectural Engineering Design and Technology (AEDT) students presented their final design of a master plan and townhome proposal for the Mi Casita Affordable Housing project located in rural Edinburg. Faculty and industry guests were in attendance to review the students' work and give them feedback for the preliminary proposals they hope will one day enter the design phase of the project.

At the heart of a partnership with Border Issues of Texas, South Texas College architecture and design students say they are pooling their talents in order to change lives by designing affordable housing for local residents. 

STC students have taken up the challenge to design a masterplan and townhome proposal for the MiCASita Affordable Housing project located in rural Edinburg.

MiCASiTA is a collaboration between Texas nonprofits come dream. come build. (CDCB) and building community WORKSHOP (BC) to help low-income residents in Hidalgo County live in an environmentally safe wood frame home by enabling them to take out low-cost mortgages that expand as families’ financial situation improves.

The proposed housing project in Edinburg is being developed through Border Issues of Texas, which is a non-profit organization created by alumni from South Texas College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with the goal to empower marginalized zones through education initiatives. 

It’s the right time for individuals from the Valley to grow and construct; and just build here. This is why I decided to try and give back to my community by assisting MiCASita in their project.

Gustavo Perez - AEDT student

Students recently presented their specific townhome model alongside their masterplan concept, which was followed by feedback from those in attendance including Border Issues directors, STC faculty and industry guests who heard students’ preliminary proposals that they hope will one day enter the design phase of the project.

“This is an opportunity for students to showcase their talents as well as an opportunity for students to put in practice all the things they are learning in the classroom while learning how to give back to their communities,” said Juan R. Ramirez, Ed.D., president of the board of directors for Border Issues of South Texas as well as chair of STC’s Education department. “This is something that I, as a part of the STC faculty, highly encourage. No matter what field of study a student is involved in, giving back is a way to make communities grow and empower one another. Through this service-learning project, they are seeing the real need that exists in the community and witnessing first-hand just how much work still needs to be done to make this place we call home a better place.”

Twenty students from STC participated in the project. From the start of the spring semester, students were tasked with producing their own unique design for the residential townhouse project as well as the masterplan component.

Students went through the process of gathering information about the project and met with clients and representatives from the organization to experience the location first-hand, according to STC faculty. The presentation to attendees was the culmination of weeks of studying while attempting to initiate the architectural design process.

“We definitely want to continue to see the development of this project, especially when it goes into the next phase that will hopefully have students begin to develop the construction documents,” said Architectural Engineering Design and Technology chair Laura Salas. “With this particular project there are still phases we hope can evolve. We are always open to community projects and helping those who have their own needs, and who are open to giving our students real-world experience. We will always jump at the chance to participate.”  

One STC student, who was among those presenting designs, said he comes from a family heavily involved in the construction field and was inspired to give back to communities through STC.

“The Rio Grande Valley is still small and there is room for a lot of improvement, especially when it comes to talent. We’re always looking outside of our region for this talent rather than from within,” said Gustavo Perez, an Architectural Engineering Design and Technology student who is focusing his college work on architectural visual technology and drafting. “It’s the right time for individuals from the Valley to grow and construct; and just build here. This is why I decided to try and give back to my community by assisting Mi Casita in their project.”

For more information on STC’s Architectural  Engineering Design and Technology program, visit www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/aedt/.