Design LAB: Learn + Build

Week 10 Update! The walls are going up! Our building phase is underway and it is amazing to see our students’ ideas coming to life. Kevin Mire the Principal at 39Forward is all hands on deck with helping his class create their Play Spaces.

We're thrilled to announce Oswald Company as a Seasoned Sponsor for Dine with Design! Oswald provides volunteer support for Design LAB. Jim Kinney, Vice President Client Development at Oswald said “ The education program is so fulfilling to see what can happen when the students get the opportunity and benefit of the efforts that the volunteers and Design LAB donate throughout the year. We want to support our own Nick Henwood for his efforts as a volunteer with the students. The Dine with Design event is inspiring to connect with everyone engaged in the AEC market, supporting Design LAB programs, and experiencing the local community that we are building every day. With this continued effort, those students from the education program will be here at a future Dine with Design, supporting and building this market, city, and community of the future for years to come!” Become a sponsor today by following this link: https://lnkd.in/gPQ-TCwD

Join the celebration, purchase tickets now to Dine with Design 2025! "The magic of this event lies in the people who attend and the places we explore throughout the night. It is such a dynamic event that brings people together to celebrate a great cause and the people who are behind the effort of our programming." Christen Lubbers, Executive Director, at Design LAB. Purchase Tickets : https://lnkd.in/gPQ-TCwD

Week 9 Update!!! It is finally time for our students to show off what they’ve learned! All their research and what they learned in their lesson plans will come into *play* as they start constructing their own "Play Spaces". We can’t wait to see the walls start to go up.

For Women in Construction Week, we want to celebrate our Board President, Ali Hubbard Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Huseman Group. "As a woman in construction and an executive at Huseman Group, Women in Construction week offers an opportunity to reflect on the incredible journey that has brought me to where I am today. In an industry where women have historically been underrepresented, I continue to find immense opportunities to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact. I am equally inspired by other women in the industry. Their collective wisdom, encouragement, and resilience are a constant reminder of the strength we have when we lift each other up. Together, we’re redefining what’s possible. As a mother of three little ladies, I am deeply committed to setting an example that shows it’s possible to have it all - a thriving career and a fulfilling family life. I strive every day to be a positive role model for all young ladies who dream of breaking barriers and pursuing their passions. I’m proud to be a woman in construction, paving the way for others while being supported by incredible colleagues, peers, family and friends who inspire me to keep pushing boundaries!" - Ali Hubbard

With this year's program reaching almost 2500 students, the ability to divert the materials they are building with from the landfill is profound. Teachers and volunteers took 1,670 lbs of materials from the reuse area of the Hub: old yard signs, material samples from design firms (fabric, tiles, carpet samples, etc.), and other odds and ends that end up in the reuse space on the 4th floor of the hub. Our visitors had quite the Little Mermaid experience - "they have gadgets & gizmos a-plenty, whozits and whatzits galore!" - and now our students will have a treasure trove of materials to choose from for building their models. A huge thank you to the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub for our continued partnership of reuse and building sustainably!

Just three months until Dine with Design! As our largest fundraiser, it supports our education program while guests indulge in specially curated dining destinations, delicious light bites, and refreshing drinks while networking with industry giants. Link to buy tickets/ learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPQ-TCwD

We want to close out Black History Month by honoring Robert P. Madison - the first African American to receive an architectural degree in the State of Ohio. In 1948, he graduated from Western Reserve University. We want to thank him for his contributions. His legacy has paved the way for current and future generations of designers and builders.

Week 8 Update! This week will challenge our students' presentation skills. They will present their intended builds to their classmates and gather feedback to refine their plans next week. It can be a scary step, but we are so impressed by the courage our students have!

During a recent visit to one of our classrooms, we asked the 5th-grade students what they were most excited about regarding the program. One student shared, “We’re excited to decide which client our play space will be for, and we can’t wait to begin the building phase!” Make sure to check out the students’ final projects on display on Newport on the Levee from May 10th to May 17th. For more information follow the link below. https://lnkd.in/gEKjFgsS