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ARCH 171: Vantage | An Observer's Paradise
ARCH 171: Vantage | An Observer's Paradise
A Semester Comes Full Circle: Behind the Final Review of ARCH 171
The day began quietly, the kind of stillness only winter brings. Pale light filtered through the tall windows of Temple Buell Hall, and despite the chill in the air, there was a gentle apricity, the warmth of the sun in winter.
It was final review day for ARCH 171, and for many of these first-year students, this was their first real moment in the spotlight.
The project they were presenting, an Observation Tower called Vantage Point, was the culmination of it all.
There were towers inspired by tree canopies, by spiraling ramps, by the idea of pause and momentum. Critics asked thoughtful questions, sketches were exchanged on tracing paper, and moments of growth unfolded in real time.
Through it all, I couldn’t help but feel a quiet pride, not only in my students’ work but in the journey itself. I’m grateful to Professors Gideon Schwartzman, Hugh Swiatek, and Wekeana Lassiter, whose mentorship shaped the experience for both students and teaching assistants alike. Their insight reminded me that architecture is as much about patience and listening as it is about drawing and building.
The final review ended as the sun crept up higher. Students packed up their stuff with satisfied smiles and a newfound confidence. And I stood there, taking it all in, grateful, inspired, and reminded once again that teaching is its own form of learning.
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