NOMA national’s mission to empower young people to effect change in their community through design was realized this year here in Seattle at a 5-day camp from August 6 – 10. A group of 11 to 16 year-old students were given an opportunity to interact and learn from mentors with various architecture, engineering, interior design and construction backgrounds.  

The camp was held at UW Othello commons space, ideally located in the center of a vibrant diverse part of Seattle with examples of transit, an assortment of building typologies and neighborhoods a few steps away. The curriculum created by NOMA national introduced the students to architecture and design justice through interactive design exercises, field trips out in the city, drawing and model building.  

Starting with thinking about a city at a large scale and how the built environment interacts with community needs, students gained an insight into the responsibility architects and designers have in providing safe, just and equitable spaces for people. They designed their own ideal blocks and created their ideal neighborhood with an understanding of various building typologies and the functions they serve. Once they had a grasp of the broader cultural and social implications of architecture and developed the skills and tools to create spaces, they were given a real-world site to design a project that responded to its community's needs.  

Mentors and parents were impressed with the thoughtfulness and compassion students had as they presented their ideas of the spaces they proposed for the site. Students responded to what was missing in that part of the city and proposed both exterior and interior spaces that provided for the community’s social and physical well-being.  

NOMA NW were beyond proud of all that the students learned and achieved in just 5 days and look forward to welcoming the next batch of students in the summer of 2025! 

*Photos courtesy of Weber Thompson