Overview
The Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism prepares students to be strategic, creative thinkers, ready to contribute to our society, with a rigorous program that includes interdisciplinary studies, collaborative opportunities, hands-on training, and real-world experience.
Hands-on learning projects — from speculative models to small-scale built projects that benefit communities we collaborate with — are especially important.
These projects allow students to work through design-build challenges and provide professional experience by applying, honing, and integrating their knowledge and skills. They also introduce students to fabrication, developing their abilities across a wide range of tools and materials.
Your support of the Maker Fund is an investment in our students’ ability to acquire the breadth of design skills, fabrication knowledge, and building experience that can expand their perspectives on design and inform their future contributions to society.
The Background
Architecture students incur expenses beyond their tuition and more significant than the typical costs of a university student. The expenses are associated with materials to produce and complete projects in the mandatory studio component of their degree program. From small-scale models to printing, 3D modelling, digital fabrication, and even full-scale constructions, these projects are essential to their education.
Such projects also develop community engagement skills, with students working with partners to serve neighbourhoods in need. Recent projects include a food pantry in Centretown and the renewal of a playground and community room in Russell Heights. Other projects take place on campus, as part of studio courses, or in association with the school’s research groups, and include experimental models, exhibition works, as well as installations.
The Rollout
The Maker Fund will enable us to provide studio instructors with a budget to cover the cost of materials upfront. It will also support specific projects or equitable access for students, as needed. The School will use gifts made to the Maker Fund to purchase materials such as wood, paper, clay, or even building tools, but also to support printing, digital fabrication, model making and workshops for undergraduate and graduate students throughout their education.
The Impact
Through gifts to the Maker Fund, donors will accelerate learning, ensuring students can focus on creating and experimenting by reducing financial barriers and stress. Donor support will help advance our mandate to widen access to architectural education, the discipline, and profession, furthering our pursuit of equity and diversity in our school community.