Ellerbe Becket and the Center for Understanding the Built Environment, or CUBE, teamed up to teach young people about architecture, city planning and responsible citizenship.

CUBE educator, Laurie Bottiger, held a Kansas City metro area teacher workshop at Ellerbe Becket. She provided hands on materials and showed teachers of all disciplines to learn how to use historic properties and neighborhoods as learning labs for their students.

“Our communities are very important to the American culture,” said Bottiger. “We can’t afford to allow children to grow up without engaging in their communities. The interdependent relationship between the built environment and citizens is invaluable.”

Bottiger said Ellerbe Becket understands the importance in creating a caring and active spirit in children that will ultimately create caring and active adults.

The workshop introduced teachers to using historic properties as learning tools to teach their students to take action through analytical thinking, honoring history and using their vision and voice to create the components of a successful community.

Teachers participated in a visual survey, What’s in a building?, and learned to integrate the Geoblock Game, a city planning simulation with zoning codes, into their classrooms.

In addition to hosting the workshop, Ellerbe Becket holds it’s annual golf tournament to benefit CUBE. Proceeds from the golf tournament help provide local and national workshops for teachers and students.

“Ellerbe Becket is truly walking their talk,” said Bottiger. “They are actively helping us engage the youth.”

For 15 years, Ellerbe Becket has hosted the annual golf tournament, inviting the community to partake in educating future adult leaders. Since starting the annual golf tournament, Ellerbe has raised more than $20,000, and each year the contribution continues to grow.

“Giving back to CUBE is one of our most fun and rewarding community activities,” said Ellerbe Becket architect, Scott Sayers. “CUBE truly impacts the future of children and our community. Children are given the opportunity to explore the past, understand the present and make responsible decisions for the future.”

About CUBE
For 35 years, The Center for Understanding the Built Environment, a not-for-profit educational organization, has taught more than one million young people about architecture, city planning and responsible citizenship. Through CUBE camps, events and activities, young citizens begin to fight against architectural apathy and community carelessness. Visit www.cubekc.org to learn more or find out about teaching tools and workshops.

About Ellerbe Becket
An innovator since its founding in 1909, Ellerbe Becket is a leader in architecture, engineering, interiors and the construction industry, with office locations worldwide.

Contact: news@ellerbebecket.com