San Diego Architectural Foundation

Education is a primary goal of the San Diego Architectural Foundation. The Built Environment Education Program (BEEP) was established to help implement that goal. BEEP has a long history and presence in San Diego’s architectural community with many notable San Diego architects, planners, landscape architects, and urban enthusiasts having been involved with the program from the 1980s forward.  BEEP features two distinctive programmatic paths:

• In-classroom learning programs, and
• Specialized community-based seminars.

In-Classroom Learning Experience – BEEP Lesson Manual
Recently the SDAF initiated a new project within the Built Environment Education Program; the preparation of a BEEP Lesson Manual to be used by SDAF volunteers and local schools to teach educational concepts using the built environment.  The purpose of the BEEP Lesson Manual is fourfold:

• To provide a common information base for educators and built environment professionals,
• To supplement existing and provide new lesson plans for educators that conform to State and local curriculum standards,
• To educate and engage school-age children about all aspects of the built environment, and
• To inspire interest and further study of the built environment.

Research conducted to inform the lesson manual project included the following tasks.

• Analysis of foundational concepts and current trends in the built environment disciplines of architecture, planning, landscape, urban design and history.
• Review of existing reference resources in support of built environment education.
• Review of recognized architectural education program manuals including Schoolyards to Skylines by the Chicago Architectural Foundation.
• Review of existing curriculums for public and charter schools in California.

Fifteen draft lessons have been prepared for the BEEP Lesson Manual.  A group of SDAF Interns selected from the Urban Studies & Planning undergraduate program at the University of California, San Diego helped to research built environment concepts and author the draft lessons in support of the following themes:

Planning & Building Cities.
Architectural History.
Architecture as Geometry.
Sustainable Planning & Design.
Landscape as a Resource.
Human Geography.

A pilot implementation program is scheduled for the 2009-2010 academic year. The limited pilot program will help SDAF to further refine and improve upon the draft lessons, and will inform the creation of new lessons based on teacher needs, student experiences, and volunteer feedback.

If you have interest in participating in BEEP, either by taking part in the initial review of the lesson plans above, or in other aspects, please send an email to BEEP@sdarchitecture.org.

Community-Based Seminars
This free-flowing component of the SDAF Built Environment Education Program is intended to facilitate education and outreach to the community at-large through specialized exhibits, presentations, lectures, tours, and workshops, and is interrelated with other SDAF programs.  Built Environment advocates and enthusiasts, museums, community groups, municipalities, and other allied community-based organizations may request SDAF participation or facilitation of a community-based event.

BEEP flow.pdf