This year’s BOOMTOWN was one for the books.
As part of Architecture Week, SDAF’s Built Environment Education Program (BEEP) welcomed 20 enthusiastic middle school students from across San Diego County for BOOMTOWN 2026, a weekend-long, hands-on urban planning and design workshop now in its third year.
Program co-chairs Tony Garcia, AIA and Laura Ducharme Conboy, FAIA, led the weekend alongside 14 dedicated volunteers, including urban planners, architects, and landscape architects. SDAF Board members Zeek, Kramer, and Beri served as mentors. We were also thrilled to welcome visiting professional Oswaldo Rivera-Ortiz, Assoc. AIA, from Dallas, TX, whose years in the education field proved to be an invaluable addition to the program.
Students dove into the fundamentals of how cities grow and change, exploring principles of architectural scale, sustainability in the built environment, and the interplay between public and private decision-making. Hands-on activities brought these ideas to life: students played “City as Play,” designed their dream homes, and constructed BOOMTOWN commercial buildings using recycled materials.
The weekend culminated in the signature BOOMTOWN activity, where each student took on a role, private developer or public official, to shape their very own city. The results sparked lively, thoughtful conversations about community, growth, and responsibility. Parents joined for the final showcase, where students presented their BOOMTOWNs and received Certificates of Achievement.
Thank you to our mentors, volunteers, program leaders, and sponsors who make BEEP possible, and a huge congratulations to the students whose energy and creativity made BOOMTOWN 2026 such a success. We can’t wait to see what you build next.
Interested in getting involved? Learn more about BEEP here, and consider becoming a member to stay connected and help support programs like this one.