Teaching Practice: Geometry in Architecture: Students Design Schools INTRODUCTION
Every spring at Mountlake Terrace High School near Seattle, Washington, students in Eeva Reeder's geometry classes work feverishly to complete an architectural challenge: Design a 2,000-student high school to meet learning needs in the year 2050, fitting it on a given site. In a period of six weeks, students must develop a site plan, scale model, floor plans, perspective drawing, cost estimate, and written proposal. They must then make an oral presentation to local school architects who judge the projects and "award" the contract -- all making use of geometric and mathematical concepts.
Every spring at Mountlake Terrace High School near Seattle, Washington, students in Eeva Reeder's geometry classes work feverishly to complete an architectural challenge: Design a 2,000-student high school to meet learning needs in the year 2050, fitting it on a given site. In a period of six weeks, students must develop a site plan, scale model, floor plans, perspective drawing, cost estimate, and written proposal. They must then make an oral presentation to local school architects who judge the projects and "award" the contract -- all making use of geometric and mathematical concepts.
