Recent Designs

The Scenario: Your city is experiencing record-breaking summer temperatures. Densely packed neighborhoods with lots of asphalt and concrete are becoming "Heat Islands," staying up to 10°F warmer than nearby parks. The local community center needs a way to keep its outdoor seating area cool without using electricity for massive fans or AC units. The Task: Design and build a Passive Cooling Structure for a 1:10 scale model of the seating area. Your goal is to use engineering principles to lower the "ground" temperature of your model by at least 5°C using only sustainable materials and clever design.

The Scenario: Your city is experiencing record-breaking summer temperatures. Densely packed neighborhoods with lots of asphalt and concrete are becoming "Heat Islands," staying up to 10°F warmer than nearby parks. The local community center needs a way to keep its outdoor seating area cool without using electricity for massive fans or AC units. The Task: Design and build a Passive Cooling Structure for a 1:10 scale model of the seating area. Your goal is to use engineering principles to lower the "ground" temperature of your model by at least 5°C using only sustainable materials and clever design.

Project to get students engaged in supporting refugees somehow (donation drives, sales, letters to important people)

Organize a local history project, where students research and present the history of their town or city. This will include visits to historical sites and interviews with long-time residents.

Conduct a multicultural fair to explore and celebrate different cultures. Students will research a country, prepare traditional dishes, and present on cultural practices.

Design a way for cities to mitigate issues with heat islands.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century "Captain of Industry"—or perhaps a "Robber Baron." To understand the rapid economic transformation of the Gilded Age (1870–1900), you have 10 days to launch a micro-venture that mirrors the strategies used by titans like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Vanderbilt.

Step into the shoes of a 19th-century "Captain of Industry"—or perhaps a "Robber Baron." To understand the rapid economic transformation of the Gilded Age (1870–1900), you have 10 days to launch a micro-venture that mirrors the strategies used by titans like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Vanderbilt.