June 4, 2008

KSS Architects helps ACE of Eastern Pa. students succeed
On May 15, KSS team members proudly watched their high school mentees present their design project at the annual year-end ceremony for the ACE Mentor Program of Eastern Pennsylvania at the School District of Philadelphia's administration building. Since November, David Zaiser, AIA, Petar Mattioni, and Brian Rebuck joined professionals from several local firms to help Team 6 students conceptualize, design, and produce architectural drawings, construction schedules, and cost estimates and analyses for their simulated project, a charter school of communications sited at the corner of JFK Blvd. and N. 18th St. in downtown Philadelphia, where the new Comcast Tower and a Presbyterian Church are located. Six teams totaling 160 students from 20 Philadelphia-area high schools presented their plans for the school.

ACE also awarded scholarships totaling more than $30,000 to 20 students at the event. Three students from Team 6 won scholarships totaling $6,500.

The team members comprised 11 students from Carver High School for Engineering and Science, the Charter High School for Engineering and Science, and the Edward W. Bok Technical High School, and mentors from the following firms: KSS, Blackney Hayes Architects, Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Michael A. Beach & Associates, TriState HVAC Equipment, STV Construction, Inc., and the Gilbane Building Company.

Founded in 2000, ACE of Eastern Pennsylvania gives high school students opportunities to learn about careers in architecture, construction and engineering by pairing them with professionals in the building industry after school between November and May. KSS has been involved with the program since 2002. In addition to giving students tours of job sites and design offices, the program gives students to opportunity to work with volunteer design professionals on a project with "real-life" program and site requirements.

"It's essential we market our profession to high school students," said Zaiser, who also serves as a board member for the program. "Our profession will experience a net loss of people this year. While many students hear about careers in law or technology, the visibility isn't there yet for architecture."

The ACE Mentor Program of America, Inc., has affiliate programs in 106 locations across the U.S. For more information, visit their website.

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