Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2014 - (Page 10)

of the by neil isaiah Capangpangan Possible The AIA High school student Design Competition W hen I was in elementary school, I had a passion for drawing cars. It was all I ever wanted to do, and I dreamed of someday doing it for a living. Then one day when I was about 10 years old, I went on my father's computer and found Google Sketchup, a 3D modeling program. I tried to model cars but found it too difficult, so I started making very simple shapes. I got to the point where I could work very fast, and then I started making houses and buildings on the computer. After school, I would often go on the computer and play around with the program. By the time I was in seventh grade, my father, an architect, noticed my continuing interest and saw that I had become comfortable with the program. I was excited when he taught me how to use measurements from a drawn floor plan to create a model with Sketchup. It was very slow and hard work at first, but I gradually progressed to the point where I could help my dad build the Sketchup models for his projects. I really enjoyed the modeling and building, and the thought of someday walking down the street, pointing to a building, and being able to say, "I designed that" really got me excited about architecture. 10 imagine An inspired Competitor When I was a freshman in high school, through a local museum that hosts an annual youth architecture fair, I learned about the American Institute of Architects (AIA) high School Design Competition. In 2013, the Atlanta chapter of the AIA challenged students to design a student orientation center for Georgia State University. Situated on a prominent corner of downtown Atlanta, the building needed to include an auditorium, conference rooms, oﬃces, and space for student orientation activities, as well as outdoor gathering spaces-all on a tight urban site. I was eager to get started on the contest; I am a very competitive person, and the thought of competing against people my age excited

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2014

Big Picture
In My Own Words
Imagine, Design, Build
A Schematic of the Possible
My Life as an Architect
Blueprint for the Future
DesertSol: A Model of Sustainability
Across Space and Time
The Art of Summer
Selected Opportunities & Resources
A Digital Canvas
Rising to the Technovation Challenge
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2014