Spencer TechYard Project

Spencer TechYard Project (2010)

Partner – CPS Office of Academic Enhancement

In January of 2009, archi-treasures was invited by DePaul University’s Egan Urban Center to become involved in the Technology Academy Partnerships (TAP) Program, created to foster collaborative relationships between five technology schools and community organizations in their respective neighborhoods.

With funding from CPS Office of Academic Enhancement, which oversees the technology school program, archi-treasures launched an ambitious new endeavor to design, build and celebrate a public art project on the school grounds that would highlight Spencer as a technology-focused school. archi-treasures partnered with Project SYNCERE and Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) to utilize the arts, engineering, and technology while inviting school- and community-wide participation, strengthening community ties, and expressing the unique nature of Austin.

In November 2009, archi-treasures began meeting with school and neighborhood groups, including the NCLB group and the LAC, in order to create an Advisory Committee to guide the project. Meanwhile, archi-treasures hired renowned artist Stuart Keeler to actualize the project.

Stuart created three sketches illustrating various ideas, and after a very energized conversation, the Advisory Committee chose to integrate two of the ideas: adding a vibrant sculptural element to the building along with colorful window film in order to brighten the face of the school and stir curiosity.

Stuart developed new drawings based on this conversation and archi-treasures worked with NWA Teacher Cynthium Woodfolk-Johnson to conduct a series of community writing workshops and a student workshop around the theme, “What is a Hero?”. These stories were personal explorations of real life heroes, and more often than not, writers recognized their own heroism. Experimental Sound Studio then audio-recorded the workshop participants sharing their stories.

Meanwhile, Project SYNCERE led two workshops with 20 students, teaching the mechanics of building a simple computer and speaker system. This simple computer would eventually be installed in a small enclosure on the exterior of the school for all to hear the community stories.

As the sounds and stories were coming together, archi-treasures installed the window film–some with text excerpted from the recorded stories–along with brightly-colored spun aluminum hemispheres. On Thursday, June 3, students, parents, staff and community members came together to see it all come together – the traditional façade of Spencer now dotted with bulbous protrusions in primary colors and portions of text visible in the windows. Passers-by, intrigued by the School’s transformation, can now press a button and hear someone from the Austin community showing pride and respect for their community and the heroes within it.