Studio 231

Hey Studio 231 family ✨ For those of you who haven’t heard, Lauren, Andrew, and Sarah will no longer work for as of tomorrow, June 1. This account will still be here moving forward as an archive of the great work we’ve all done together over the last several years. One day, hopefully, teen programming will return to the Museum. Until then, here are some of our favorite pictures, including behind the scenes nonsense we thought you might enjoy 😉 Please keep designing and keep demanding justice in the built environment @ National Building Museum

We are ~thrilled~ to announce our first Studio 231 TAKEOVER! This week's theme? ✨Portfolio Development✨
You might know Karin Schierhold as a powerhouse Design Apprenticeship Program volunteer, but during the rest of the week, Karin works as an urban planner for National Capital Planning Commission. For anyone thinking of applying to design school, scholarships, jobs, or anything else requiring a portfolio, she's here to demystify portfolio development with plenty of pro tips on content, layout, resources, etc. Tune in TOMORROW, May 15 to hear from Karin throughout the day and bring plenty of questions 🤓 Is there another topic you want to know more about? DM us or comment below and we'll get to work 🙌 @ National Building Museum

Time for Design Challenge #2!
This week, let’s continue to work with the room or space in your house that you want to redesign while we’re all trapped inside. If this is your first time finding our design challenges, no worries! You don’t need to do any of them in order, or to have done our programming to design with us. Design is for everyone! 🥳
Last week, we identified the problems with our space and drew out a floor plan ~to scale~. Now, it’s time to start brainstorming! Or, as we like to call it in Studio 231...
✨concept development✨
🔢 Pick 3-4 words that you want your space to feel like after you’ve redesigned it. One of my favorite concept words is VIBRANT, but I’ll talk more about concept words later this week.
🖼 Make a collage out of images that remind you of your concept words. Y’all know we couldn’t do concept development without collaging! These are the magazines I found in my house... I’m definitely missing our Studio
231 stash.
Check back in on Wednesday to see me tackle our design challenge in real time 🤩 Don’t forget to tag , , or send us your photos so we can share your work!

✨Okay, y’all, let’s do this!✨
We’re all spending WAY too much time in our homes in these days of isolation (or as Sarah and Lauren like to think of it, ~exiling for the Good of the Realm~). How are you using your spaces differently now that you’re spending most of your time inside?


This week, pick 1️⃣ room or area in your home to redesign, and let’s put the design process we know and love to work!
📝Defining the Problem: How is you space currently used? Why do you think it needs improvement?
🔍Site Analysis: draw/paint/sketch a floor plan of the area you’re redesigning. What types of furniture, art, or other designed elements are already there? Identify some key areas that could be improved.


We’ll stop there for now, but y’all know there’s more brainstorming to come 😎 Don’t forget to tag , , or send us your photos so we can share your work!

We're going through some design withdrawal without DAP II 2020, so we figured it's time to get our creative juices flowing! A few times a week, we'll be posting prompts for you to sketch along with Sarah and the rest of the 231 squad. Be sure to share your sketches and designs with us by tagging , using the hashtag , and we'll share them on our account! Who’s ready to get started tomorrow? 🤩🤩🤩

National Building Museum

Hello friends, sharing just in case you haven’t see this on our Museum’s main page. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future.

As a public health precaution due to the , the National Building Museum remains closed for now, and all public programming has been canceled through April 30. We continue to monitor official health recommendations as they may affect a future reopening date. Museum staff in charge of those programs that required registration and payment will notify registrants of the cancelations, the rescheduling opportunities, and the credit or refund process.

Please take care of yourselves. We hope to welcome you back to the museum soon.

UPDATE: To do our part in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, all Museum programming is canceled through April 30. This means the Design Apprenticeship Program for this spring has been canceled as well. The National Building Museum is also closed for now. Please keep checking our website or National Building Museum FB page for the most up to date information. Stay well!

🗣 Calling all design professionals! 🗣
Do you want to help mentor the next generation of design professionals?
Studio 231 is currently recruiting volunteers for the Design Apprenticeship Program, our design-build program for teens in DC, and we want YOU. Experience with architecture, design, planning, engineering, or construction is encouraged. This spring, we will use the Gun Violence Memorial Project at the Museum and public art as inspiration to explore how design and art are used to create commemorative spaces and spaces for healing around DC.
Find our volunteer application + more info about volunteering at https://www.nbm.org/teen-programs-volunteer/. Applications are due Wednesday, March 4, and the program runs on Saturdays from March 21 to May 30 (no program on April 11 or May 23). Tell your friends! Come hang out with us!

ATTN: Teen Programs alumni currently studying architecture. Check out this scholarship opportunity!

Diversity Advancement Scholarship - Architects Foundation The Diversity Advancement Scholarship helps minority students pursue a successful career in architecture. Up to $20,000 available. Apply today.

Think The Big Build is just for little kids? Think again! If you're in middle or high school, there's lots for you to do this Saturday:

Check out the new Tech Lab! Experience the latest in architecture, design, and construction technology with Procore Technologies, Federal Emergency Management Agency, NAWIC National - U.S.A. DC Chapter, DPR Construction, and SmithGroup.

Arts and crafts more your thing? Make Public Art with Words Beats & Life (2-5 pm) or Whimsical Wind Chimes with Community Forklift - Nonprofit Reuse Center For Home Improvement.

Learn essential DIY skills like how to hammer nails, lay brick, spackle a wall, or woodworking.

Interested in a career in the built environment? Meet professionals from construction, urban planning, engineering, architecture, project management, general contracting, materials management, and more!

Our very own Erica R. is a featured artist in the Artlab: The Salon project 🎉🎉🎉 After a fun-filled day at The Big Build this Saturday, head over to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden to check out Erica's and these other amazing young people's work!

Our friends at Project for Public Spaces wrote about our latest Investigating Where We Live program that invited teens to explore and reimagine outdoor public spaces.

"When I was 16, I fell in love with public space. From the courtyard of my high school to the local park in my distant hometown to the global public space that is Times Square. What makes them work?"

Project for Public Spaces looks at youth placemaking in latest Investigating Where We Live exhibition
https://www.pps.org/article/the-movement-for-youth-led-placemaking-is-growing-up