From Sketch to Skyline: Why Public Displays of Architectural Education Matter
- Kari Luise
- Jun 2, 2025
- 2 min read
LinkedIn Article: June 3, 2025
As an instructor of architectural engineering, I tell my students:
“After this course, you’ll never walk through a building the same way again.”
It was more than just a playful warning. It was a promise—that once they understood the architectural design process, they would see the built environment through new eyes. Columns would become structural solutions. Skylights would tell stories of orientation and energy. And walls, shapes, and spaces would unfold as intentional expressions of form, function, and human experience.
What we learn in the classroom has the power to transform how we see the world. And when public spaces support that transformation, everyone—students, travelers, citizens—benefits.
Architecture as a Public Dialogue
That’s why educational architectural displays in public buildings are so valuable. They bring the invisible process behind our everyday environments into view.
On my recent trip to New England, I discovered an excellent example at the Tampa International Airport - where an educational display beautifully documents their architectural design process—from initial sketches to digital renderings to the final, built environment.
These installations don’t just highlight the outcome—they spotlight the thinking, iterations, and collaborative problem-solving that shape every great structure.
Why These Displays Matter
They demystify design. For the public, design can seem like magic. These displays show it’s a disciplined process—human-centered, iterative, and deeply creative.
They elevate engineering and architecture as careers. Seeing a sketch become reality may spark a student’s future, especially in a space as vibrant and accessible as an airport.
They connect people to place. When we see how much thought goes into creating spaces, we feel a deeper appreciation for the environments we inhabit—and the people who built them.
They support STEAM education. Public architectural displays blur the boundaries between art, science, math, and storytelling—showing how all disciplines converge in the built environment.
Buildings as Living Lessons
We often say, “Every building tells a story.”
But unless we share that story—through displays, drawings, and models—it remains untold.
By opening up the design process in public places, we give people a new lens through which to see the world. For students, it affirms their education. For educators, it extends the classroom. And for communities, it cultivates appreciation, pride, and inspiration.
So the next time you walk through a public building, I invite you to pause. Look for the story. Imagine the first sketch. Picture the minds that brought it to life.
You may just start seeing the world like an architect.
Comments