Curriculum
2022-2023 Curriculum
Fall Schedule
Fall 2022 Schedule
spring Schedule
Resources
2022-2023 Design Challenges
ACE Houston Student Handbook
ACE National/CIRT Design and Construction Competition
Software Links
Miro: Visual collaboration platform that enables teams to collaborate on projects virtually. Click the logo to create a free account.
Sketch-Up: 3-D design software with a simple, yet robust toolset that empowers designers to create models. Click the logo to use their free web-based version.
Autodesk: Broad range of BIM software that supports the AEC industry, including AutoCad and Revit. Click the logo to apply for a free student account.
Google Earth: Explore the world from above with satellite imagery, 3D terrain, and 3D buildings in hundreds of cities around the world. Click the logo above to go to their site.
Homestyler: Online interior design platform that allows designers to create models and 3-D renderings of interior designs. Click the logo above to use their free version.
fALL sEMESTER 2022
wEEK 1, oCTOBER 18-19: iNTRODUCTION TO ace & RFPs
What we'll cover this week:
What is ACE?
Background of ACE Houston
Expectations and Schedule of Program
2022-2023 Curriculum
Meet your mentors
What is an RFP?
How do design and construction projects get started?
What projects will we be working on this year?
wEEK 2, October 25-26: Introduction to Architecture
What we'll cover this week:
What is Programming?
What is a Bubble Diagram?
What are some space planning techniques?
What are the first steps an architect takes when they start a new project?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
Meredith Watassek
Texas Education Leader from Stantec
as she discusses programming, space planning, and bubble diagramming.
wEEK 3, November 1-2: Introduction to Engineering
What we'll cover this week:
What types of engineering disciplines are required in the AEC industry?
How do engineers collaborate with different disciplines, as well as architects?
How does engineering vary from new projects to renovation type work?
What challenges do different types of engineers work through on a project?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
Britney Weidert, P.E.
Structural Team Lead from Stantec
as she discusses the various types of engineering disciplines that work together in the building and design industry.
wEEK 4, November 8-9: Introduction to construction
What we'll cover this week:
What does a general contractor do?
How does a contractor work with architects and engineers?
How does a contractor pick which projects to work on?
How do you estimate the cost of a construction project?
How do you build a zoo exhibit?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
Angela Cotie
Vice President, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors
as she talks about a day in the life of a contractor, how to estimate costs on a project, and her experience working on zoo-related projects.
November 12: Site Visit at Houston Zoo
On Saturday, November 12th, 85 students and 28 mentors visited the Houston Zoo for a site visit to do research for our projects this year. The groups visited each of the three project site options to take pictures, observe existing conditions, and try to understand each project within the overall context of the Zoo. We were also grateful to receive a guided tour through the Zoo's newest exhibit, the award-winning Pantanal by Mark Hoffman, Director of Design & Engineering. There we learned about how zoos choose animals and exhibits to feature, heard about how to choose sustainable materials, experienced the many different site lines that make a project great for guests to view, and caught a terrifying, but awe-inspiring, glimpse of Tesoro, their fearsome jaguar.
Huge thank you to the Houston Zoo for making it possible for our students to get to experience the wild right here in Houston - we can't wait to show you the designs we come up with this year!
wEEK 5, November 15-16: Introduction to Zoo Design
This week, Mark Hoffman, Director of Design & Engineering at the Houston Zoo, our client, joined us to talk about why zoos exist and principles of zoo design. He also shared examples from recent projects at the Zoo and gave us advice for our projects this year. He spoke on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening, so all of our students were able to ask questions. The presentation portion of both video recordings below are similar, but the question and answer portion at the end varied. Feel free to enjoy both!
What we'll cover this week:
Why do zoos exist?
What are the design priorities of the Houston Zoo?
What stakeholders do zoo designers create exhibits for?
What are some basic principles to keep in mind when designing a zoo?
What case studies can we look to for inspiration in design zoo exhibits?
What are special construction-related constraints that zoos must consider?
Presentation Slides (click image Below)
1 - Tuesday, November 15th - Virtual, Galena Park, Westside
2 - Wednesday, November 16th - Downtown, Galleria, Northwest
wEEK 6, November 29-30: Project Development
What we'll cover this week:
Which project are you most interested in working on this year?
What are the fall and spring deliverables for the project?
What case studies can we look to for inspiration for our projects?
wEEK 7, December 6-7: Project QUalification Presentations
What we'll cover this week:
What is a Request for Qualifications, and how is it different from an RFP?
What are the deliverables for the projects this year?
Which project are you looking forward to working on for the Houston Zoo this year?
What area of the AEC industry are you most interested in pursuing?
Students will share their fall deliverable with the rest of the group
Additionally, our Downtown Team had a special guest speaker to talk about the architectural design of other animal facilities, see the recording to the right!
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
LeA Anne Leatherwood
Associate Principal, Perkins + Will
as she talks about designing the Chimp Haven facility in Keithville, LA and the Education Center & Vet Hospital at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, TX.
wEEK 8, December 13-14: Professional Office Visits
This week our students will be visiting professional offices of our mentors, volunteers, and sponsors, so they can see what might be their future workplaces. Here at ACE Houston, we think that the best way for young people to decide on a future career is to have a glimpse into where they might actually be working, as well as meet the people they might work with someday. Thanks to DPR Construction, Walter P Moore, Gensler, and Polk Mechanical for letting our students take a tour of your offices!
Spring sEMESTER 2023: Coming soon!
wEEK 9, January 17-18: Landscape architecture
What we'll cover this week:
What is landscape architecture and how does it apply to your RFP?
What are the different types of features that landscape architects design on projects?
How do landscape architects communicate their designs, and what other disciplines do they most commonly collaborate with?
How do landscape architects choose plants to use on their projects?
How can landscape architecture design be done sustainably?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speakers,
Elizabeth Gilbert & Sarah Larkin
Managing Principal Landscape Designer
Clark Condon Clark Condon
as they discuss their paths to becoming practicing landscape architects, some of the beginning principles they consider when starting a concept design, and several examples of their fantastic work.
wEEK 10, January 24-25: Scheduling, Assembly, & Site Logistics
What we'll cover this week:
What are the steps for building a construction project, and what comes first?
How do you plan and operate a safe and efficient construction site?
How tools do builders use to effectively communicate construction schedules to all parties?
What might negatively impact a construction schedule, and what are some tools for working around that?
How can builders utilize phasing to complete projects on time and on budget?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speakers,
Tom Arrigo & Chris Wise
Senior Superintendent Project Superintendent
DPR Construction DPR Construction
who joined us to help our students learn the all about how to estimate construction schedules, plan safe and efficient site plans, and think through factors that may impact the assembly and sequencing of a project.
wEEK 11, January 31-February 1: Building Forms + Structural& MEP Systems
What we'll cover this week:
How does an architect choose the shape of a building?
What impacts the number, size, and types of windows an architect decides to implement on a project?
What are the main structural building materials?
How do you draw a preliminary structural framing plan, and what are some rules of thumb?
How does an HVAC system work?
How does an architect plan for MEP systems in the early phases of design?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
Gregory Brooks
Professor of Practice | UT-Austin
Design Partner | BMH Studio
to hear him discuss preliminary principles of building forms, structural engineering systems, a MEP systems, as well as some of the sustainability implications of specific design decisions. Sketch along with him and our Virtual team!
wEEK 12, February 7-8: Coming soon!
What we'll cover this week:
What does the design process look like for an architect or an interior designer?
What are the main priorities of an architect when they start a new project?
What are the main types of software that an architect uses in their day-to-day?
What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?
How do an architect and interior designer work together?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speakers,
Jazmin Mendez & Paulina Gallegos
Design Architect Interior Design Coordinator
Stantec Stantec
who joined us to discuss principles of architectural and interior design from concept through construction of a project.
wEEK 13, February 21-22: E-Week + MEP Engineering
What we'll cover this week:
What is E-Week?
What does a day in the life of an MEP engineer look like?
What are the design priorities of an MEP engineer?
How do MEP engineers coordinate with other consultants?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
Kevin Schmidt
Vice President | Electrical Engineering Director
Collaborative Engineering Group
who joined us to discuss principles of MEP design, his career path, and his work on projects with the Houston Zoo.
wEEK 14, February 28-March 1: Skilled trades
What we'll cover this week:
What are the different skilled trades needed to build something in the AEC industry?
What different kinds of career opportunities are there working with a subcontractor or in a skilled trade?
How do subcontractors collaborate to make sure a project is completed on time and on budget?
How does technology evolve to help subcontractors complete projects efficiently?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speakers,
Ernesto Puente PIEPER HOUSTON ELECTRIC
Thomas Miller POLK MECHANICAL
Paul Trujillo, Jr. MARK BROTHERS
Jason Ashcraft ASHTON SAWING & DRILLING
who joined our Virtual team to discuss their career paths and a day-in-the-life in their positions in various subcontracting roles.
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
Xzavia Killikelly
Audio Visual Design Consultant | CTI
who joined our Downtown team to discuss his career path working in audio visual equipment design and subcontracting.
wEEK 15, March 7-8: Visualization
What we'll cover this week:
How do designers communicate their designs to clients?
What is the difference between a 3-D model and a rendering?
What different types of software are available for create 3-D models and renderings?
What are the beginning tools for modeling a project in SketchUp?
Click the link above for the recording of guest speaker,
Kyle Meeks
Architectural Designer | Stantec
who joined our Virtual team to discuss visualization methods and give a SketchUp modeling tutorial.
wEEK 16, March 21-22: Coming soon!
archives
Past Projects
2021-2022: Pavilion Design Challenge
2020-2021: Treehouse Design Challenge