Gifted Students Host Architectural Showcase

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — Dozens of guests flocked to see designs for a new house in an architectural showcase in Vestavia Hills this week. But what sets this display apart from other such displays is that this presentation came from 5th grade students at Dolly Ridge Elementary.

Students in Rachel Franklin’s 5th grade GRC class were tasked with designing a complete home for a family of five, including a floor plan, safety features, a rendering in TinkerCAD (a 3D design program), and a 3D printed model.

Each group was given a different city around the world in which to design and build. "The culture, family structure, climate, and geography all had to be considered in everything from building materials to roof pitch," Franklin said. "Groups created an online book using Book Creator chronicling the design process from first sketches to final 3D print."

The showcase drew parents, grandparents, friends, VHCS board employees, and a prominent local architect, Shawn Calma of Lathan and Associates, who came to critique their designs.