The Workshop Studio 2012

Inaugurated in 2010 and now in its third run, the Workshop Studio integrates practice and teaching by infusing social research into the design studio. Students are mentored by firm leaders from Workshop Architects, a Milwaukee firm widely recognized for its expertise in buildings for higher education and theater performance. Students emulate the design strategies of Workshop Architects, which includes social research to inspire design thinking and to create experientially rich and beautifully crafted places. By observing a firm in action over the course of the semester, students gained valuable lessons in the role that a firm’s philosophy plays in not only design, but also the business aspects of practice. The Workshop Studio is a key part of the UWM/Workshop Architects partnership called Campus Community Initiative, which conducts research on the relationship between physical places and sense of community on college campuses.