By: Anna Conner and Lila Burke
“A design isn’t finished until someone is using it.”
This quote by Brenda Laurel, reminds us that architecture is not just about sketches, blueprints, or even construction—it’s about human experience. In the Architecture focus area, led by Zach Standley, scholars explore, experiment, and think critically about how our generation is shaping the world around us through design and structure.
One of the first concepts introduced in the Architecture focus area was the “panopticon,” a design for institutional buildings that offers a powerful lesson in how architecture can influence behavior. The panopticon was originally proposed by philosopher Jeremy Bentham in the 18th century as a circular prison with a central watchtower. From that tower, a single guard could observe all inmates without them knowing whether they were being watched at any given moment. This created a sense of constant surveillance that encouraged self-regulation, making the design both fascinating and unsettling.
To deepen their understanding, the Architecture scholars teamed up with students from the Philosophy focus area to build a physical model of a panopticon. This collaboration allowed the Architecture students to apply their design skills while the Philosophy students explored the ethical and societal implications of surveillance and control. Together, they constructed a scale model that not only demonstrated the spatial layout but also sparked rich discussions about privacy, power, and human behavior. This interdisciplinary project highlighted how architectural design and philosophical inquiry can combine to reveal the profound impact built environments have on society.
Moving forward, the students moved from concept to creation by designing and building miniature model houses. These aren’t your average cardboard cutouts—they’re scaled architectural models, complete with floor plans, elevations, and interior layouts that reflect real design principles. Scholars were given creative freedom to design their houses in their own architectural interest based on the teachings from Zach.
Using foam board, X-Acto knives, and measured sketches, the students translate their ideas into tangible form. One scholar in the focus area, Marlon, explained that his favorite aspect was the design process and drawing out the plan. Whereas, according to Gavin, another one of the many scholars in the Architecture focus area, his favorite part was the hands-on activity of building the model itself rather than the technicalities of designing the structures.
The Architecture focus area at GSP is giving students the tools not just to design buildings—but to design better futures. Because, as they’re discovering, a design truly isn’t finished until someone is living in it, walking through it, and calling it home.