1

Mentorship Programs

B E N G A G E D::C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H

2

1

CONTENTS:

1. Past and Present Mentors

2. SPARK Mentorship Program

3. High School Mentorship: Becoming a Problem Solver

2

Past and Present Mentors

Ed Antolick May + June

Josh Abbell May + June

Peter Elsbeck May + June

HIGH SCHOOLMENTORSHIP

2015-2016

Stacey Lindbloom September

Fränc Luu October

Ryan Debski November

Kate Lyons December

Christina Dreibholz January

Jake Shoemaker January

Christine Larsen February

Katie Yohe February

Geoff Loo March

Olivia Haley-Schmitt April

Ali DeSantis April

Fon Wang May + June

Sara Ridenour May + June

Roberto Carretero May + June

3

SPARKFALL 2014

SPARKSPRING

2015

SPARKFALL 2015

Jake Shoemaker

Charlotte DiGiorgio

Katie Seftas

Katie Lyons

Kamille Ditcher

Emily Perotta

Anthony Prousi

Jake Shoemaker

Charlotte DiGiorgio

Fränc Luu

Stacey Lindbloom

Cory Klawunn

Gurveer Bhuta

David Lee

SPARKSPRING

2016

Ryan Debski

Stacey Lindbloom

Margaret Nersten

Rayma Garcia

Lindsay Walker

Fränc Luu

SPARKFALL 2016

Mike Choi

Charlotte DiGiorgio

Alex Holstein

Jennie Huh

Stacey Lindbloom

Fränc Luu

Margaret Nersten

Brian Nunziato

Anthony Scaccia

Aerin Son

4

5

SPARK Mentorship Program

Spark, a national nonprofit with offices in the

San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago and

Philadelphia, offers a unique program that re-engages

middle school students in their education through

hands-on apprenticeships and a Leadership Curriculum.

Spark partners with schools and workplaces to match

underserved 7th and 8th graders with mentors working

in career fields aligned with the students’ strengths and

interests. Spark’s parallel in-school curriculum reinforces

the link between classrooms and careers while helping

students build skills necessary for success in high school

and beyond. After creating and supporting thousands of

apprenticeships since 2004, the results are clear: Spark

students consistently gain confidence, key skills, and

positive relationships, and have a graduation rate

above the national average.

As young teens transition to young adults, it is the best

time to show them what’s possible. It’s also a time when

7th, 8th and 9th grade students from underserved

communities risk academic disengagement.

Spark Philadelphia has created nearly 400 transformative

apprenticeships since launching in 2013 as Spark’s first

east coast site. Spark currently partners with five schools

in North and West Philadelphia and 20+ company partners.

With its innovative Spark Lab workplace program

and support from local companies, organizations and

institutions, Spark Philadelphia prepares students for

success in high school and reduces the City’s dropout rate.

Spark Mentoring has two large group activity sessions

in the fall and meets for eight weeks in the spring. The

sessions are held during the workday and run for two

hours. Spark provides training and resources to mentors

to help them make the most out of their experience,

including activity guides and project examples.

6

MATCH NIGHTSpark facilitates introductions, ice-breaker activities, and

getting off to a strong start for each mentor-student match,

with the cohort as a whole.

WEEK 1Skill of the Week - Networking: Creating relationships to

open up future opportunities.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Mentors get to know

their students and their shared interests.

WEEK 2Skill of the Week - Goal Setting: Identifying something

each mentor wants to accomplish and establishing a way

to get there.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Mentors and

mentees use the Spark Project Planner to create and

submit their plans.

WEEK 3 Skill of the Week - Problem Solving: The process of finding

solutions to difficult issues.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Collecting information

and identifying key ideas to demonstrate.

Mentorship: Week by Week Guide

7

WEEK 4Skill of the Week - Creativity: The use of the imagination

or original ideas, which can be practiced and developed.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Mentors focus on

what form their final project should take.

WEEK 5Skill of the Week - Time Management: The ability to

use time effectively through reflection and planning.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Creating a list of

materials needed for projects.

WEEK 6Skill of the Week - Teamwork: The combined actions of a

group of people.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Putting together rough

drafts of the projects.

WEEK 7Skill of the Week - Mapping Your Future: Planning for

academic and career achievement.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Finalizing projects

and preparing it for presentation.

Mentorship: Week by Week Guide

8

WEEK 8Skill of the Week - Public Speaking: The act of speaking to

an audience effectively.

Career Discovery Project Milestone: Review the

presentation guide, write out talking points, and practice.

DISCOVERY NIGHTSpark’s culminating project fair celebrates student

impact; with their mentor’s support, each student

displays their Discovery Project and shares their

learning with the community.

Mentorship: Week by Week Guide

9

10

11

High School Mentorship: Becoming a Problem Solver

Under the leadership of Associate Principal Sara Ridenour,

Ballinger embarked on a semiformal mentorship program,

beginning with one student, in September 2015. The

weekly one-on-one mentorship was designed to teach

problem-solving skills and expose high school students

to the field of architecture and design.

Donovan DeVore and Hannah Layton, both high school

juniors, participated in weekly 2-hour sessions at Ballinger.

The program was divided into months, with one mentor

or group of mentors per month. Ballinger staff members

from a variety of positions volunteered to participate.

12

“ This first month was about making Donovan feel more

comfortable with this new environment and preparing him

for the mentorship to come in the following months. We

conducted a design charrette that used his neighborhood

as a site in order to bring the notion of problem solving to

a more familiar context and reveal the sense of agency

that design can inspire. Donovan chose a vacant lot near

his home and decided to intervene with some type of

playful program, which has the potential to be developed

through future mentorships.

”

WEEK 1INTRO TO BALLINGER, MODEL MAKING ASSISTANCE

Tour of the office and introductions to office staff, share

personal interests in architecture.

Assistance with CHOP Donor Model.

WEEK 2DRAWING TECHNIQUES/HAND SKETCHING Review of drawing techniques: shading, composition,

speed vs. detail. Practice drawing cityscape views from

the office and training the eye for observation.

WEEK 3WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION An overview of Architecture through the ages, typologies,

movements and factors that are involved in the making of

buildings such as the importance of understanding context,

human behavior, material properties, etc.

WEEK 4DESIGN CHARRETTE Introduction to a Design Charrette – choosing a site, a

condition or design problem and providing design solutions

based on contextual understanding of the site.

Introduction to Architecture Stacey Lindbloom - September 2015

13

“ I focused my attention on introducing computer programs:

AutoCAD, SketchUp, Illustrator, and Photoshop. We went

through the basic fundamental of each program throughout

the course of the month, giving a better sense of what’s

possible through technology. Donavan was able to learn the

importance of each program and understood the advantages,

as well as disadvantages. He learned how to utilize each

program to convey certain ideas, and he developed the

ability to interchange between the programs.

”

WEEK 1COMPUTER DRAFTING

Introduction to AutoCAD. Overview of layers, line weight,

properties, model space vs. paper space, keyboard shortcuts.

Hands-on exercise: Develop a plan of a street in different

layers: curbs, sidewalks, green space, building footprints.

WEEK 23D MODELING

Overview and advantages of 3D modelling in SketchUp.

Discussion of visualizing design three-dimensionally

and understanding scale and proportions in relation to

context. Hands-on exercise: Import AutoCAD plans and

create 3D model of street using SketchUp.

WEEK 3DIAGRAMS Overview of Adobe Illustrator and its ability elaborate

on design decisions. Hands-on exercise: create diagrams

in Illustrator including sun study, prevailing wind,

pedestrian access, nodes, boundaries and parti.

WEEK 43D RENDERING

Overview of Adobe Photoshop and how it’s used

to represent design intent. Discussion of difference

between realistic and conceptual images. Review of

Photoshop concepts: pixels, layers, overlays, filters.

Hands-on exercise: Create conceptual rendering

that illustrates design intent.

Introduction to Technology Frank Luu - October 2015

14

“During my time with Donovan, we explored how abstract

concepts can be expressed in built form. To represent

these ideas, we primarily focused on analog methods of

working to explore ideas quickly and to develop a more

intimate understanding of scale and form. Through

this four week masterclass, Donovan learned that the

foundation of architecture is a clear idea.

”

WEEK 1LANDSCAPE AS IDEA

Donovan was presented with a series of evocative

satellite images of the Earth whose “underlying “ideas”

(such as erosion, or rupture) were transformed into a

4”x4” clay cube.

WEEK 2CARVING THE CUBE

We continued our exploration of concepts by subtracting

or adding to the cube as much as possible without losing

the identity of the original cube.

WEEK 3DRAWING TO FIND OUT We sketched our cubes as a way of understanding the

form and spatial conditions we created by carving the

cube. Homework: Draft the Carved Cube’s elevations.

WEEK 4ANALOG TO DIGITAL

The only digital session we had, Donovan imported

the drafted CAD plans I had him do for homework into

Sketchup and made a digital version of his cube that

could be used for further exploration.

Idea, Form, and Thinking with Your Hands Ryan Debski - November 2015

15

“The rewarding experience of working with Donovan was

a reminder of the basic foundation of our work. The

challenge of translating programming and planning into

simple, straight-forward concept afforded both of us a

fresh sense of the design process.

”

WEEK 1INTRODUCTION TO SCALE, PROGRAMMING AND SPACE PLANNING

Explanation of scale and introduction to programming and

space planning. Hands-on exercises: draw existing house

to scale on graph paper and create adjacency matrix.

WEEK 2SPACE PLANNING IN ACTION

To better understand programming and space planning,

observe existing site and programmed space. Hands-on

exercise: observe Passero’s Coffee Shop, build bubble

diagram, explore alternate fit-outs and alternate sites,

create rough block and stack of spaces.

WEEK 3PROGRAMMING TO FIT-OUT Understand how programming drives fit-out. Hands-on

exercise: Program dream home and develop adjacency matrix.

WEEK 4ILLUSTRATING PROGRAM

Review programming, adjacencies, bubble diagrams.

Hands-on exercise: create bubble diagrams and block

and stack for dream home.

Programming Kate Lyons - December 2015

16

“ Donovan and Hannah’s vitality and eagerness to learn

about design and architecture was particularly refreshing.

By introducing them to some of the same early design

exercises that I was exposed to, this mentorship proved to

be reciprocal; working with them reminded me of my early

years in architecture, and how exciting design truly is.

”- Jake Shoemaker

WEEK 1ARCHITECTURE IN THE REAL WORLD

Gain a better understanding of what it means to be an

architect by attending a client meeting, followed by a macro

look at architecture by viewing Google maps of world cities

and spotting the differences.

WEEK 2BECOMING AN ARCHITECT

Presentation illustrating Eric Swanson’s path to becoming

an architect, review of architecture portfolios and overview

of construction administration process. Hands-on exercise:

basics of modeling in SketchUp.

WEEK 3PRACTICING ARCHITECTURE Introduction to reading plans, explanation of the roles

of mechanical and electrical engineers, review of the

sketching fundamentals. Hands-on exercise: Sketch

hands and still life of fruit.

WEEK 4HAND DRAWING

Exploration of hand drawing and blind contour drawing.

Tutorial on pen weights. Contour drawing integrating

pen weights. Tutorial on scale and typical architectural

drawings – plan, section, elevation, axonometric,

perspective. Hands-on exercise: practice typical

architectural drawings.

Architecture - Micro to Macro Christina Dreibholz + Jake Shoemaker - January 2016

17

WEEK 1INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING Review of Ballinger’s digital presence and tools, including

Ballinger website, image management tool (OpenAsset),

intranet (B:hive) and social media accounts: LinkedIn,

Twitter, Instagram. Solicit feedback on current trends.

Introduction to Ballinger’s print collateral, including brand

standards, proposals, brochures, master plans and

programming reports.

WEEK 2INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

Review useful Photoshop tools and concepts, including

resolution, color space, layers and masks. Hands-on

exercise: “cut out” people from digital photo using

pen tool and add them to 3D rendering. Add shadows

and reflections.

WEEK 3EXPLORING MOOD BOARDS Watch video tutorial about mood boards on Lynda.com.

Hands-on exercise: cut out images and textures from

magazines and specialty paper to create a mood board for

a fictional student center.

WEEK 4INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE INDESIGN

Introduction to useful InDesign tools. Hands-on exercise: Scan

mood boards, manipulate scan using filters in Photoshop,

and create layout in InDesign that integrates type.

“ The tools and strategies we use for marketing can be

applied to anything from homework assignments, to

finding a job, to making a Mother’s Day card. Our goal,

in part, was to expose Hannah and Donovan to the wide

range of communications that originate here, and the

importance we place on making them visually appealing,

concise, and consistent.

” - Christine Larsen

Visit the Tech Center

Marketing Christine Larsen, Katie Yohe, Rob Hassler + Susan Johnson - February 2016

18

“It was rewarding to watch Hannah and Donovan

explore and gain confidence with new tools. They

had great curiosity and imagination.

”WEEK 1INTRODUCTION TO 3DSMAX

Worked with downloaded models from Sketchup

Warehouse and the model library to compose scenes.

WEEK 2MAX

Worked in Max to create materials, colors textures

and lighting.

WEEK 3PHOTOSHOP Photoshoped people into Ballinger renderings. Googled

people and cut them out, used effects to make them

match and added shadows.

WEEK 4DIGITAL MODELING IN 3DSMAX

Used polygon tools and other modifiers to create

organic soft bodies and irrational forms.

3D Max Geoff Loo - March 2016

19

“ Donovan created a Sci-Fi Publishing Company; he used a

book he was currently reading for color palette and concept

inspiration. Hannah created a movie production company

based on her love of film.

Overall, we saw their interest in Interior Design increase and

their confidence grow. They discovered how texture, pattern,

and color can transform a space and give a personality

that they chose. Both seemed very pleased with their final

renderings showing the transformation of samples in the

library to a 3D representation of the space.

”

WEEK 1INTRODUCTION TO INTERIOR DESIGN

Overview of interior design, tour of Material Library,

day-to-day experiences of an interior designer, introduction

to current interior design projects.

WEEK 2MATERIALS

Hands-on exercise: using a given axon drawing and the

Material Library: Invent a commercial client and design

concept, select appropriate finishes for aesthetic and

durability purposes from the materials library and make a

finish tray.

WEEK 3 + 4RENDERING Hands on-exercise: using Photoshop, an axon and

previously selected finishes: apply finishes to axon

drawing, use Photoshop to add depth, pattern, and

design intent.

Interior Design Olivia Haley-Schmitt + Ali DeSantis - April 2016

20

“ Our walk and visit to the Powel House was an opportunity

for the students to discover something new in their city.

The visit introduced them to another career in the field of

preservation, and highlighted the hard work that goes into

maintaining a landmark.

” - Fon Wang

“ My idea was to show, in a funny way, development of a

project and also to talk about client-side influences that

are injected into the process and often require a pivot to

another way of thinking. This is different from a school

or a self-initiated project where you can do just about

anything you want and no one will tell you otherwise.

”- Peter Elsbeck

“ I presented the Boeing H47 Focused Factory project

as an example of our corporate portfolio. Through the

presentation of this project, I sought to show how, as

design professionals, we could work collaboratively

with our corporate clients to fundamentally transform

their work environment --in this case by focusing the

engineering and office spaces around the assembly of

the product: the H47 Chinook Helicopter.

”- Josh Abbell

WEEK 1HEALTHCARE PROJECTS

Overview of current healthcare projects, including New

York-Presbyterian and NYU Langone Medical Center.

WEEK 2WALKING TOUR

Tour in Olde City highlighting some of the first examples

of civic architecture in Philadelphia and the United States.

WEEK 3HISTORIC PRESERVATION Overview of historic preservation in the office. Behind

the scenes private tour of the Powel House. Meeting with

the Executive Director of Philadelphia Landmarks House

Museum and caretakers of the historic house. Exposure

to different jobs in preservation.

WEEK 4CORPORATE/ACADEMIC PROJECTS

Presentation of four projects of corporate and academic

nature given by senior designers and project architects.

Exposure to the process of designing, managing and

building a project and all of the players involved.

Project Types Fon Wang, Sara Ridenour, Roberto Carretero, Peter Elsbeck, Josh Abbell + Ed Antolick - May + June 2016

21