Corgan Brings Hip Hop Architecture Camp to Dallas
DALLAS — Global architecture and design firm Corgan is proud to partner with The Hip Hop Architecture Camp® to introduce Dallas youth from underrepresented communities to architecture, urban planning, and design using Hip Hop culture as a catalyst. During the camp, which takes place June 24- 28, students will create designs to potentially be integrated into a facility at Southern Gateway Park, a future deck park spanning I-35E near historic Oak Cliff.
Founded by renowned architect Michael Ford of BrandNu Design Studio in 2016, The Hip Hop Architecture Camp is a national program that brings students together with architects, urban planners, designers, community activists, and hip-hop artists. Students work together to create innovative designs for their local communities using various mediums, including physical models, digital models, and even a Hip Hop Architecture Camp track and music video. Through an immersive experience, students are empowered to explore placemaking and urban planning.
“With less than two percent of licensed architects in the United States being African American, we face a critical need to attract more practitioners of color,” said Michael Ford, founder of The Hip Hop Architecture Camp. “By leveraging cultural relevancy, we are catalyzing a movement to inspire the next generation. We firmly believe that real change begins with empowering our youth.”
Corgan's partnership with The Hip Hop Architecture Camp underscores the firm's commitment to advancing and broadening talent pathways and introducing the future workforce to the possibilities within architecture and design. As part of the firm’s Belong initiative, which includes student engagement, campus workshops, and mentorship programs, Corgan is actively working to foster an inclusive environment that empowers aspiring designers.
Architects and designers from Corgan are integral to camp activities by providing an introduction to Autodesk Tinkercad, working with the students on 3D model printing, giving a hands-on lesson about the implications of senses in design, hosting a tour of the firm’s office and more.
"Our partnership with The Hip Hop Architecture Camp aligns with our mission to nurture curiosity about the limitless possibilities within the architecture and design sphere," said Halima McWilliams, Human Resources Director and Associate Principal at Corgan. "We are honored to bring this innovative, forward-thinking program to students here in Dallas."
A Local Challenge, Designed to Create an Impact
During the camp, students will present their ideas for the use and interior design of a building planned for Southern Gateway Park. Dubbed “a park with a purpose,” the five-acre bridge park will reconnect historic Oak Cliff and ignite environmental, economic, and community revitalization in South Dallas, an underserved area home to 45% of Dallas’ population but representing only 10-15% of the city’s property tax revenue.
“I am so excited to be a part of this amazing program and have the opportunity to hear park design ideas from Dallas’s brightest young minds,” said April Allen, President and CEO, Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation. “We hope that Southern Gateway Park will be a gathering point for a myriad of educational programs once open, so it’s great to be starting those partnerships now.”
Tasked with the design, construction, and operations of the park, the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation’s mission is to achieve change for South Dallas communities by developing greenspace and serving as a catalyst for infrastructure reinvestment.
Founded 86 years ago in Dallas, Corgan provides full architectural and interior design services.
Known for its research and insights that informs their design, Corgan is consistently ranked in the top five architecture firms; Building Design + Construction ranks it as the #1 in data center, #2 in airport and #4 overall architecture firm. Corgan also ranks #6 in Interior Design’s giants of design for 2024.
ABOUT CORGAN
Corgan is an employee-owned architecture and design firm with 18 locations and nearly 1,000 team members globally. The firm, ranked as the #4 architecture firm by Building Design + Construction, works with clients in a variety of sectors including aviation & mobility, data centers, education, health, mixed-use, multifamily, office, and workplace. Founded in 1938, Corgan has developed a strong reputation for agility in design by anticipating marketplace changes and leading clients to thoughtful, data-driven design solutions. Its research insights and design expertise empower the organization to foresee emerging changes and develop solutions that minimize risk, create flexibility, and maximize longevity. To learn more about Corgan, visit www.corgan.com.
