Cuba Experience
Undergraduate students from the School of Architecture and the College of Engineering spent spring break participating in the Havana International Study Tour and Charrette: An Introduction to the History, Architecture and Urbanism of Havana.
The program was led by Associate Professors Julio Cesar Perez Hernandez and John Onyango in the School of Architecture. The experiential learning opportunity was offered to complement the newly created course: Architectural, Urban Design and Human Development in an Era of Climate Change, taught by PerezHernandez, Onyango, and Kevin Walsh, Assistant Teaching Professor and Director of Minor in Resiliency and Sustainability of Engineering Systems, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences.
Students learned about the history of Havana and its cultural heritage, collaborated with local designers, and contributed to Havana's future development as part of a team. Students tested and evaluated their ideas based on the city's current needs and the benefits to improve the quality of life for inhabitants, while considering the importance of social and cultural diversity.
The Charrette was organized by the Cuba Chapter of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU - Cuba).
Student participants from Notre Dame were Moataz Bashir, Briana Davison, Jacob Gillespie, Olga Handal, Caroline Kurtz, Henry Till, Brianna Zawacki, Victoria Zawacki, Xingjian Zhang, and Christina Zoldak.
This learning experience was funded by Notre Dame International's Insider Project, which supports faculty-led initiatives and opportunities for global education.
