Auburn in Birmingham Welcomes Mountain Brook High School Students

A strong recruiting experience is critical in helping high school students make informed decisions about their future academic careers.

Katherine Buck Chastain ’12 ’16, Recruitment and Scholarships Manager in Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC), is passionate about bringing CADC’s rich disciplines to life. Through interactive workshops and hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional information sessions, she provides prospective students with a unique glimpse into an Auburn student’s creative experience. By engaging with students interested in architecture and design, Chastain offers them a firsthand look at what it’s like to study at CADC.

The aim of these workshops is clear: to offer high school students who are already enrolled in classes connected to architecture or design a deeper understanding of these fields.

“Our workshops always involve a deliverable of some kind as well as an oral presentation or defense,” Chastain explains. This approach mirrors the project-based studio curriculum CADC students follow, helping high school students get a true taste of what it would be like to major in a design-related field.

Chastain believes the hands-on nature of these workshops creates a lasting impact that goes beyond what students can gain from websites or campus tours. For high school students navigating the overwhelming task of choosing colleges and career paths, engaging directly with the design process provides invaluable clarity about whether a career in architecture or design is right for them. The workshops also allows students to see real connections between their high school work and potential careers.

“We have found that our workshops allow high school students to immerse themselves in our academic programs in ways that an information session or a tour of a building do not allow. Hands-on experiences often leave a more lasting impression and allow for true learning to occur,” she explains.

Chastain works closely with teachers and administrators to make these connections visible to students, bridging the gap between their high school coursework and the broader world of architecture and design. This collaboration between high school teachers and CADC highlights the importance of mirroring the design processes and academic experience in these workshops, ensuring that students leave with a clear understanding of what it takes to succeed in these fields.

Student Project

This month, students from Mountain Brook High School (MBHS) joined Chastain at the Auburn in Birmingham building. During the landscape architecture workshop in the Urban Studio, the students were divided into teams of two and tasked with designing an outside space in the greater Birmingham area. Similar to what they might experience in an Auburn Landscape Architecture studio, the teams then had to present their ideas for feedback.

After presentations and a short lunch break, MBHS students were able to spend time with Urban Studio Director Alex Krumdieck ’86 and both the third- and fifth-year students in Studio that afternoon. This gave the high schoolers an opportunity to see what the student experience is like at the Studio.

“This new space gives us the opportunity to interact more with the Birmingham area as well as the northern half of the state,” Krumdieck explained. “Auburn and the Urban Studio can better interact with our high schools now that we have an option to bring them to this space instead of having to make the long drive to Auburn during a school day.”

Showcasing Auburn’s Architecture Program

These workshops are just one example of the ways Auburn University is preparing the next generation of architects and designers. By providing students with real-world experiences, Auburn is not only helping them make informed decisions about their future careers but also giving them a glimpse into the creative, project-based work that defines the architecture and design fields.

The Auburn in Birmingham building also opens up options for high school teachers in the northern half of the state to easily add a workshop at Urban Studio to their curriculum. Chastain is hopeful that these workshops will continue to grow and expand. Currently, she engages with 10–15 high school groups a year, offering students the chance to experience Auburn’s academic programs up close. She is particularly excited about the potential for more high schools to have the opportunity to experience CADC workshops.

“I hope to host even more groups here in the future,” she says. “This new facility provides a more accessible location for many high schools, allowing even more students to participate in these immersive workshops.”

For high school teachers and administrators interested in adding workshops at Urban Studio to their curriculum, Chastain and the CADC are here to help. These programs provide a unique opportunity for students to engage deeply with the design process and explore potential career paths in a supportive, academic environment. To learn more about how you can bring a CADC workshop to your school, reach out to the CADC Recruitment Office at aucadc@auburn.edu today and take the first step in inspiring the next generation of creative professionals.

Want to learn more about the Urban Studio experience?