VT Architecture Camp – Part 1: Stepping Into Something New (Copy)
I’ve always been into architecture. I love how buildings come together, how they look, how they feel, and how people move through them. So when I saw the chance to go to an architecture camp at Virginia Tech, I was all in. I’d always wanted to visit the campus anyway, and this just felt like the perfect opportunity.
Walking in on the first day, I was definitely nervous. I didn’t know anyone, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But the nerves didn’t last long. As soon as we got to Cowgill Hall and started sketching, I felt excited again. Everyone was nice, the space was open and bright, and it just had this creative vibe that made you want to get to work.
Our days were pretty packed but in the best way. We’d wake up and have breakfast around 8, then head straight to the studio by 9. We’d sketch different objects in our notebooks or start working on small pavilion models made out of cardboard, paper, and wooden sticks. At 12, we’d break for lunch, and then at 1, we’d head to a lecture, usually short and actually really interesting. After that, we were back in the studio working until 5. Then dinner was from 5 to 6, and after that we had free time. We weren’t allowed off campus, but we could hang out with friends or chill until we had to be in our dorms by 10.
One of the coolest projects we did was based on a random object we were given. We had to design a pavilion inspired by it, and it really made me think differently about how design can come from anywhere. Later in the week, we got put into groups and combined our ideas to make a shared pavilion. That part was probably my favorite — being in the studio with my group, figuring out how our designs could come together into something that actually worked.
One day, they gave us a ten-minute challenge where we had to build the tallest structure we could using just paper and paper clips. Total chaos, but it was so much fun. Everyone was laughing and scrambling to build something that wouldn’t collapse. It sounds small, but that challenge brought out everyone’s creativity and made us all feel more connected.
By the end of the first few days, I realized this camp wasn’t just about making things — it was about learning how to think like a designer. I started noticing how important small decisions were, and how even basic materials could turn into something meaningful. It was only the beginning, but I already felt like I belonged there.
