Club Spotlight: Architecture Club

By CAROL LEE, LYDIA KUHNHERT, and ANGELA HE

Each Sunday, aspiring architects meet in the EPAC basement for an hour of discussion, collaboration, and building. Architecture Club is a lively group dedicated to pursuing an architectural education through entertaining, inclusive activity.

At Architecture Club, there is no standard meeting format. Instead, club members participate in new and engaging activities every week, from building gingerbread house replicas of the library to touring secret rooms in the athletic complex. 

Senior Erin Chen, a co-head of the club, shared the club’s main objective: “The overall goal for the club is to bring architecture into the students’ lives. I think architecture is something that you can participate in and love no matter what you do because it’s so interdisciplinary. It’s all around us in all of our buildings, especially at our school.” 

Frequently, Architecture Club will be given special permission by the Academy to tour our current build sites. Co-head Grant Leopard elaborated, saying, “We have so many examples of great architecture. Before the new Dining Hall was open, we got to see it a couple of times, and the Davis Library’s getting worked on, so we will visit that as well.” 

Many Exonians may be aware of the architectural importance of the Class of 1945 Library, but few may be as passionate as the members of this club. “I researched the library for my 333 paper,” said Leopold. “It’s always been a building that I’ve been curious about, and it is arguably one of the most famous buildings by Louis Kahn, one of the most famous architects. So just to have that, it’s a unique example that not a whole lot of high schools get, and frankly, most colleges don’t have a building that carries kind of the same magnitude in the architecture world as the library.”

Chen added, “My favorite thing about the club is getting to work hands-on and building incredible designs. I remember just recently, we made gingerbread houses for the holiday season, and that was phenomenal.” The gingerbread houses created by the club were displayed on the ground floor of the library throughout December, adding holiday cheer to a valued study space.

Moreover, the club’s unique approach to learning has been much appreciated by the members of the club. Lower Sophia Xue shared her favorite aspect of the club, “I like that it’s a very chill environment, and we get to explore what we want within architecture.” For Xue, one of the most memorable moments was a trip to Boston during Climate Action Day last spring. “We visited architecture firms, and it was really eye-opening for me. I’ve always wanted to experience that,” she said

Leopold emphasized how the club balances hands-on activities with educational opportunities. At the end of each year, we work on foam core models to explore design ideas,” he said. “We also get to visit interesting spaces on campus, like the old pool from the 1930s. Most students don’t even know it’s there, but we got to see it and propose ideas for its use.”

Chen commented on the club’s adaptability, saying “We focus on different aspects of architecture every week, so there’s always something new to learn or create.”

Preparation for meetings often involves significant effort from the club heads, such as laser cutting boards in the design lab or baking gingerbread for seasonal projects. “We try to bring something new and fun for the students, whether it’s about efficient low-income housing or exploring exciting developments in architecture,” Chen said. 

Architecture Club has also evolved to include more opportunities for in-depth learning. Leopold noted how the club has grown since his prep year. “We’ve expanded to explore sustainability, affordable housing, and visiting architecture firms—things we didn’t do as much before. It’s great to see how students’ knowledge and interest in the field have grown.”

For many members, the club is more than just a place to learn about buildings. It’s a space to be creative and explore something new every week. Whether they’re building gingerbread houses, touring hidden spaces on campus, or working on sustainable housing designs, the club gives students a chance to connect with architecture in ways that are fun and meaningful. As Chen said, “It’s just really great to be able to build things and see your ideas come to life.”