Box City is a real place. It’s a starting place for learning about one’s community—how it looks and how it grows. HSF helps students from Savannah-Chatham County Public School System learn about architecture, planning and community development through a nationally recognized program called Box City (created by the Center for Understanding the Built Environment). In partnership with the Early College Program at SCCPSS, HSF helps guide 9th graders interested in Historic Preservation as a career. We work with the students to ignite their interest, build their skills and convert a budding enthusiasm into an avocation and vocation to serve Savannah.

Over the course of seven days (twice a year), HSF staff walk Early College students through the process of building a city using boxes they design to reflect uses and styles they learn about in their curriculum. They learn about zoning, scale, design guidelines, the planning process, deadlines and group decision-making all the while expressing their newfound knowledge in architecture.

In the end, students gain a three-dimensional knowledge about executing a two-dimensional plan. Box City is a total learning activity and HSF is pleased to be able to touch dozens of students each year using this innovative teaching tool as a way to shape the future of our cities.

For more information about Box City and how you might participate through the Early College Program at SCCPSS, please contact HSF or Mr. Brent Armstrong at M.Brent.Armstrong@savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us.