SAN DIEGO, Calif. – OCTOBER 5, 2017 – Over the past week, a group of 14 student architects from the NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool), and under the direction of Professor Chuck Crawford, collaborated to build a sukkah—a temporary dwelling to commemorate Sukkot, the seven-day Jewish harvest festival. The structure now sits on the Jewish Family Service (JFS) of San Diego’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus.

The Sukkot holiday began at sunset on October 4, 2017 and ends Wednesday, October 11 at sundown. There are several additional activities taking place at the sukkah, on JFS campus, including “Soup in The Sukkah” and senior programs.

With three walls and an open door, the sukkah represents inclusivity, hospitality, and the temporary nature of life. For the project, NewSchool students conformed to specifications that respect Jewish traditions while also integrating design approaches that reflect NewSchool’s own emphasis on sustainability.

“The Sukkah Project is a unique one that I look forward to every year,” said Chuck Crawford, associate professor of graduate architecture at NewSchool. “This project reflects and aligns with our school values. The community involvement, cultural learning and team building is crucial to their real world education and future careers.”

JFS Chief Executive Officer Michael Hopkins thanked the NewSchool students noting, “I think they did an amazing job capturing a number of essential aspects: the value of the sukkah and the value of ritual, and the rules for building it.” Hopkins also complimented the acrylic colors “that represent the diversity of your class and the diversity of the community as well.”

For more information on NewSchool of Architecture & Design, visit newschoolarch.edu. For more information about Jewish Family Service of San Diego, visit jfssd.org.

Student Team:

Principal Designer:

Noura Bishay

Dilini Perera

Project Coordinators:

Sarah Cabana

John Sanders III

Design and Fabrication Team:

Firas Alrakhayes

Cameron Atsumi

Nic Coffman

Marlena Jackson

Oscar Lopez

Miguel Marquina

Cynthia Morose

Madhavi Natarajan

Adam Peltier

Sovanarry Phy

Veena Ravi

Technical and Construction Advisor:

Doug Blume, Paragon Builders

Instructor:

Charles Crawford

About NewSchool of Architecture & Design

Located in San Diego’s design district, NewSchool of Architecture & Design prepares students for career success in design fields with an emphasis on human-centered design, including interdisciplinary and global design skills, industry collaborations and real-world projects. Programs include architecture, construction management, product design, media design, and interior architecture & design. Best College Reviews.org ranked NewSchool #2 for Best Online Masters in Construction Management Degree Programs for 2017-2018. NewSchool is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission. NewSchool offers Bachelor and Master of Architecture programs, accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). One of more than 70 institutions in 25 countries that comprise the Laureate International Universities network, New School prepares students to successfully work in global and diverse organizations. For more information, visit www.newschoolarch.edu.

Media Contact:

Rachael Lighty

rlighty@newschoolarch.edu

619.684.8775