Glenn Fuhrman, who is a program manager at Metro National Corp., which owns and is redeveloping the mall, showed students how to design and plan a retail space. The project coordinates with Memorial City Mall's ongoing renovation and includes student tours of mCity Central, a walk-through design studio in the mall. The public is invited to visit the Live Classroom between 9 a.m. and noon and tour the design studio. Students learn directly from an architect, engineer and building contractor about career paths, post-secondary education and tools of the trade. They also explore a retail design project as it evolves from blueprints to the final installation of carpet and office desks.
Students have fun learning about drawing to scale.
William Pool, an intern with Morris Architects, told students that licensed architects earn college degrees and intern for three years before being licensed. Computer skills and artistic and technical abilities are all important in the field, he said. Lana Coble, a contractor with Tellepsen Builders, began her career as an architect. She encourages young girls to pursue construction careers. I always had a desire to do this work.