Sparking Career Curiosity in Middle School Students

This December, Ballinger welcomed students from Tilden Middle School for an immersive introduction to architecture and design.  The visit featured guided studio tours and a hands-on design exercise in which students collaborated to plan a school campus, learning foundational concepts of site planning and building organization.

Student teams presented their designs to a jury of Ballinger volunteers, who awarded certificates recognizing each group’s creativity and problem-solving.

The visit was organized in partnership with Spark, a program administered by the Philadelphia Education Fund that connects seventh- and eighth-grade students with career exploration and social-emotional learning opportunities. Through Spark, Ballinger joins local organizations including Merck, WHYY,  and Campbell’s in expanding access to career pathways and inspiring the next generation of designers and thinkers.