Given our legacy, we are deeply committed to inspiring the next generation of designers and problem-solvers. We believe that exposure at an early age can ignite curiosity, spark imagination, and open doors to future careers that students may not have otherwise considered. By encouraging children of all ages to explore architecture, engineering, and interior design, we hope to help them envision how creativity, technical skill, and collaboration can shape the built environment and improve communities.
When invited to participate in the Industry Lesson Boxes produced by the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation (SLCEF), we enthusiastically embraced the opportunity. SLCEF developed the iINNOVATE Regional Skills Lab platform to introduce career-connected STEM learning in meaningful, accessible ways. This initiative is designed to empower students of all backgrounds by exposing them to real-world professions, strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and building confidence early in their academic journeys while highlighting regional career pathways.
The Skills Lab features thoughtfully curated Lesson Boxes for grades Kâ6 across four focus areas: Power Skills, Healthcare & Life Science, Building Design & Construction, and Advanced Manufacturing. Each lesson is designed to be engaging, hands-on, and age-appropriate, helping students connect classroom learning with real-world applications. To explore the full lesson library, visit: https://k12skillslab.org/lessons
As part of this collaboration, our Senior Principal Architect, Alan Kroeker, and Principal Architect, Federico Cortez, partnered with the SLCEF team to share their personal paths into architecture, the challenges and opportunities they encountered along the way, and what continues to inspire them in their work today. We are incredibly proud to be featured in the 4th Grade Skills Lab â Building Design & Construction lesson and to play a small role in helping young learners imagine themselves as future designers, builders, and innovators.
This program is currently being incorporated into the curriculum at the following School Districts:
