One Project at a Time: Service and Learning Applied in Appalachian Communities

Delivering projects through community-based applied design within the Architectural Technology and Design concentration of the Building Science program at Appalachian State University has evolved significantly during its first nine years of existence. This paper takes readers on a journey of the program’s architectural evolution – and that of its architects – by exploring its methods and findings through: single semester vs multi-semester projects; design-only vs design-build studios; community initiated vs problem seeking projects; and single discipline vs interdisciplinary project teams. This paper also focuses on new directions for the program and its faculty, as well as facility, funding, and professional needs in the ongoing development of this hybrid model of architectural practice and education.