SPIKE Studio – Igniting Creativity and Diversity in the Built Environment

The Atlanta Center for Creative Inquiry (ACCI) is now SPIKE Studio: Igniting Creativity and Diversity in the Built Environment.

Our mission is the same – to mentor, educate, and develop creative abilities in youth to promote greater diversity in the architecture, engineering and construction professions.

OUR HISTORY

SPIKE Studio, formerly The Atlanta Center for Creative Inquiry, was initiated in 2004 by Oscar “Spike” Harris, FAIA, CEO of Turner Associates/Architects & Planners, Inc., one of Atlanta’s leading architectural firms, and a Carnegie Mellon alumnus and trustee, in partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology and Benjamin E. Mays High School. Oscar “Spike” Harris, was inspired to begin mentoring in creative design due to several influences, including the shockingly low numbers of minorities and women attending college and working professionally in architecture and his experience as a African-American-owned business owner, professional architect and active community member.

Envisioned as a demonstration project to introduce minority high school students to architecture and design, it was modeled after the Sustainable Landscape and Architecture Project, hosted in the STUDIO in 2000-2003 and created by S.K. Woodall.

SPIKE (ACCI) continued to run its mentoring program in Atlanta under Carnegie Mellon’s umbrella until 2009, when the Center formally incorporated itself as a totally independent non-profit Georgia corporation. To date, SPIKE has mentored hundreds of students in metropolitan Atlanta and surrounding areas.

OUR OBJECTIVES

SPIKE Studio aims to address several issues that affect the future of Atlanta’s youth in terms of education and career readiness. We are devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and developing leaders in across disciplines in the architecture, engineering, and construction fields who can make a difference in the built environment, globally.

Under-Representation – SPIKE confronts the issue of under-representation of women and minorities in the architectural, engineering and construction industry by exposing students to these careers prior to high school graduation
College Enrollment – SPIKE addresses the declining percentage of inner-city youth that enroll in post-secondary education programs by partnering with universities to award SPIKE Studio students educational opportunities at no cost
Igniting Creativity – SPIKE helps students connect creative talents to various careers, encouraging them to explore ways to cultivate and utilize their skills in a way that is passionate for them
Entrepreneurship & Job Opportunities – SPIKE promotes entrepreneurship by connecting students to business owners with diverse personal and professional backgrounds who share first-hand knowledge and experience.

OUR VALUES

SPIKE Studio, through its programming, seeks to reverse trends showing a decline in the study and employment of under-represented students in careers in concerned with the built environment.

Our purpose is to get more students in the pipeline to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, design, planning, landscape architecture, construction and other creative avenues in the built environment through mentoring and exposure.

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EVENTS

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Our Sponsors & Supporters

SPIKE Studio is a mission driven non-profit, made up of 100% volunteers. We could not do the transformative work without the financial support of these incredible individuals and organizations.