Q&A with Bedgid Laguerre

Briefly describe your fellowship project. What part of St. Louis was the project and what was the goal of the project? What was your portion of it?
My fellowship project was focused on the New City School, which is in the process of redesigning outdoor spaces with a focus on the playground. The goal of the project is to create outdoor spaces that promote social interaction, adventurous discovery, physical activity, and outdoor learning. The school and Christner really focused their efforts on design components that would support the students’ physical and cognitive development. During my time on the project, I researched design components for play equipment and playground material. I had the opportunity to contribute to the design process by proposing ideas for the re-use of an existing pavilion. During meetings with the school committee, I presented supporting research and proposed design ideas.
I also had the opportunity to work on different projects with the healthcare and education teams.

How did you connect with the community stakeholders working on this project? How did that impact your work?
We had bi-weekly meetings with the school committee which included school administration and teachers. I really enjoyed interacting with the committee, presenting supporting research, proposing design ideas, and hearing their invaluable feedback. They were able to provide insights and feedback which essentially helped shape the design.

Did your project evolve at all over the course of the summer? Did it have to adjust after the May 16 tornado?
With the New City School Project being centered around a playground, shade was a primary focus for the school. The May 16 tornado significantly damaged the trees which required the project’s design to adapt to their loss while adhering to the allocated budget.

How has this project shifted your understanding of art, architecture, or design?
The New City School Project has definitely influenced my approach in design, both in terms of which questions were to be addressed first along with providing me an in-depth understanding of the process of a project from schematic design through design development. My experience with this project helped me understand the importance of communication, especially in community-driven initiatives.

What was your path to becoming an artist/architect/designer like?
I have always been very interested in people and growing community. I started writing poems in middle school, which later translated to painting during my time as an undergraduate student. While I enjoyed these creative outlets, I was interested in a more practical and impactful way in which I could contribute to society. My answer was architecture; it was the perfect mixture of creativity and practicality.

Why did you choose to go to WashU?
I chose WashU because of the support it provides to its architecture program; from the facilities and equipment to the multiple fellowship opportunities that encourage professional growth. As an aspiring architect, I was drawn to an environment where I could both challenge myself and be supported.