Corgan and The Hip Hop Architecture Camp Team Up in Dallas
Global architecture and design firm Corgan partnered with The Hip Hop Architecture Camp to inspire Dallas youth from underrepresented communities by introducing them to architecture, urban planning, and design, through the lens of Hip Hop culture. During the June 24- 28 camp, students made designs to potentially be integrated into a facility at Southern Gateway Park, a future deck park spanning I-35E near historic Oak Cliff.
Founded by renowned architect Michael Ford of BrandNu Design Studio in 2016, The Hip Hop Architecture Camp is a national program that brings students together with architects, urban planners, designers, community activists, and hip-hop artists. Collaborating, they create innovative designs for their local communities through various mediums like physical models, digital models, and a Hip Hop Architecture Camp track and music video. This immersive experience empowers students to explore placemaking and urban planning.
“With less than two percent of licensed architects in the United States being African American, we face a critical need to attract more practitioners of color,” said Michael Ford, founder of The Hip Hop Architecture Camp. “By leveraging cultural relevancy, we are catalyzing a movement to inspire the next generation. We firmly believe that real change begins with empowering our youth.”
Corgan's collaboration with The Hip Hop Architecture Camp highlights the firm's dedication to expanding talent pathways and sharing the architectural and design possibilities to the future workforce. Within Corgan's Belong initiative—student engagement, campus workshops, and mentorship programs—it is actively working to foster an inclusive environment that empowers aspiring designers.
