Reimagining closed schools as incubators for creativity

TEDxChicago

May 10

Written By Dustin Huibregtse

Talk given at TEDxChicago Salon: Design in 2024

Chicago, May 10th, 2024

Paola Aguirre Serrano

Urban Designer

About the Talk

Imagine your childhood school closing forever. How do we reimagine these spaces and reclaim them for community empowerment? In this insightful and inspiring talk, Paola Aguirre Serrano takes us on a journey of design justice, exploring art and architecture's role in revitalizing closed schools and reimagining the future of social infrastructure in our communities. Serrano shares her experiences and research, highlighting how these once vibrant places can be transformed into hubs of community engagement and creativity. She invites us to rethink the possibilities for these abandoned spaces, emphasizing the power of collective action and design to create a more just and equitable society.

Source: TEDxChicago

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About Paola

Paola Aguirre Serrano, a native of the US-Mexico border region, urban designer and partner at Borderless Studio in Chicago and San Antonio, leads innovative and collaborative projects promoting spatial justice and equitable design. Recognized for her contributions, she received the Emerging Voices Award (2022) from The Architecture League of New York, the Perez Prize in Public Art and Civic Design by Americans for the Arts (2022), and the Creative Placemaking Award (2022) from the John and Catherine MacArthur Foundation. Paola, a civic design steward, previously served as Commissioner of Chicago Landmarks and currently advises the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino. She holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Source: TEDxChicago

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TEDxChicago Salon: Design in 2024

TEDxChicago is Chicago’s biggest stage for ideas + connection at the convergence of our culture, innovation, and democracy. Rooted in the vibrant and dynamic city of Chicago, a hub of innovation, culture, and resilience, TEDxChicago celebrates the city’s unique spirit and its history of fostering groundbreaking ideas and movements. In 2024, they hosted a Salon focused on Design to delve into the world of design and hear from exciting Chicago visionaries, architects, designers, and creatives shaping our future. Join speakers, artists, performers, and the design community, among many others for a thrilling, intimate, and immersive creative experience.

Source: TEDxChicago

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