Trinity Dion and other architecture students traveled to Togo to create a conceptual design for a sustainable girls’ school. The Vandal students partnered with S H E | Style Her Empowered, a non-profit that was founded by a U of I alumna to create education and employment opportunities for women in Notsé, Togo. Girls in Togo receive an average of three years of education over the course of their lifetimes. To design a school that fits the needs of the girls living in Notsé, the students met with local women, teachers and children. At the potential site locations identified for the construction of the school, students gathered measurements, analyzed site conditions, evaluated nearby construction projects and identified local materials for construction. Professor Anne Marshall, who teaches classes such as Native American Architecture and the Global History of Architecture, led the U of I team. Dion lives in Council and is majoring in architecture in the College of Art and Architecture.

Article by Leigh Cooper, University Communications and Marketing.

Video editing by Kara Billington, University Communications and Marketing.

Published October 2019.