The Fine Arts Center architecture program has received the 2024 Community Partnership Award from the Arts Schools Network, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to arts schools.
The Greenville County Schools program was recognized for its involvement in the Tiny House Collaborative, a program to construct tiny homes for those experiencing homelessness or formally incarcerated. A public-private partnership with the Greenville Homeless Alliance spearheads the effort.
The center’s architecture students designed three tiny homes that will be built through the Tiny House Collaborative. The homes will be used to create a pilot tiny-home community in Greenville County.
Vee Popat, director of the Fine Arts Center, said it is thanks to the vision of Catherine Smith-Gates, chair of the architecture department, that the school is working on the tiny-homes project.
“When Dr. Smith-Gates approached me with this project three years ago, I was so excited to work with her on making it happen,” Popat said. “The partnership ideas were completely hers, and I love that we are able to provide the opportunity for an academic project to come off the page and into the real world.”
The Fine Arts Center architecture program will be honored at the Arts Schools Network’s 2024 conference in October.
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