This article is part of How I Spent My Summer, a series of articles showcasing opportunities Dal students pursued over the past few months — from work-intergrated learning to mini-courses and more. Scroll to the bottom for more articles.
Dal student Breena Chaput exchanged a typical summer job for lecture halls and studio mezzanines this year, uncovering rich new insights into architecture's vital role in society along the way.
The Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (BEDS) student began her third semester in the program in May, her first time doing a summer term. Though the long days could be exhausting as she sought to balance coursework and extracurricular commitments, there were rewarding moments, such as leading the Dalhousie Architecture Students Association (DASA) summer lecture series.
“Planning these events felt like an extra course, but it was worth it to bring attention to critical issues,” says Breena, who serves as vice president of internal communications with DASA.
Breena co-organized the series, which featured important voices addressing underrepresented issues in architecture. Dr. Ingrid Waldron delivered a lecture on environmental racism in Nova Scotia as part of the series.
“Hosting such an impactful conversation reinforced the real-world significance of architecture,” she says.
Attendees at a summer lecture chat.
A renewed direction
In July, Breena participated in the Free Lab program, a hallmark of Dalhousie’s School of Architecture where students travel into communities around Nova Scotia to offer their expertise on design build projects.
She was assigned to work at the Deanery Project, an environmental and arts learning centre on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore.
Under the guidance of Kim Thompson, executive director of the Deanery, the group designed and built walls for a future boat-building and workshop space. This hands-on experience, coupled with visits to nearby residents practicing sustainable lifestyles, expanded Breena’s understanding of architecture's role in supporting ecological communities.
“I felt a renewed sense of direction after those two weeks,” she says. “Seeing the community interact with the space we designed reminded me of the lasting impact architecture can have.”
The Deanery Project.
By the end of the summer, Breena says she had developed a deeper connection to socially and environmentally sustainable practices. She says both the Free Lab experience and the lecture series broadened her perspective, helping her envision a career rooted in impactful, sustainable design.
“This summer taught me that architecture is more than just buildings — it’s about creating spaces that foster positive change,” she says.
This fall, she'll get the chance to explore this approach further during a fall co-op term at the Deanery, where she'll continue to explore ecological design principles.
