LOOK DRAW BUILD @ Reading & Bristol is a learning programme that encourages young children to connect practically with architecture, engineering, and railway history.

The programme, founded by ARCHI-adventure, is delivered by Jelly with the support of Reading Civic Society.

LOOK DRAW BUILD @ Reading & Bristol, now in its 5th year, will engage 800 children across Reading and Bristol. Bringing creative input into classrooms as well as valuable life experience from visits to Reading and Bristol train stations, discussing safe use of the railways and highlighting the need for sustainable travel. Alongside creative practitioners encouraging imagination and design skills, the project will engage STEM ambassadors from architectural and built environment companies alongside volunteers from Network Rail, retired engineers, project managers and other industries. GWR will take classes on station awareness visits.

‘As a whole, the class relished what was, for them, a unique challenge that none of them had attempted before. Having the trip to Reading and Didcot Stations helped to really whet their appetites for the design task. What was particularly pleasing (from a teacher’s point of view), is that the students in the winning team are ones who have a lot of struggles academically and don’t often have a lot of ‘wins’ when it comes to the National Curriculum’s core subjects. It was therefore highly pleasing to see them ‘top of the pile’ for once (and on pure merit).’

Tim Crooks, Year 5 Team Leader, Whitley Park Primary School

‘The whole event has been amazing, the students loved seeing the history of the station, and the visit to Reading Station was brilliant, and the students enjoyed their train trip. The workshop was incredible, to see the students come together and work as a team and take each other’s ideas on board was totally amazing.’

Louise Aspell, Careers and Work-Related Learning, The Avenue Special School

‘It was a delight to be able to engage and encourage the children to be inquisitive and creative, developing a passion for design and discovery through their concepts for the Reading station of tomorrow.’

Aaron Taylor, Principal, Business Development and Education Leader, Stantec

‘Ridge has had a wonderful first-time experience being part of the LOOK DRAW BUILD project. Members of staff of different teams (transport planning and architecture) spent a morning at Calcot Primary School, encouraging the children to learn about the different elements of railway stations and process involved in designing them, including the architecture, public space around them, history and technology. Looking forward to being involved again next year’.

Milena Martínez, Principal Transport Planner, Ridge and Partners LLP

‘This has been a fantastic experience for us to mentor the children on such an exciting project. It was clear to see that the process has helped develop their understanding of the built environment, their creative problem solving and team working skills. We have been amazed by the brilliant diversity of ideas and creative solutions which have been constructed by all the groups we have been assisting.’

Chris Weston, Architect, Weston & Co Architects Ltd