ARC Mission & Vision
ARC’s mission is to improve critical, creative, and problem-solving skills in K-12 students by teaching them how to apply principles of architecture, urban design, engineering, industrial design and graphic design to their own world.
Brief History
The Architecture Resource Center was established in 1991 as the educational component of the non-profit Connecticut Architecture Foundation. Due to rapid growth, the success of its programs, and a clear vision for expanding services, ARC was incorporated as an independent non-profit organization in March 2005.
ARC offers K–12 programs through engaging 2-hour or half-day workshops, primarily designed for elementary school students. These programs help students make real-world connections with a focus on:
Introducing students to principles of architecture, urban planning, engineering, industrial design, and graphic design
Stimulating and developing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills
Building partnerships among families, schools, communities, and local businesses
ARC integrates building, construction, and design activities to help students apply concepts from STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), social studies, and the arts in meaningful, grade-level-appropriate ways.
Previously theDesign Connections Partnership was offered in New Haven public schools in grades 1-5. This multi-year, multi-grade project is part of the mathematics curriculum. The program served 25 classroom teachers and their 600 students, 10 math coaches, and 10 art teachers.
The goal - to use architecture and design as a problem-solving tool to integrate math and science learning with sequential and comprehensive art and design-based learning to:
create standards-based Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) lessons and introduce STEM-related careers
develop 21st Century skills – collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking
encourage students to apply academic concepts in authentic tasks and foster students' sense of community and civic involvement
The program faced a significant setback in 2024 with the passing of Anna Sanko, the founder and executive director of the Architecture Resource Center (ARC) since its inception. In response, ARC has entered a period of reconstruction with the support of the American Institute of Architects, Connecticut (AIA CT), based in New Haven. Gina Calabro, Executive Director and CEO of AIA CT, has stepped into the role of Executive Director of ARC.
To guide this new chapter, a comprehensive five-year Strategic Plan was developed in 2024. The plan outlines future initiatives and includes tools to evaluate and measure the impact of ARC’s methodologies and content. The organization is now placing a renewed focus on expanding programs tailored for libraries, museums, after-school settings, and camps serving elementary and high school students.
Since our founding…
Raised more than $2,000,000 in grant awards from private, local, state, and national sources.
Implemented more than 2,000 workshops throughout the Northeast attended by 65,000 K-12 students, teachers, and families
Developed Design Connections Partnership Program for New Haven Public Schools grades 1-5 – each program is designed to reinforce grade-specific curriculum subject matter
Provided year-long, in-class programs for three major Connecticut cities – Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury
Presented national professional development institutes for K-8 teachers in partnership with Yale University
Published New Haven's Cultural Landscape: its changing people and places, currently used in 75 New Haven fifth-grade classrooms
Developed Hartford Connection, a publication for CT middle school students and teachers that illustrates the history of Connecticut through the changes in its built environment
ARC leadership has become a thought-leader in all things related to Design Education and is sought after to participate on national and international boards, panels, and to present at multiple conferences