John Medvec, Project Champion

This is the second in a series of interviews with AWB-Oregon volunteers. John Medvec, associate principal at Yost Grube Hall, worked on AWB's designs for seismically sound schools in Haiti, and is currently project champion for a similar effort in Nepal. The client for both projects is buildOn (buildOn.org), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Connecticut. Previously John volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and Architects in Schools. (This interview has been edited and condensed.)

 

Why do you choose to be involved with Architects Without Borders?

The focus of YGH has always been in developing nations. I've been to Vietnam, Pakistan, and many countries in Africa. AWB gives me an opportunity to volunteer my time in areas of the world where I've got a deep interest and often find myself going for another client.

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Construction Nears on Red Sweater Project Science Building  

When AWB-Oregon began working with Lake Oswego-based Red Sweater Project more than a year ago, the agreement was to produce a master plan for a 15-acre secondary school campus in rural Tanzania. As the project developed, however, the AWB team took on the design of new classroom buildings as well.