Designing a greener future, one experience at a time
At a construction site, sustainability can be measured in ways that go beyond the materials used or the shape of a building. Air quality, noise levels, lighting, and even the conditions materials used on site all offer clues to whether a project meets environmental standards. These were among the things Far Eastern University Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts (FEU IARFA) student Jandelle C. De Guzman learned to assess during the six-week ARTHALAND Masterclass, where classroom concepts became part of actual site inspections and sustainability assessments.
The experience also brought an unexpected recognition. De Guzman was among four FEU IARFA students awarded full-tuition Academic Scholarships by ARTHALAND for School Year 2026-2027. She also received an additional special award for her outstanding performance throughout the masterclass, which included a tablet and a Credential Scholarship for the Sustainability Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Certification application.
“I was shocked, but at the same time, I felt very grateful,” she said. “I felt like all my hard work had paid off and validated.”
For De Guzman, however, the experience was about more than the scholarships. It gave her a closer look at the work behind sustainable architecture and a better understanding of how much more there is to learn.
Beyond the classroom
De Guzman did not join the masterclass with a complete picture of what to expect. A professor informed her that she had been shortlisted, and she decided to accept the opportunity and submit the requirements. It was her first time hearing about the program, but sustainability was already an interest she wanted to explore.
“I joined mainly because I wanted to experience something new, and sustainability was already something that interested me,” she said.
Over the six weeks, that curiosity became more concrete. Before and during the site visits, participants attended lectures about the activities they would be doing and the standards they needed to check.
During their first visit, they learned how to conduct a sustainability report using a checklist to assess conditions on site. One of the things they had to inspect was whether the gravel sausages used on the construction site were properly secured and maintained. After completing their assessment, they returned to the ARTHALAND building the following day to report their findings.
The visits introduced them to other ways of checking a building’s environmental performance. Using tools and equipment, participants assessed indoor air, lighting, and sound quality, as well as the compliance of energy and water fixtures.
These activities were tied to the requirements for sustainability certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, WELL Building Standard, Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence, and EDGE. Rather than simply discussing what makes a building sustainable, the students had the opportunity to see how compliance is evaluated in practice.
“I learned that sustainability in architecture starts with designing a structure, continues through its construction, and extends to how it will be used over time,” De Guzman said.
The experience gave new meaning to concepts she had encountered in class. Sustainability was no longer just a design consideration; it involved examining a building at different stages and understanding how specific decisions affects its performance.
“The program turned the concepts we had learned into actual, real-life applications,” she said.
Weeks of learning
The program required more than attending lectures and site visits. Participants gave daily presentations, completed activities, and prepared for individual final defense. De Guzman had about two weeks to prepare for her final presentation, which took place on the last day of the masterclass.
Keeping up with the schedule was a challenge. She had to complete tasks and prepare her ideas while making sure she could present them before the day ended. She wanted to make the most of the opportunity and do well in every activity.
“With every presentation, I always wanted to do well and present my ideas clearly,” she said.
“I treated it as a training ground to improve my presentation and critical thinking skills.”
The presentations pushed her to communicate her ideas more clearly and think critically about what she had learned. Knowing a concept was one thing; explaining it and presenting her understanding to others was another.
She also found support in the people around her. Most activities involved group work, giving her opportunities to exchange ideas with fellow participants from FEU and other schools.
She valued learning from their different perspectives, as well as from the lecturers and consultants who guided them throughout the program. Along the way, fellow participants became friends.
Their presence made the demanding schedule more manageable and the experience richer. Learning did not happen only during presentations or site visits; it also happened through conversations and collaboration with people who approached the same problems differently.
Beyond the award
Beyond the recognition, the opportunity has encouraged De Guzman to continue developing her skills in sustainable design. She hopes to apply what she has learned in creating spaces that respond to people’s needs while considering their environmental impact.
“Overall, these opportunities support my goal of becoming a competent and socially responsible architect who can create functional, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable spaces,” she said.
That goal was already there before the masterclass. What changed was her understanding of the work involved in reaching it. She left with a stronger interest in environmentally responsible design and a better sense of the questions architects must consider.
Her advice to other architecture students is to remain curious and look for ways to learn, even outside formal academic programs.
“If sustainability is something they are genuinely interested in, I would encourage them to keep looking for opportunities to learn and explore,” she said. “You don't always have to wait for a formal program to start learning about something you're passionate about.”
Preparing for practice
De Guzman’s experience reflects the value of bringing industry knowledge into architectural education. Classroom lessons provide the foundations, but exposure to actual projects, industry professionals, and established standards helps students understand how those principles are applied in practice.
She and her fellow participants had discussed how much more there was to sustainability than they had realized before joining the program.
“As my fellow masterclass students and I have talked about, we didn't realize before joining the program that there was so much more to sustainability than what we had learned in our architecture classes,” she said. “The masterclass helped us see that what we knew before was just the surface of a much bigger field.”
For future architects, recognizing that gap is part of the learning process. Partnerships between universities and industry practitioners help bridge it by allowing students to connect what they study with the standards, challenges, and decisions they will encounter in professional practice.
De Guzman’s experience is one example of what the partnership between FEU IARFA and ARTHALAND can make possible. Her fellow FEU IARFA students Xerjohn Niko Shane F. Alarcio, Timothy Ishia M. Mawac, and Sienna Mae S. Verendia also earned full-tuition scholarships through the ARTHALAND Masterclass.
For De Guzman, the recognition is an opportunity to keep going. She now has a better understanding of the work behind sustainable architecture, the skills she still wants to develop, and the responsibility that comes with designing spaces for people and the environment.
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