Detroit

About Us

ACE Mentor Program – Detroit teaches high school students from the Detroit public schools and surrounding districts about careers in architecture, construction and engineering, as well as related building professions and trades. Guided by industry professionals who serve as volunteer mentors, students work in collaborative teams on projects that simulate actual building industry situations. The result is a practical opportunity for students to learn what industry professionals do and how they develop their ideas from initial concept to finished facility.

Our Team Projects

For 15 weeks throughout the 2010-2011 school year, students from various high schools within Detroit Public Schools worked with mentors from the architectural and construction management industries to pursue a variety of approaches to a single goal…how to complete a beach house.

Each team served as the interior designer of a beach house which was designed by one of the mentor. Each team member was responsible for every aspect of the design from furniture to landscaping. They were also responsible for any exterior construction of the outside living space. The students were divided into three teams each comprised of three to four students. With the guidance of mentors, each team individually created a vision for the project, verified the budget, and planned and designed the space.

The students also participated in construction site visits and other field trips as well as created computer-assisted design drawings, hand drawings, models and other materials to support their ideas.

The program year concluded with project presentations to a three-member panel, an event that simulated a professional client meeting. In addition, five scholarships were awarded which were donated by Turner Construction Company and ACE Michigan.

Participate in ACE!

If you would like to experience ACE's challenges, opportunities and rewards for yourself, contact the ACE Affiliate Leader listed in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

The 2011-2012 session began November 17, 2011. Sessions are held from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm at Renaissance High School, 6565 W. Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48235.