A Shared Education: Cross-Enrollment with Shadan Karimi '25
At Bennington College, students have the opportunity to expand their education beyond campus by cross enrolling in courses at Williams College in Williamstown, MA. Shadan Karimi '25 took advantage of this opportunity to participate in Design for the Pluriverse, a Williams College course dedicated to sustainability and community.
What inspired you to cross-enroll at Williams, and what class did you take there?
I wanted to experience taking classes at Williams College and explore the opportunities that are with the cross-enrollment program. Initially, I was unsure if I should take it, but at the last minute, I applied and was able to have this opportunity. I took the class Design for the Pluriverse at Williams College.
What were the most important things you learned in the class?
This class was challenging and demanding but one thing I learnt from this class is how much teamwork and having the same goal helps make the process easier and smoother. It also helped me to understand the engineering perspective of architecture.
Share more about your project, the Pluriverse Pavilion. What was the assignment and how did you fulfill it?
The Pluriverse Pavilion at Williams College is a project focused on sustainability and community. Our goal was to create a space where students could come together, connect, and use the pavilion however they need, whether for studying, gatherings, or events. It’s designed to be flexible and adapt to different activities, giving students a sense of ownership and freedom.
A key part of this project was reducing its environmental impact. For example, we repurposed wood from a previous construction to lower material waste and reduce the pavilion's carbon footprint. Working on this project taught me how careful material selection and sustainable design choices can make a big difference. It’s a space that brings people together while being mindful of our environmental responsibilities, showing how architecture can help create community-focused spaces that are both functional and sustainable.
What were the most challenging parts of designing this project?
The most challenging aspect of the Pluriverse Pavilion project was translating our creative ideas and designs into something that was both engineerable and buildable. It’s one thing to have a vision, but turning it into a structurally sound reality that meets all the building codes and safety standards is a complex process. We also had to work within certain funding limitations, which required us to make careful decisions about materials and design elements. Thankfully, with the guidance of professor and experienced architect Giuseppina Forte and Christopher Rodriguez, a junior at Williams College and my fellow designer on the Pavilion, we were able to work through these challenges. Additionally, managing time was difficult, as the project involved frequent trips to Williams College, balancing our design work, and coordinating with various team members.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your work for this class?
The most rewarding aspect of this project was seeing and walking through the pavilion. It is so nice to see your ideas and sketches turn into a walkable pavilion that others can use and enjoy just as much as we enjoyed designing and creating it.
Share a little bit about the opening day. Who attended and what was the response?
The opening ceremony for the Pluriverse Pavilion was a memorable day. Williams College President Maud S. Mandel attended, along with my professor, Giuseppina Forte, architect Ralf Korbmacher, the construction team, and various students and faculty from Williams College. The president opened with a speech, followed by words from Professor Forte, myself as the junior designer, and a representative from the construction team. It was rewarding to see everyone exploring and appreciating the pavilion up close, and the positive response really highlighted the community’s excitement about the space and its role on campus.