A select group of sixteen students from eight disciplines of the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons were invited to design a temporary installation for the Reach Higher Fashion Workshop, an event hosted by Michelle Obama in the historic East Room of The White House in Washington D.C.

Using over 200 discarded books and recyled materials, the installation reinforces the idea and concept of sustainability and education. .

fashion panel: Jason Wu, Edward Wilkerson, Diane von Furstenberg, Tracy Reese, Prabal Gurung and Jenna Lyons. The panel, moderated by Lilliana Vazquez

the backdrop at the reach higher lunch

podium

installation at the East Room

table piece

napkin rings

Press:

http://www.refinery29.com/2014/10/75861/white-house-fashion-education-workshop#slide

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/reach-higher-students-learn-from-first-lady-fashion-stars/

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/blogs/daily/2014/10/white-house-fashion-education-workshop

The final production included a backdrop, a central podium, ten head pieces, two-hundred napkin rings, four columns, and eight mantel pieces.

installation of the backdrop at the White House

form finding process

For more information visit:

http://sce.parsons.edu/blog/sce-students-create-temporary-environment-at-the-white-house/

http://sce.parsons.edu/blog/sce-students-design-and-install-temporary-environment-for-white-house-design-education-event/

http://sce.parsons.edu/blog/sce-white-house-installation-in-the-press/

http://sce.parsons.edu/blog/time-lapse-videos-of-parsons-white-house-installation/

Collaborators:

Sofia Burlo, Lauren Parikh, Amanda Evengård, Laura Yeh, Nelson DeJesus, Calvin Cheng, Alex Stewart, Mariam Alshamali, Mochi Liu, Julia Grunberg, Junrui Wang, Jordana Maisie Goot, James Clotfelter, Stephen Finney, Marina Lodi

Photos credit Martin Seck, MCT, and the collaborating group