SAPC: Special Edition
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
From SAPC members,
Hello everyone! We are quickly approaching the end of the school year, and we would like to review what we have accomplished over the past 5 months. This semester, we have worked on two big projects: the rooftop layout design and the room decorations! Continually, the members of our club would like to introduce themselves and their experiences in our club. Thank you for always enjoying our blog posts! :))
Name: Alina Lee
Grade: 11
Favourite Architecture: The Leaning Tower of Pisa
I joined SAPC because I thought it would be a meaningful experience to contribute to our school’s designing and the crafts. Another reason why is because I enjoy art in general, and I wanted to challenge myself by trying out new forms of it. My experience in SAPC was great, as I got to try new things (such as making collage artworks, interior designs) using different materials. This was especially interesting to me as I’ve always wanted to make artwork beyond simple painting/drawing, and to participate in a more practical form of art. One of the projects that was the most memorable for me was room decoration. This was because my team and I got to design Mrs. Rodger’s room. Because Mrs. Rodgers is my AP Language teacher, I have to visit her room every once in two days. The fact that I got to contribute in designing the interior of a room that I visit frequently was very meaningful and interesting to me. As an SAPC member this semester I learned how to design a room according to budget, experiment in different materials, and to think outside the box. Again, this semester was both very rewarding yet challenging, and I enjoyed being able to contribute to the club.
Name: Lisa Kim
Grade: 11
Favourite Architecture: Fallingwater
I joined SAPC because I really love architecture, and being part of the club has only made my passion grow. I’ve had so much fun brainstorming ideas, designing the rooftop cafe, decorating teachers’ classrooms, and taking on other projects. If I had to choose between rooftop layout design and room decoration, I’d definitely choose room decoration. This year, I’m working on Ms. Donado’s room with Chloe, Woosung, and Yuna, and I’ve really enjoyed getting the chance to collaborate closely with them—as well as with Ms. Donado. SAPC has given me the opportunity to connect with others who are also interested in architecture!
Name: Erica Kim
Grade: 11
Favourite Architecture: Seoul City Hall Building
I joined SAPC because, from a young age, I have always had an interest in architecture, especially after attending a summer camp where I learned more about architectural engineering and environmental conservation. I was interested in exploring the creative aspect of architecture, which is why I wanted to explore more of this in SAPC.
This semester, I really enjoyed how diverse our projects were. We would not only focus on a specific type of architecture, but rather explore many different sides, including rooftop designs, room decorations, wall designs, and even blogging about the pre-Joseon architecture. Researching historic Korean architecture while writing the blogs was especially meaningful. While at the summer camp, I learned a lot about global architecture, but not much about the uniqueness of Korea and its architecture historically, which ties deeply to my identity. This allowed me to appreciate how culture existed before modern designs.
The Rooftop Layout Design project was the most memorable for me because it felt like a task that could genuinely impact our SIS community. Knowing that these ideas from us can really shape a space for students and teachers in our community felt exciting and important.
One thing I learned in SAPC is that architecture is not all about visuals or the design itself, but also about the mix of cultures. This exploration from SAPC makes SAPC a memorable and meaningful part of my junior year experience.
Name: Yuna Ock
Grade: 9
Favourite: Architecture: The Colosseum
I joined SAPC because I wanted a club where I could actually express my ideas instead of stressing about academics all the time. I wanted a space where I could design, build, and bring together different kinds of creativity without pointlessly memorizing things or feeling like I wasn’t contributing anything meaningful. The projects in SAPC felt more like real-life problem solving than typical school assignments, and that made the club feel refreshing instead of overwhelming.
My experience in SAPC was honestly a strange mix of new and awkward at first. Since it was my first high school semester, I was still learning how clubs worked and how to manage my schedule without overwhelming myself. There were moments when I wondered whether I genuinely liked architecture or if I joined just because I enjoy art. But as the semester went on and I got more involved in the projects, it started to feel genuinely interesting. At some point, I caught myself actually looking forward to club time. Unwrapping materials, arranging items, and setting up decorations was surprisingly fun, and doing all of it with the other members made the experience even more enjoyable.
Out of our major projects, Rooftop and Room Decorations, the room decoration project was definitely the most memorable. It felt more personal because we actually asked the teacher about her preferences and tried to design a space based on what she liked, not just what we thought looked good. Placing everything by myself and making decisions that felt intentional, not random, was an important step for me to know more about room decorations. It made me realize how much design is about understanding people and making choices that match their personality.
One thing I learned this semester is that architecture isn’t just about buildings or structures. I realized that every space should be designed around the person who lives in it—based on their preferences, their comfort, their convenience, and also our own creativity and skills as designers. Joining SAPC ended up being both more enjoyable and more meaningful than I originally thought.
Name: Tyger Byun
Grade: 10
Favourite Architecture: Fallingwater
Since I was probably in middle school, I felt this affinity towards architecture, especially its evolution over time and its integration into both human-made cityscapes and nature. When I first joined SAPC last year, I really wanted to delve deeper into my interest and work with others that share the same interest. Overall, my experience in this club has generally been positive. Despite our struggles with low membership and complex projects, we got by and did some incredible work such as the “Senior Wall” which will be completed over Winter Break. Furthermore, I got to meet other interested people which allowed me to both share my ideas and gather ideas from other people, forcing me to take a more nuanced approach to this art. Of the 2 projects we did this semester, that being the Roof Layout Design and the Room Decoration, I personally enjoyed the Roof Layout Design more because I got more freedom to design more architectural aspects. Also, as it is my first time as an executive of a club, I have learned many lessons from my peers. Notably, I learned how to lead a discussion and produce ideas while still allowing others to express themselves. This skill will be useful for me later in life in order to communicate effectively with my co-workers.
Name: Chloe Park
Grade: 11
Favourite Architecture: Casa Batlló
I have enjoyed various arts: drawing, painting, printmaking, and ceramics, though I never had the opportunity to explore architecture. Throughout my life, I have discovered a new sense of art, architecture. Joining this club, SAPC, has led me to explore architecture more deeply. Throughout the last two years and this semester, I have experienced great things and new things. SAPC has allowed me to meet new people from different grades and discover similar interests with each member. This year, my most memorable project was decorating the room for Ms. Rogers and Ms. Donado. The purpose of the room decoration was to provide students and the teacher with a better environment in which to study, and creating that environment made me so happy. During this project, I got to know the members and interacted with new teachers. Throughout this semester, I have continued learning and understanding how the environment and architecture are intertwined, and that a suitable environment for students’ education is essential.
Thank you all to those who read our blog and support our club in the process! We hope you all will read our blog posts again once we restart in January. In the meantime, we will keep you updated on a very important project almost a year in the making. This project will be completed over the winter holidays.
From, SAPC Executives
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