AIA Staten Island’s Spaghetti – Marshmallow Contest – Building Future Architects

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AIA STATEN ISLAND’S SPAGHETTI – MARSHMALLOW CONTEST – BUILDING FUTURE ARCHITECTS

by Jeffrey Geary, AIA, AVID Architecture, PLLC

Cinderella’s Castle reimagined in Marshmallow! Sophia DiStefano, Guilliana Collegio, St Clare’s, 7th Grade. Photo Credit: Boris Vinokur. AIA Staten Island’s Spaghetti-Marshmallow contest began as an idea with a focus on community outreach—the chapter wanted to educate and inform residents about the association, the profession and the practice of architecture. The original thinking was to create a program that involved students who would, by default, require at least one parent or guardian to attend the event with them. Through observation and listening, they would come to realize that working with an architect was not something that should be avoided, nor is it something only the elite few get to do when building their dream home with an ocean or lake view, and certainly not just a necessary evil to be “dealt with” because they received a violation of some sort from the local Building Department. Launched in 2012, the inaugural event was scheduled to run the week after Superstorm Sandy hit; an abbreviated event was held as a result. The program consists of students in grades two through eight, who gather to create something, anything they can imagine, using ONLY spaghetti and marshmallows. It can be colorful spaghetti, but it MUST be spaghetti. Any size marshmallows are also allowed, but absolutely NO FLUFF! The program has taken on a life of its own. The participants look forward to it year after year and the science and STEM teachers typically utilize the event as a graded project. In addition, the parents have an outlet for their aspiring architects and engineers that didn’t/doesn’t exist, at least in our area, prior to the inception of this event. The Chapter gets to interact with close to one hundred students, parents, and educators

Evan Lee reimageneering of the Eiffel Tower, Gateway Academy, 4th Grade

annually, to help take away the mystery of how to interact with an architect while preserving the mystique of the profession. The event is hosted at a local High School that has an Advanced Science Program as part of their curriculum. Prospective students participating in the contest and their parents or guardians are introduced to the world of science. Every year, the contest is increasingly well received by all involved. There is no entry fee; the only request is that participants raid their pantries for non-perishable food items to donate to a local food pantry. The contest is run the second Saturday in November and provides much needed resources for multiple families in need for the holidays. I get this all the time—and this is a bit of a trade secret—I must remind the judges every year, WE AREN’T AWARDING THE PRITZKER PRIZE HERE, so let’s not get TOO complicated. The first couple of events, I really had to wrangle in the judges. Judging happens during the event—2 hours to show, 30 minutes to judge, 30 minutes to announce winners, and BAM, the participants and their families are back to their busy lives. I have found that an event for parents and students cannot run too long, often parents are asking me when it’s going to be over as they are walking in, but I don’t let that ruin the vibe. The students are broken up into two groups by grade: 1) Second through fifth grade; and 2) sixth through eighth grade. There is usually a clear “best in show,” that can be from any age group, but most often there is one student that really makes a spectacle of their creation. Then first, second and third place fall in line, along with honorable mentions. Prizes include a $200 gift card to Barnes & Noble and whatever the monster Lego set is for that year—a Disney castle, Hogwarts Castle, that sort of thing for the best in show; $200, $100, and $75 gift cards to Barnes & Noble for first, second and third

Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus, transportation hub at the World Trade Center, Gateway Academy

Basilica, Chase Murtaugh, PS 38. This was actually one of my favorites, as it’s the only one I’ve ever seen that took advantage of heating up the pasta and shaping it. Photo Credit: Boris Vinokur.

Verrazzano Bridge – OLSS 8th Grade, Ethan Stadler. Photo Credit: Boris Vinokur.

Top Row Left: Cinderella’s Castle; Mason Pagan, Julian Retino, and Claire Scala; IS51, 6th Grade; Top Row Right: Original Structure, Aaron Wijesinghe, IS51, 6th Grade; Second Row: A panoramic of the event, you can feel the excitement? Third Row: The judging in progress. Bottom: Frank Martarella III, AIA, AIASI President at the time this event was run and me (Jeff Geary). I’m in front of the “fruits of our labor” with the donated food from the participants, giveaway bags (red) in back, and preparing to announcie the winners. Photo Credit: Boris Vinokur.

Frank Martarella III, AIA, AIASI President at the time this event was run, presenting an honorable mention prize. Photo Credit: Boris Vinokur.

Frank with Best in Show in 2021, Aaron Wijesinghe, IS51, 6th Grade. Photo Credit: Boris Vinokur. place. Over the years, companies that come to our meetings and provide CES presentations usually donate prizes that are used for honorable mentions. We ask them to pick up a $30-$50 Lego set which helps simplify the process. Last year, our EXCOMM moved to ask them for $$ instead to put towards better giveaways. We also allow the company reps to send a judge, and then their prize is given out by their respective judge, or “special thanks goes to Kamco for their Honorable Mention prize.” It’s a win-win for all involved—the company gets the mention, the students get the prizes, the company representatives are walking around with the judges for an hour, rubbing elbows, it’s very well received from everyone involved. The program can be duplicated easily, if you have a few dedicated members who are willing to commit a large portion of their time to make it happen—time to run the event, time for the students to create their projects, time for the school, etc. Typically, a host location will have someone to help organize but I manage setup/take down/so we really just need the location. If the school wants to add items, like make a day of it, or sell candy/water, they provide the staff to facilitate this aspect of the event. There is no real cost to do this, BUT we do provide AIA Staten Island branded giveaways—a canvas shopping bag, pads, pencils, flash drives, etc. We typically budget 5k and double up the prizes for every other year, so we run about $2500 that is excluding the prizes. Particulars can be provided for the curious by emailing spaghettimarshmallowsiaia@aol.com. I’m immensely proud of the event the members of AIA Staten Island have created. Although it started out as an event to demystify working with, or getting to know your architect, or at the very least what the AIA stands for, it has grown to become so much more. I regularly cross paths with parents in the mall or around town who couldn’t be more thankful for the event and what it means to their children. I am certain, in a few years’ time, one of our participants will be showing up at one of our offices looking for employment—I will be happy to have them as part of our team and a future member of the AIA. l

Jeffrey Geary, AIA, found his love for the built environment under the tutelage of his father, a General Contractor. Jeff graduated from NYIT with a Bachelor’s of Architecture and upon obtaining his licensure in 2004, opened his own practice. Jeff has been an active member of AIA Staten Island since 2004, holding various positions on the Executive Committee including President from 2015-2017. Jeff is the Committee Chair for the Annual Spaghetti Marshmallow Contest, and led other committees including the Education Outreach Committee. Jeff was instrumental in coordinating AIA resources and personnel with the Department of Buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to conduct emergency inspections and evaluations. Jeff sits on the Land Use Committee for Community Board 3 and participated with the New York City Department of Buildings in building and energy code revisions, and Flood Zone Regulations due to be submitted for approval by the City Council.

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