Atelier Ten :: Philanthropy

We are committed to using our skills and influence to improve the built environment and to maintain the integrity and quality of the natural and cultural environments in which we operate.

2008 Nepal Volunteer/Visit

For two weeks in October 2008, Associate Chad Groshart volunteered in Nepal with a grass-roots sustainable lighting initiative in conjunction with the Himalayan Light Foundation. During this time, Chad donated, delivered, and installed photovoltaic lighting systems for three schools in rural Nepali villages.

While in Nepal, Chad lived in villages with no electricity or running water to gain a better understanding of how electric lighting is a precious resource; he observed and learned how people’s lives are shaped by days almost completely without controllable lighting. Through Chad’s work with the school, the overcrowded classrooms were able to extend their teaching day to allow more children access to education and the community gained a place to congregate after dark to do homework and income producing handicrafts. Seeing how rural Nepalese do more with less light has direct application to Atelier Ten’s approach to designing lighting in the Western World.

As Atelier Ten’s lighting design practice leader, Chad’s US and international project work is centered on providing high-performance, low-energy, environmentally-responsible lighting design for large-scale commercial, institutional, and educational facilities.

Photos of this experience >

Envision

Throughout the 2008 – 09 school academic year, Emma Marchant, Senior Environmental Designer in our London office, helped sixth-form students at Clapton Girls Technology School develop environmental ideas that would make a difference in their local community. The girls successfully championed a recycling campaign to promote the importance of creatively reusing items they would usually throw away. Seeking to inspire local residents, the girls fashioned new clothing from household items. The team beat hundreds of participants in a national competition and were awarded £ 5,000 towards organising a public event to promote their message to the wider community.

Emma volunteers on a weekly basis with the Envision charity, which promotes active citizenship for 16-19 year olds in school through social and environmental projects. She finds the enthusiasm of the young people she works with “infectious”. They inspire her to find new ways of communicating ideas which she brings to her work at Atelier Ten. During 2010, Emma will be active as an Envision Youth Educator for locally-based Hackney Community College.

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		Philanthropy We are committed to using our skills and influence to improve the built environment and to maintain the integrity and quality of the natural and cultural environments in which we operate. 2008 Nepal Volunteer/Visit For two weeks in October 2008, Associate Chad Groshart volunteered in Nepal with a grass-roots sustainable lighting initiative in conjunction with the Himalayan Light Foundation. During this time, Chad donated, delivered, and installed photovoltaic lighting systems for three schools in rural Nepali villages. While in Nepal, Chad lived in villages with no electricity or running water to gain a better understanding of how electric lighting is a precious resource; he observed and learned how people’s lives are shaped by days almost completely without controllable lighting. Through Chad’s work with the school, the overcrowded classrooms were able to extend their teaching day to allow more children access to education and the community gained a place to congregate after dark to do homework and income producing handicrafts. Seeing how rural Nepalese do more with less light has direct application to Atelier Ten’s approach to designing lighting in the Western World. As Atelier Ten’s lighting design practice leader, Chad’s US and international project work is centered on providing high-performance, low-energy, environmentally-responsible lighting design for large-scale commercial, institutional, and educational facilities. Photos of this experience > Envision Throughout the 2008 – 09 school academic year, Emma Marchant, Senior Environmental Designer in our London office, helped sixth-form students at Clapton Girls Technology School develop environmental ideas that would make a difference in their local community. The girls successfully championed a recycling campaign to promote the importance of creatively reusing items they would usually throw away. Seeking to inspire local residents, the girls fashioned new clothing from household items. The team beat hundreds of participants in a national competition and were awarded £ 5,000 towards organising a public event to promote their message to the wider community. Emma volunteers on a weekly basis with the Envision charity, which promotes active citizenship for 16-19 year olds in school through social and environmental projects. She finds the enthusiasm of the young people she works with “infectious”. They inspire her to find new ways of communicating ideas which she brings to her work at Atelier Ten. During 2010, Emma will be active as an Envision Youth Educator for locally-based Hackney Community College.
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