Cube is the 'go to' resource for built environment education.
The Center specializes in community-based education, bringing educators, students, and community partners together for positive change. The award-winning Box City and Walk Around the Block activity tools provide appropriate community outreach projects that reinforce the curriculum in relevant ways. Simple Lesson Plans support Box City and WAB.
Cube is about intentional design, making a difference in our built environment, and community-building! Facilitators can adapt the curriculum for any grade level, any site, and from a few hours to a full semester.
The Center for Understanding the Built Environment (Cube) brings together educators with community partners to effect change which will lead to a quality built and natural environment, one and interdependent. This means cities which work for adults and children; buildings and spaces which are healthy and aesthetically pleasing; streetscapes and landscapes which reach to the future while celebrating the past.
The ultimate goal of Cube is not simply to enable students to learn to value the built environment, nor is it just to improve their problem-solving and social skills. The central role of the Cube educational model is Responsible Action.
The Center for Understanding the Built Environment provides educational resources to teach children and adults about the value of engaged citizenry. The built environment [everything that is not nature] influences, affects, inspires, controls, allows us, in our every activity to be a participant or a subject.
Our Mission
Our Impact
The role of teaching does not just reside with the wonderful teachers that have employed Cube tools over the years. Planners, architects, government agencies & artists have all played an important part in the history of Cube. Integrated learning about community design is unique in built environment education. We all benefit from facilitating awareness of each citizen's ability to improve our neighborhoods
1.0+
Million dollars raised
More than raising money, Cube is about raising awareness
45+
Years serving communities
Cube has shared its teaching tools with teachers on every continent around the world
1.5+
Million students reached
Teaching teachers to teach students, Cube continues making a difference
Our partners are so important and we accomplish a lot together. The American Institute of Architects, AIA Kansas City, American Planning Association and other professional and service organizations have supported Cube over the years. Additionally, many related industry businesses have had a hand in keeping Cube activities in the forefront of built environment education. Importantly, AECOM, an international design firm, has supported Cube for many years with their annual fundraiser program.
In 1983, with help from architects, preservationists and educators, Ginny Graves, HAIA established the Center for Understanding the Built Environment. Joined by husband, Dean Graves, FAIA, Cube has taught thousands of school teachers, who in turn have helped hundreds of thousands of students to appreciate good design, preservation and planning with a comprehensive program of courses, workshops, newsletters and teaching guides which serve both a local and national audience.
Cube is a registered 501(C)(3) not-for profit corporation.
Cube programs have been recognized for excellence by The American Institute of Architects; The National Trust for Historic Preservation; The National Endowment for the Arts; The State of Kansas Governor’s Arts Award; The Kansas Arts Commission; The Missouri Arts Council; The Urban Network; The National Continuing Education Association and others.
