The Penn Stater Magazine

We Love a Parade

September 7, 2011 at 5:04 pm Mary Murphy Leave a comment

The freshmen in Professor James Kalsbeek’s introductory architecture class probably didn’t expect to build anything during the first week of the semester—let alone the first 10 minutes.

The class of 13 first-year architecture majors, most of whom have little to no architectural experience, received their first assignment in ARCH 131 (Basic Design Studio) almost immediately: Work as a team to build a tower using only corrugated cardboard and twine. The tower must be as tall as possible, and sturdy enough to survive a lengthy parade around the Stuckeman Family Building, through the Palmer Museum plaza, and on to the Nittany Lion Shrine, all while hoisted on the students’ shoulders.

Inspired by the Giglio, or “dancing tower,” parades that Kalsbeek saw in Nola, Italy—where towers more than 80 feet high are carried by hundreds of men in elaborate street festivals—Professor Kalsbeek devised the project last year as a way to break the ice and introduce students to the challenges architects face.

The team’s creation, a 35-foot tower dubbed “signore” (or “to dream” in Italian), was ready for its maiden voyage last Wednesday. Our graphic designer, Jessie, and I walked over to the Stuckeman building to catch the parade, which, like authentic Gigli, was set to lively Italian music and led by a student in bandleader garb. Along with a modest crowd, we watched nervously as the team navigated stairs, hills, and confused pedestrians.

The outcome: Despite some minor damage to the spire, the tower remained intact for the entire journey. After the celebratory “hoots, hollers, dancing, and fist bumps,” explains Kalsbeek, the tower was brought back to the classroom, where it will remain for the rest of the semester. “The students are already talking about how they’ll decorate it for Christmas,” he says.

As for the team’s final grade, Kalsbeek has yet to assign one. “But if the goal was to create some class bonding at the beginning of the year,” he says, “then the Giglio gets a high mark. Literally.”

Mary Murphy, associate editor

Entry filed under: College of Arts and Architecture, Penn State faculty, Penn State students, Undergraduate students, University Park campus. Tags: Giglio, James Kalsbeek.