< PreviousAs Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) cel- ebrates the 30th anniversary of Rural Studio this year, faculty and students are reflecting on accomplishments and looking ahead to the next 30 years. Since its inception, Rural Studio stu- dents and faculty have built more than 220 homes, parks and community build- ings in West Alabama. Through a com- munity-engaged design process, the program has sought to educate future architects while addressing complex challenges in rural communities. Rural Studio is asking the Auburn community to help ensure this import- ant work continues and has launched a campaign to establish 30 named en- dowments for donors or donor groups, each with a pledge of $30,000 over the next five years. In 1993, architecture faculty mem- bers Samuel “Sambo” Mockbee and D.K. Ruth cofounded Rural Studio, a design-build architectural education program in Hale County, Alabama. What could have been a one-off class project, instead grew into a strong academic pro- gram based on community partnership. Led by Andrew Freear and Rusty Smith, Rural Studio has grown to have a lasting state, national and international impact. “Rural Studio’s work reflects place and people through the design process, material choices and priorities,” said Freear, director and Wiatt Professor in CADC’s School of Architecture, Plan- ning and Landscape Architecture. “We believe that everyone should have a beautiful and resilient place to live, and that good design can help solve prob- lems. These values will follow our gradu- ates as they go into practice.” Auburn undergraduate architecture students have an opportunity to study at Rural Studio in the third and fifth year of the professional program. Students work directly with community stakeholders in the design process and work with faculty and staff to construct the project. Built projects have included the Newbern Library, Greensboro Boys & Girls Club, Lions Park projects, Hale County Animal Shelter, Akron Senior Center, Rural Her- itage Center and dozens of innovative homes that aim to be beautiful, afford- able, durable and efficient. Rural Studio and its projects have been featured in more than 800 publica- tions and recognized with more than 30 awards from institutions such as Cooper Hewitt, the American Institute of Archi- tects, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the National Academy of Design. The work has also been featured in exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art, Venice Architecture Biennale and the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 2017, Rural Studio established the Front Porch Initiative, which works to bring high-performance, afford- able homes to communities across the Southeast. The Front Porch Initiative is currently partnering with 15 affordable housing providers across seven states to adapt designs to community needs and develop sustainable development plans in high-need and disaster-affected com- munities. Through those partnerships, the Front Porch Initiative brings the lessons learned at Rural Studio to communities in the region that are facing similar chal- lenges, expanding reach and providing a practical application of design research across diverse contexts. “The work at Rural Studio relates di- rectly to Auburn’s mission to provide transformational student experiences through research and creative work to improve the quality of life in the state and region,” said Karen Rogers, CADC’s in- terim dean. “This signature study-away, design-build program equips students with hands-on practical experience and the opportunity to use their design skills to make beautiful buildings that contrib- ute to a sense of identity and pride in the community. We are excited to celebrate this milestone anniversary and look ahead to how this work can continue and grow.” Learn more about the work at Rural Studio and get involved in the 30th an- niversary celebration. UNIVERSITY NEWS BY JESSICA HOLMES 50 UNIVERSITY NEWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM Rural Studio Director and Wiatt Professor Andrew Freear works with students to construct the first new public building in 110 years for the town of Newbern. He lives in the West Alabama community where he ad- ministers the program and supervises design-build projects. For the past 30 years, Auburn’s Rural Studio has educated future architects and addressed complex challenges in rural communities. Rural Studio has focused some projects on building with locally available, renewable materials such as timber. One of these projects was building a firehouse in Newbern. The structure houses three fire trucks and satisfies the town’s need for a place to house community gatherings. DESIGNING FOR PLACE: 30 YEARS OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES Photo by Tim Hursley Photo by Tim HursleyPhoto by Keith IsaacsCardiacandVascularAwards from EastAlabamaMedicalCenteristheONLYhospital inAlabamatobeamongthetop5% ofhospitalsnationwideforcardiacsurgery! 2023Women'sChoiceAwardsBestHospitalsfor CancerCare,Orthopedics,andObstetrics Congratulationstoourstaff forearningtheseprestigiousawards! ServingOpelika,Auburn,Valleyandan11-countycoveragearea52 ON THE PLAINS WITH ZION PUCKETT Facing adversity is nothing new to fifth-year Tiger Zion Puckett. Through- out his life, the Auburn defensive back has taken challenges head on and has come out strong on the other side. After navigating through multiple coaching staffs, a pandemic and other hardships on and off the field, Puckett is proud of where he is now in his final sea- son on the Plains. “You just have to love being uncom- fortable,” Puckett said of overcoming adversity. “You have to have that drive to be uncomfortable all the time. I just try to put myself in an uncomfortable position so that I can excel through it because it isn’t going to last forever. “Once you learn how to cope and go through things that are tough, how to think things out – you’re going to come out better on the other side. I have al- ways loved Auburn and still love it. I feel that staying here through all of what we’ve gone through has helped me be- come who I am today. I’m a firm believer that if you start something, you have to finish.” Puckett got his start in football at a young age and as he grew in the sport, he knew it was the right path for him for the future. “I was pretty good at basketball, but I felt like football was the best route for me,” he said. “I started playing when I was nine. I was very energetic, and I en- joyed tackling people. The sport helped me out when stuff was going on outside the field, and I just wanted to be the best I could be at football.” Puckett’s path to Auburn was made possible by not just his own hard work, but with the guidance of people throughout his childhood. “Shout out to my high school coach Nick Davis,” Puckett said. “The things I learned from him helped me transition to college. He showed me that you had to work out, eat a certain way, have good grades. He just instilled in me everything I needed to be successful.” Puckett put in the work throughout high school and was not only a suc- cessful all-state football player but was a three-time honor roll student at Spal- ding High School in Griffin, Georgia. He used his drive and determination to graduate high school early and enrolled at Auburn in January 2019. “I took classes in the summer just to graduate high school early,” Puckett said. “I felt that this was the right way for me. Everything I do, I always have a plan. I wanted to get here and get a step up. It had always been my plan even before I signed.” Now, five football seasons later with the Tigers, Puckett has a degree and is a leader in the safeties room. He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Harbert College of Business in May. A two-year starter in the second- ary, Puckett has more than 100 career tackles for Auburn. With so many snaps under his belt, he is excited to be a lead- er for a DB group that has a mixture of youth and experience. “We’re really close,” Puckett said. “Coach (Zac) Etheridge, when he came back, he just wanted to put the fun back into the room. Having that brotherhood in your room will help you play better when you understand what another person is going through, and I hope that I can be that person to help lead our room.” Puckett is ready to be the best team- mate he can be while also preparing for what’s next after Auburn. “My goal is to do what I need to do to help the team and enjoy the time being with my teammates,” he said. “I’m the older guy now and am in more of a role model position like the ones who came before me.” Luckily for Puckett, he had a group of solid defensive backs to look up to when he was younger, learning from players like now-pros Daniel Thomas and Roger McCreary. “What I learned from them is how to prepare the right way,” Puckett said. “Pay attention to the details. Just take everything in each and every day.” Now it’s Puckett’s turn to leave his own imprint at Auburn. How will he be remembered? “I’d love for my legacy to be that I treated everybody well,” Puckett said. “That I did everything the right way. Ev- erything might not have been flashy, but I did it by the book. I was authentic.” ON THE PLAINS WITH ZION PUCKETT BY KENDRA WILLARD AUBURNTIGERS.COM EVERYTHING THE RIGHT WAYDINE IN // DELIVERY // CURBSIDE // CATERING Opelika 2664 Enterprise Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 GO TIGERS!54 2023 STADIUM MAP 2023 STADIUM MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM SOUTH CLUB BROADWAY CLUB NORTH CLUB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 14 14 13 151617181920 383940414243 3744 44 45 46 46 36 37 35 35 21 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 100 99 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 AUBURN VISITOR 23 23 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9 8U 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 20 21 BILL & CONNIE NEVILLE LOBBY 0 EXIT GATE STUDENT GATE STUDENT GATE EAST UPPER DECK ACCESS ONLY SOUTH SERVICE GATE FOOTBALL RECRUITING SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE HD VIDEOBOARD NEVILLE ARENA MIKE & JANE McCARTNEY BRICK PLAZA TICKET OFFICE SALES & PICK-UP GAMEDAY TRANSIT & FANFEST (NS PASS) NORTH STADIUM LOT VISITOR TICKET SALES HARBERT FAMILY RECRUITING CENTER AUBURN PLAYER GUEST EXIT GATEVISITING TEAM LOCKER ROOM SUITE TICKET PICK-UP STUDENT GATE SOUTH NORTH WEST EAST BROADWAY CLUB & MEDIA CREDENTIALS TIGER WALK CLUB ENTRANCE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES 11 10 TIGERWALK TICKET SALES TICKET SALES BROADWAY CLUB ONLY HRC ONLY ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP 1U VISITING PLAYER GUEST & VISITING FAN TICKET PICK-UP ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP NORTH SERVICE GATE OLYMPIC SPORT RECRUITING Entry GateElevator First Aid Tiger Babies LEGEND Charging Station Student Section Seating bowl closed to non-students Team Shop Medical Bag Entry Special Access Statues Guest Services ADA Shuttle56 2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP 2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP LEGEND 57 2023 AUBURN PARKING LEGEND AUBURNTIGERS.COM© 2022 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. Explore more in an E‑Z‑GO® Express ™ vehicle designed to custom fit your lifestyle with the all‑new Express packages. Scan the QR code or go to ezgo.com/personal/build and start building yours today! 160 Inverness Plaza, Birmingham, AL 35242 205.769.6355 | www.diamondgolfcars.com STANDARD PACKAGEEXPLORER PACKAGE EXPRESS YOURSELF COMMUTER PACKAGECRUISER PACKAGENext >