Since 2015 students in the Prairie View A&M University, School of Architecture have participated in a service learning studio focused on real world solutions for gentrification, climate change and flooding faced by the historically first African American City in Texas, Independence Heights/ Studewood. This studio fosters social agency and environmental justice through sustainable design in the built environment.
Student Designs for affordable housing and community spaces have won the US Department of Energy, Race to Zero Energy Home Competition several years in a row, a 2016 Houston Design Award, and several other national awards. Most recently, a Harvey Recovery grant was received to fulfill a design vision for community space.