Skip To Main Content
  • Academics
  • Alumni
IDS, Architects of George & Mary Turek Hall of Science, Lead Career Conference

Catholic Central welcomed Integrated Design Solutions (IDS), designers of the George & Mary Turek Hall of Science, to campus Tuesday to speak to students interested in architecture careers as part of the Career Conferences series sponsored by the Counseling and Advancement & Alumni Relations Offices. 

IDS Senior VP Director of Finance Bruce Snyder '84 CEM, LEED AP BD+C; VP Director of Athletics & Recreational Sports Mark Reaves AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB; and Senior Associate Adrain La Tona AIA, NCARB, walked students through the process of building the Hall of Science–from initial planning, to design reflecting the school’s rich tradition and commitment to cutting-edge technology, to construction. They also shared practical steps involved in becoming an architect, what life at an architecture firm looks like, other career opportunities within architecture, and discussed famous buildings and architects that inspire them. 

Mr. Snyder inspired students to invest their time and effort first and foremost in themselves, discovering where their passions and strengths align. 

“When we talk about what you want to be, it's a big decision when you’re 16 years old,” said Mr. Snyder. “You hear a lot about pursuing your passion, but you also need to discover for yourself what you’re good at and where you can bring an industry value. When you figure out what you’re good at, what gifts God has given you, pursue that.That’s what will give you the most amount of happiness,” he said.  

Mr. La Tona spoke about the wide range of careers available within architecture and what sets his career as a designer apart, designing buildings for institutions affecting countless lives over tens to potentially hundreds of years. 

“What exactly do we do? At a very basic level, we take background information and research, inspired by the hopes and goals of our clients, to build a building that is really a story, a vision about who they want to become, who they feel they should become,” said Mr. La Tona. “It’s difficult work. A lot of what we do is designing for the future, and I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t know what the future is. The way we work to solve that problem is beginning with a clear purpose and a clearly defined outcome. In between that, we work to design experiences and behaviors that help us bridge the gap between our beginning purpose and our desired outcome,” he said. 

Mr. Reaves shared with students his story of choosing architecture, recounting how growing up he saw the importance of designing unique spaces to fit the differing needs of individuals.   

“I never understood why my neighbors and I all had the same house when we each lived such different lives from one another,” Mr. Reaves said. “There had to be something more, something unique,” he said. 

In high school, Mr. Reaves discovered the works of world famous architects and quickly became inspired. Now, working at IDS, Mr. Reaves and his firm have had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the very architects that inspired him long ago, such as Iraqi-British architect Dame Zaha Hadid for the design of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University. 

Detroit Catholic Central High School is proud to partner with innovators such as IDS in the build of the George & Mary Turek Hall of Science.

The Catholic Central Career Conference series brings alumni to campus to speak to sophomore and junior students interested in particular career paths. The alumni share valuable insights about their profession, their story, and recommendations to students seeking a career in a similar field. There are career conferences on medicine, business/entrepreneurship, finance, engineering, law/law enforcement, marketing, and journalism. If you are a student interested in attending a career conference, please contact your counselor.

More News

  • Activities
Eagle Scout, OCIT Candidate Brennan Laing ‘23 On Cusp of US Olympics

Maintaining his #1 state ranking, Laing now continues onto the Junior Olympic National Championships this April at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He is on the cusp of being part of the US Olympic development team for shooting sports, with a chance to be part of the Paris 2024 Olympics for Team USA.

Read More about Eagle Scout, OCIT Candidate Brennan Laing ‘23 On Cusp of US Olympics
  • Activities
Max Stossel (Social Awakening) Speaks to Students about Social Media Pitfalls

Max Stossel spoke to Catholic Central students in an all-school assembly Monday about the pitfalls of social media. Stossel spoke specifically about how these apps are designed to be addictive and some of the negative ways that they can impact our self-image, relationships with friends, family, and those around us. 

Read More about Max Stossel (Social Awakening) Speaks to Students about Social Media Pitfalls
  • Activities
Evan Kinter ‘23 Earns Eagle Rank

Evan Kinter ‘23 achieved a major milestone recently by earning the distinguished Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts of America. His accomplishment shows determination and dedication and  encompasses leadership skills, service to the community, and skill-building activities. Through this process, Evan has gained essential life skills needed to become successful as he goes through life. 

Read More about Evan Kinter ‘23 Earns Eagle Rank
  • Activities
  • Alumni
Pete Davis '95 Shares Insights on Business Leadership and Personal Growth

Detroit Catholic Central High School welcomed back alumnus Pete Davis '95, President & CEO of IMPACT Management Services, on Friday, March 17 as part of the school's DRIVE Development Day series. The series brings professional learning opportunities to students across grade levels to hone their leadership skills and gain real-world experience.

Read More about Pete Davis '95 Shares Insights on Business Leadership and Personal Growth