AIA CoVA x ForKids Pop-Up Park

11 weeks total project duration

4 design installations across 3 sites at the Landmark Center

80+ volunteers from 13 AEC firms, 5 organizations, and 2 schools

150+ children and families in attendance

In addition to the design installations, the event featured STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) activity stations, food trucks, a bounce house, and music performances from the School of Rock.

For this year’s project, AIA CoVA partnered with ForKids, a local nonprofit that supports homeless families and children through housing, education, and essential services. This collaboration allowed us to engage deeply with the South Norfolk community and gain valuable insights into trauma-informed design. By creating vibrant and joyful spaces, our pop-up park aims to provide a safe haven for children who have experienced homelessness, enhance community well-being, and inspire lasting positive change.

The team set an ambitious goal of creating four design installations across three sites to extend impact and provide more opportunities for interaction and connection. Inspired by the existing pollinator garden and the many flower beds surrounding the Landmark Center, this year’s pop-up park adopted the “Butterfly Garden” theme. This theme aligns with ForKids' mission of offering a nurturing environment where children and families can “thrive, not just survive.” Just as a butterfly undergoes a transformative journey of growth, so too do the families supported by ForKids.

by Tony Lin

The Caterpillar Bench is a playful and vibrant focal point for the pop-up park. The colorful installation invites multiple forms of interaction—climbing, sitting, sliding, jumping, or peering through its playful porthole windows.

by Adeline Chen

Behind the ForKids building, a small butterfly habitat provides a natural resting place for urban butterflies — a sanctuary where they can pause and rejuvenate. Much like this miniature butterfly garden, ForKids offers a foundational shelter for families and children in the city, a place of safety and support.Before a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, it transforms into a chrysalis, wrapped in a strong and delicate shell, preparing for the moment when it can spread its wings and take flight. This natural metamorphosis mirrors the journey of personal growth, and the four installations at the Pop-Up Park reflect this very cycle of becoming.We long to grow. We seek shelter. We desire engagement.

Light and Sound

The installation seeks to reflect the concept of guardianship and the unique characteristics that a chrysalis embodies. Many chrysalises have luminous shells, and we aimed to capture this trait by creating an installation that refracts light. With time and budget constraints in mind, we chose polycarbonate as the primary material, which is durable and accessible. Adding translucent color sprays and dichroic film creates a dynamic and ethereal quality.

The structure includes hanging polycarbonate tiles, resembling a row of chrysalises. The breeze stirs them into a gentle dance, creating a soft symphony of whispers. Under sunlight, the dichroic film shifts colors and refracts light. The light flutters like butterflies across the grass as the wind blows, adding vibrancy and whimsy to the space.

The final canopy design was selected from a series of nine designs. The repeating floral pattern was chosen to increase efficiency during assembly and evoke the image of polycarbonate tiles hanging like chrysalises nestled among flowers.

by Mariya Anwar + Zoque Wahid

Site Background

The side lot of the ForKids building currently provides an inadequate experience for resident children and visitors, as it has become neglected and visually uninviting. The adjacent sidewalk, heavily used by visitors entering the building, makes this area a key focal point. However, this underutilized space presents a valuable opportunity to be transformed into a vibrant, family-friendly environment where the community and children can engage, play, and enjoy a more welcoming atmosphere.

Design Approach

The design, themed around a Butterfly Garden, transforms an underutilized dumpster wall into a vibrant "Flower Wall" and repurposes three transformer boxes into colorful, engaging features facing the parking lot. The goal is to create an inspiring, playful, educational, and value-driven space for children.

Given its placement on a brick wall, careful attention was paid to selecting colors that are fun, visually appealing, and radiate positive energy.

The wall's two main features are the "Flower of Emotion," an interactive spin wheel that helps kids learn about expressing their feelings, and the "Flower of Kindness," a value-driven game that teaches the importance of kindness. These focal points are surrounded by smaller spin-able, playable flowers, forming a lively mural that includes butterflies, abstract clouds, and a sun, making the wall come alive with engaging activities. The adjacent sidewalk also features playful games to enhance the experience for kids, visitors, and the community upon arrival.

The second component of the design focuses on integrating the transformer boxes with the overall theme. Each side is painted with colorful, captivating designs that evoke curiosity and surprise, creating delightful moments for those passing by. These transformer boxes transform into cheerful installations, serving as "happy encounters" within the side lot. They invite people to pause, engage with the artwork, and experience a sense of connection. These design elements, drawn from the Flower Wall, radiate positivity and warmth, offering children and the community a welcoming, playful space to explore and enjoy.

by Holly McNeilly +Andre Rezai (VIA Design)

Site Background

Located on the front plaza of ForKids, the Butterfly sculpture greets visitors as they arrive, serving as a vibrant introduction to the Pop-Up Park. Its bold colors ensure that it captures attention not only as you approach the building, but from Poindexter St. as well. Additionally, tan pavers weave through the brick pattern of the plaza, guiding pedestrians from the sidewalk to the entrance. Intentionally positioned along these pathways, the Butterfly interacts cohesively with the surrounding hardscape, creating an inviting atmosphere that draws you in.

Design Approach

Serving as a welcoming point for the Pop-Up Park, the sculpture was designed to invite the public in while embodying the “Butterfly Garden” theme. Its design symbolizes a butterfly about to take flight, representing transformation and new beginnings. Visitors can interact with the sculpture by standing in front of the wings, creating the illusion that the wings are part of their own figure.

The Butterfly features open slots along the wings, to allow visibility and light to pass through. Assembled with hinges between two of the wings, the wings can gracefully open and close. This versatility allows them to be easily transported and used for other purposes such as space dividers within a room.