GNS Grade 7 Students Reimagine Cities Through AI, 3D Design, and Urban Planning

This spring, Grade 7 students at Glenlyon Norfolk School embarked on a forward-thinking Urban Design project that blended AI, hands-on creativity, and real-world expertise. Guided by our newest Design teacher, Mr. Ted Ani, students explored how thoughtful city planning and design can shape vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities.

The journey began with a walking exploration of our local neighbourhood. Students observed how public spaces are laid out to support community connection, access to amenities, and a sense of place. This experiential learning helped them identify features used by urban designers and city planners to foster livable environments.

To deepen their understanding, students met with Monica Vogt, a landscape architect with the City of Victoria. Monica shared insights into the planning and consultation process behind major urban projects, including how materials are sourced and how design decisions can meaningfully impact the lives of residents. Her professional perspective helped students see how local initiatives connect with broader ideas of sustainability, equity, and community engagement.

With this foundational knowledge, students turned to the innovative tool Flint AI, a teacher-led platform that provides a safe, sandboxed environment for student experimentation using AI as a research partner. Under Mr. Ani’s guidance, students used Flint to design their own ideal cities—applying concepts they had explored while learning how AI can enhance the creative process and support systems-level thinking.

From their digital cities, students then selected a specific building or community amenity to bring to life using Tinkercad, a 3D modelling platform. They designed, 3D printed, and hand-painted their creations, each reflecting the unique values and priorities of their imagined cities.

The project culminated in an exciting collaborative challenge: assembling their individual structures into one shared metropolis. This final step emphasized the importance of interconnectedness and demonstrated how urban design must consider not just individual creativity but also shared space and mutual impact. The final cityscape was a vibrant testament to student innovation, collaboration and their growing understanding of the built environment.

This urban design project represents the kind of meaningful, multi-disciplinary learning that defines the GNS Design program. By combining real-world insights, digital tools, hands-on creation and global thinking, our students developed both practical skills and a deeper appreciation for the communities they live in—and the ones they might one day help to build.