Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The HilltopThe Hilltop

MULTIMEDIA

Photo Essay: Inside the College of Engineering and Architecture

Witness the dedication of students who frequent the Howard H. Mackey Building, where innovation meets community on Howard University’s campus.

The Howard H. Mackey Building, half of them home to the College of Engineering and Architecture is one of the first campus structures visitors see. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)

The College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) at Howard University serves as a second home to many of its students. 

Select students within the school are not allowed to have a minor, so they spend nearly all of their time inside the Howard H. Mackey Building. As students of CEA, they have 24/7 access to, working on their architecture, computer science and engineering assignments. 

The walls are covered with floor plans and models dot the halls, alongside high-tech equipment such as 3D printers and a laser cutter students use to design. The school also has a strong sense of community, evident in the exchanges between students and professors who often speak to each other in the halls. 

“This is because our classes are quite small, ranging from 10 to 15 students at a time,” said third-year architecture major, Jenna Adjei. 

However, the interior of Howard’s College of Engineering and Architecture remains a mystery to those not enrolled in one of Howard’s undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. 

Offering a glimpse behind its doors, Hilltop photographer Tionne Thornton took a trip to the building students refer to as “Mackey,” to reveal the inside of Howard’s College of Engineering and Architecture.

A professor engages in a group discussion about the students’ model. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
A student prepares to use the laser cutter. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
Third-year architecture major Jenna Adjei sketches a model of a home before making a digital version. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
Third-year architecture major Amya Brown builds a digital model of her project. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
The Mackey Auditorium where many lectures are held sits empty in between classes. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
Students’ floor plans decorate the halls, giving insight into what they are working on. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
A model made from glue, cardboard and other materials. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
Third-year architecture major Jenna Adjei working on a presentation on “trauma-informed design,” an architectural approach designed to provide safe and calm environments. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop).
Materials students use for models are splayed out on a table in the Howard H. Mackey Building. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)
A “Mackey” classroom where students discuss their work in groups. (Tionne Thornton/The Hilltop)

Copy edited by D’ara Campbell

Advertisement

You May Also Like

NEWS

Democratic Socialist Janeese Lewis George, who currently serves as the councilmember for ward four, discussed her mayoral platform

Variety

Many African Americans have embarked upon a self- discovery journey to highlight the significance of their surnames.

NEWS

Scholars weigh historical comparisons, warning that today’s tensions differ from the 1860s but reflect enduring struggles over race and power.

SPORTS

Previous pregame protocols have shifted, impacting student-athletes’ ability to protest following internal conversations between athletics leadership and teams.

NEWS

Students react to the arrest of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort during nationwide anti-ICE protests.

INVESTIGATIVE

Many students claim to participate in boycotting, yet still support places that they critique.

SPORTS

While the NFL and collegiate football demonstrate diversity on the field, front office positions tell a different story.

NEWS

Joint strikes target Iranian leadership and military sites as Iran retaliates across the Middle East.

Variety

Howard students and local creatives power winter 2026 production spotlighting D.C. designers and community collaborators.

NEWS

New federal birth incentives raise concerns over racial equity, maternal health and reproductive autonomy.

CAMPUS

From 1968 to today, Howard students have used occupation and encampment as tools to demand a more just university.

SPORTS

Reports show a major increase in Black tennis participation, adding to a long legacy that features many Bison.

Variety

Generations of Howard highlight the effectiveness and legacy of protest on Howard’s campus and the role celebrities play.

CAMPUS

Two campus screenings examined civil rights history and modern struggles through film and student-led discussion.

Variety

Black History Month celebrations popped up all over D.C. during 100th anniversary of the national recognition