Old Donation School Students Create Cardboard Living Room

Students in Virginia Beach designed a scale-model living room set using sustainable cardboard materials.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Interior Decorating

Old Donation School Students Create Cardboard Living Room

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Middle school students at Old Donation School in Virginia Beach have constructed a detailed, scale-model living room set made entirely from cardboard. The exhibit, which includes a sofa, fireplace, and dog, is now open for viewing at the campus.

Why it matters

This hands-on initiative teaches students essential skills in 3D construction, structural design, and proportion. By researching material costs and design constraints, participants develop creative problem-solving abilities within a classroom setting.

The project features a scale-model couch, fireplace, and dog created by students in grades 6-8. Funding for the materials was provided by a grant secured through the Virginia Beach Education Foundation and donated by PACE Collaborative.

The players

Old Donation School

This educational institution in Virginia Beach serves as the site for the student art installation.

Virginia Beach Education Foundation

This organization works to secure funding and grants to support educational projects for local students.

PACE Collaborative

This entity provided the financial donations necessary to fund the materials used in the student project.

The details

Over several weeks, students researched design logistics and material costs to build their cardboard furniture set. The project emphasizes structural integrity and creative design, requiring participants to calculate proportions and build 3D models from scratch.

October 2026: The project is on display at Old Donation School.

Culture Shift

This project reflects a growing cultural shift toward project-based learning that integrates artistic expression with structural engineering. By utilizing everyday materials like cardboard, students are engaging with sustainable design concepts that mirror modern movements in DIY home improvement and architecture.

Local residents and parents can visit the school to view the students work in person. The project demonstrates how basic household materials can be used for sophisticated interior design tasks at home.

The takeaway

This project highlights how simple, low-cost materials can serve as an effective medium for learning complex design and engineering principles. Parents can encourage similar creative problem-solving at home by challenging children to replicate household furniture using repurposed cardboard boxes.