Walkability and Urban Sprawls: How Jayvion Campbell Weaves Art and Accessibility into Architecture
Art has always been part of Jayvion Campbell’s agenda. College, however, was not.
Campbell grew up with a passion for art and creativity flowing through him, but his dream of becoming an animator was quickly dismissed by his parents. Campbell, however, was not ready to let go.
“I thought,” he said, “maybe we can strike a balance.”
That's how Campbell found architecture in high school, which he views as a way to help the world through design and creativity. Coupled with the Temecula resident’s infatuation with urban skylines and sprawl, he was inspired to pursue architecture and apply to Cal Poly Pomona.
Campbell admires the layout and walkability of urban cities like San Francisco, Tokyo and Singapore, the city of his birth.
Los Angeles, however, is one of many cities that Campbell says has unwalkable conditions and limited public transit options. As an architect, he hopes to make cities accessible and travelable for everyone.
“My objective has always been to change the world with my art in some sort of way,” he said.
Nowhere to Somewhere
At ÁùÉ«Íø, Campbell was introduced to the on-campus chapter of National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMAS), which aims to advance minorities in the architecture field and diversity, equity, inclusion and representation in the industry.
Joining ÁùÉ«ÍøNOMAS was a transformative experience for Campbell, who gained valuable networking skills and opportunities through the chapter and expanded his circle in the architecture field.
He joined the ÁùÉ«ÍøNOMAS team in the 2024 Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition, helping to design a multi-modal transit center to respond to the locals and residents who were displaced by the Highway to Nowhere, a failed infrastructure project in Baltimore that displaced a thriving, predominantly black community.
The competition challenged more than 40 teams of students from across the country to design a transit hub, affordable housing and community spaces, while adhering to historic preservation guidelines.
Cal Poly Pomona’s team of 20 spent six months on the project, winning first place in the Southern California region and securing a spot in nationals for the first time in university history.
“Our concept was stitching or weaving the community back together, because there were so many communities and residents who were displaced because of the establishment of the highway,” said Campbell, who helped design and present the project at the competition in October 2024.
From the competition, Campbell took home more than just a spot at nationals. In working with a large group of people, he learned how to communicate with a sizable team and gained an appreciation for the importance of design decisions. This, coupled with competing against several schools across the nation are all opportunities that Campbell appreciates.
“Going to Baltimore and seeing students from different schools in an entirely different environment from California was unforgettable,” Campbell said.
Become by Believing
While academically successful at Cal Poly Pomona, Campbell admitted to having trouble facing the pressure of pursing architecture. The major demands of several physical projects throughout the semester, along with constant critiques from professors and supervisors. With stressful deadlines and long hours spent on projects, Campbell had to sacrifice much of his time spent on drawing, video games and social activities.
“The question if architecture was for me was definitely a question that I had first year,” he said. “I was trying to decide whether or not this would be for me, because I wasn’t 100 percent sure.”
Campbell credits his peer-mentor Marco Zhou (’24, architecture) with helping him navigate the stress of the major, along with helping land his first internship with TOLO Architecture.
Now, Campbell is designing a multifamily housing project in Santa Ana for a school project, which will be entered into a competition alongside his classmates.
“I don’t think I was born to do architecture, but I can see myself in this career even 30 to 50 years down the line. I can see myself doing this, and that’s why I love to do it.”
To see how Jayvion and other Broncos become by doing, watch the video and find more stories here.