What happens when an elected official sees architecture not as a luxury, but as civic infrastructure? Through a sustained partnership, a city council member and an architecture educator worked together to weave design-build studios into the public fabric of downtown San Antonio. Three student-built installations emphasized that learning to design also means acting with civic intent. By navigating city systems and engaging local residents, students came to see public space as a place for civic exchange. Merging practice-based learning with civic partnership, the work reframes design-build as a means of cultivating civic awareness and a sense of public responsibility.