150 Students Propose Solutions for Vacant Lot in Jeannette, PA
“Now in its eighteenth year, PHLF’s annual Architectural Design Challenge continues to amaze and inspire community members, architects, city planners, and our staff,” said Karen Cahall, Education Coordinator at PHLF.
This March 6 and 7, twenty-seven middle school teams and seven high school teams from various schools in Westmoreland County described their visions for renovating a two-story brick building at 506-08 Clay Avenue in Jeannette, PA and an adjacent vacant lot at 510 Clay Avenue. Team members spoke eloquently about their design concepts and displayed intricately crafted models, and in some cases poster-boards and hand-drawn elevations. More than 150 students participated and everyone devoted months of time brainstorming, researching, designing, and preparing their team presentations. PHLF thanks Jeannette High School for allowing the presentations to take place in the school auditorium and cafeteria.
Below is a gallery of 80 photos showing models presented by fourteen middle school teams from Westmoreland County Schools on March 6, 2014.
Below is a gallery of 65 photos showing models presented on March 7, 2014 by seven high school teams and thirteen middle school teams, all from Westmoreland County.
We thank the following judges for thoughtfully critiquing the students’ work and for awarding prizes: Carl Bolton of Carlton Bolton Design LLC; Barbara Ciampini, planning director for Greensburg; Danielle Doubet from the University of Pittsburgh’s Architectural Studies program; Steven Gifford of the Greensburg Community Development Corporation; Roger Hartung of IKM Inc.; Margie Hudson and Cathey Means of the Jeannette Area Historical Society; and Kelley Stroup, historic preservation consultant. Cinda Maxwell, the Gifted Support Teacher from Monessen High School, worked closely with PHLF staff to coordinate the 18th Annual Architectural Design Challenge.
High school student concepts for 506-508 Clay Avenue and the adjacent vacant lot included the following: flea market; pet rescue agency; grocery store (3); community center; and childcare center.
Middle school teams suggested the following uses for the building and vacant lot: grocery store (7); toy store with a café; bakery; arcade and laser tag facility; community center (3); performing arts center; unique food market with accompanying art gallery; catering; deli and accompanying office building; art museum (3); fitness center; apartments; ice cream and candy shop; extension of an already existing business (Mimi’s); restaurant; glass center museum; and cinema and arcade.
Click here for a list of Award Recipients from March 6.
Click here for the list of Award Recipients from March 7.
Congratulations to everyone who participated. To learn more about PHLF’s 19th Annual Architectural Design Challenge, contact Karen Cahall.