Student designers building for the future
Homebuilder sponsoring LC challenge
They’ll be southern Alberta’s home designers of the future. But at Lethbridge College, students have been challenged to come up with winning designs this spring. And for one team of students in the college’s interior design technology program, their plan will become a real home this summer.
Ashcroft Master Builder, a participant in the successful “College Home” initiative, is sponsoring the “Ashcroft Design Challenge” as part of its ongoing support for college programs. And it’s going a step further, offering the college its profit on the home.
Instructor Cherie Reitzel says 15 teams — one first-year student, one secondyear — were given their specifications early this year.
*The home, to be built on an identified lot in the Garry Station neighbourhood, was to be about 1,800 square feet. It would rise to two storeys, and offer three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a two-car attached garage.
“It would be a young family’s home,” she expects.
Teams presented their proposals early this month, and Ashcroft was to select three finalists. The winning plan will be announced during the class’s gala “Surrender” celebration at the college on April 25.
Though the home will be built this summer, Reitzel says, those attending the public event this month will be able to “walk through” it in virtual reality.
Dave Bodell, sales manager and a partner in the Lethbridge company, says Ashcroft was pleased to support building trades technology programs through the five-year “College Home” initiative.
That saw a number of trades companies, suppliers and home builders raise funds for the college’s new Trades and Technology addition.
Now it was time to do something different, he says.
“We’ve worked with the trades people. What could we do with the design students?” So Ashcroft issued the challenge. “It’s really interesting to see what they’ve come up with,” Bodell says. “It’s refreshing. They have some incredible ideas.”
And how one team will see it’s design taken to the marketplace. “We’ll built it and sell it,” after fasttracking construction through the summer.
“We want to have it open prior to the Parade of Homes,” held each September.
Funds donated by Ashcroft will support scholarships and internships, college officials say.
“We see it as an investment in the future,” Bodell says. “It’s very worth it.”