CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Interior Design students win top prizes in student design competition

Two teams of Conestoga Bachelor of Interior Design students were awarded second and third-place prizes in an annual student design competition.

Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Grand Valley and Toronto chapters host the annual competition open to students enrolled in architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, interior design and various construction management programs.

Each year, a site of significant historic, architectural or community interest is chosen as a post-secondary student case study. The site selected for this year's design challenge was 50 Grand Ave. S., in Galt's historic Gaslight District, and projects needed to be hospitality focused.

"The CSC Student Design competition is one I look forward to every year, as it provides an opportunity for our students to further explore their creativity and innovative design thinking in a competitive environment," said professor Sarah Turner.

Winning projects were displayed at a networking event held at the Region of Waterloo International Airport on September 11.

The Fountain, designed by third-year students Madalynne Bouwmeester, Sydney Detweiler and Olivia Restoule, earned third place and $500. The Fountain is a luxury lounge and night club intended for working professionals with disposable income looking to enjoy a night out with friends, private date nights or an event arranged in the private nightclub. The atmosphere encapsulates the iconic Roaring Twenties with a midnight closing time.

Discovery Box, designed by third-year students Morgan Ernest, Gwen Shoniker and Shelumini Warnakulasuriya Fernando, earned second place and $1,000. Discovery Box is a children's museum that encourages them to think outside of the box. The design of the space pays homage to the history of the building while incorporating innovative technologies throughout the space to create an immersive and stimulating experience for children to learn and play.

"The student's designs focused on the importance of adaptive re-use strategies to enhance their significance in the community. Their submissions have impressed the community with their creativity and evidence-based design solutions," Turner said. "The students worked tremendously hard on their entries, and I am extremely proud of what they produced for their final design."

Conestoga's Bachelor of Interior Design is a four-year program that provides students with the theoretical, practical and technical skills that reflect the interior design profession. Through a comprehensive curriculum delivered by an interdisciplinary faculty, the program prepares students to apply an integrated approach to interior design solutions for the built environment and its occupants, and meet the demands of technological changes and currency with respect to sustainability, universal design, and health and safety. Included are two co-operative education work term opportunities that provide students with relevant experience to complement their academic studies.