Lake Central students claim 7 of 11 statewide design awards

ST. JOHN | Lake Central High School students captured an impressive 7 of the 11 prizes awarded by the American Institute of Architects in its Indiana High School Architectural Design Competition this spring.

One hundred students from 12 school participated, but only three schools took home prizes - all from Northwest Indiana. In addition to Lake Central's haul, Merrillville High School earned three awards and one Porter County Career Center student was honored.

All accomplished in their drafting and engineering classes, the entrants competed to design a pavilion for the fictitious Indiana Outdoors Council. Part of the directive was to design a logo for the IOC, as well as a temporary structure that would be relocated throughout the state to promote the enjoyment and utilization of the outdoors. Modeling software was utilized to enable the students to express their creativity and architectural understanding.

Three Award of Excellence winners received a certificate, trophy and $500 prize, while five students earned Award of Honor certificates and $200 prize money. Three students were recognized with certificates as Judges' Award winners.

Award of Excellence winners are William Pollalis and Emily Miles, both of Lake Central, and Jason Strimbu, a repeat winner from Merrillville High School.

Award of Honor winners are Erik Plesha, Zachary Rees and Brian Clemens, all from Lake Central, and Alejandro Serrano and Brandon Shea, both from Merrillville.

Judges' Award winners are Mathew Dittman and William Sisk, both from Lake Central, and Ian Rack from the Porter County Career Center.

Lake Central winners were taught by Garrett Gray, while Steven Prather is the Merrillville High instructor and Bill Guinee teaches at the Porter County Career Center.

Other participating schools are Bishop Chatard, Carmel, Cascade, Cathedral, Goshen, North Central, and Valparaiso high school, the C4-Columbus Area Career Connection and the Walker Career Center.

Event judges were AIA Indianapolis Chapter President Lisa Gomperts; the Rev. Richard Bullene, assistant dean and associate professional specialist at the University of Notre Dame; Harry Eggink, professor of architecture at Ball State University; Michel Mounayar, associate dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State; and John Albrecht of DkGr Architects.