Hector Trujillo/Staff Writer

Six architectural designs by students from Cal Poly have been selected as possible choices for creating a new community center in Nipomo.

The third-year architectural design students were selected from a class of 18 whose work was also considered.

“We liked what the students did and felt the student's work fit in well with Nipomo's architectural style,” said Becky Crowe, Nipomo Recreation Association executive director. “The selected designs fit in well with Nipomo's atmosphere.”

The students are part of a class that covers several architectural topics, including design conception, site analysis and synthesis, precedent study and program development, and site building design development.

“They have been trying to get this project started for a long time, and somehow our professor heard about it,” said Sarah Dapper, whose design was one of those selected for further consideration.

“The clients wanted to see what we could come up with and what we could do.”

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The designs were divided in to two parts that took a total of 10 weeks to complete. The second part, which lasted a month, included revisions on each other's designs based on feedback from independent observers.

“I have always been interested in the arts and in technical things like the computers,” Dapper added. “In high school, I started going out to visit architecture firms to see what they are about, and it sounded like something I was interested in.”

The six students were also invited to take part in a fundraiser May 5 at the Edwards Barn in Nipomo. The event is intended to help raise funding for building of the community center.

“We hope to raise $25,000. The project has yet to be approved by the county, though,” Crowe added. “We selected the designs because they had all the amenities needed in a community center such as classrooms, a theater and a gym.”

The Nipomo Recreation Association is a nonprofit organization that provides, maintains and sustains facilities for use in the greater Nipomo area.

“My design focused more on versatility and making it useful for senior citizens as well as the children who are there,” said Elyse Benson.

“I thought this was an easier project because it was more specific,” she explained.

“In the past, you just have really broad concepts; but in this one, you really had to pay attention to the needs of the community.”

The San Luis Obispo County Parks Commission is scheduled today to receive a presentation of the proposed Nipomo Community Park Master Plan, among other items on its agenda.

“Our next step is to have an environmental assessment done,” said San Luis Obispo County Parks Manager Pete Jenny. “We will be listening for recommendations from the community to best sort this out.”

March 22, 2007