STUDENT NEWS
2020 ASID Student Charette Competition
T
he 2020 ASID Student Charette design competition was held on February 22 to benefit Project Veterans Pride – The James Walton Home. The James Walton Home is a certified Phoenix, Arizonabased qualified Charitable Organization, led by Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Dr. Christeen Verchot. The mission of this organization, founded by Dr. Verchot, is to have every homeless veteran gain back their pride and dignity so that they can return to society as a self-sufficient and productive member once again. On a rainy Saturday morning, design students from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Mesa Community College, Phoenix Community College and Scottsdale Community College, gathered at the SCC Campus to rethink and solve design issues of the current gathering space of as many as twenty veteran residents. Industry Partners from Tabarka Studio and Dunn-Edwards® offered the participants lunch and refreshments. Dr. Christeen Verchot and PVP Board member and US Navy Veteran Johnny Walker provided personal inspiration as they guided team-participants through a digital tour of the space. Because the installation of the actual project will rely on donations of materials and labor, the students developed a preliminary space plan. Design and materials composition considered durability, comfort factors and the flexibility of reconfiguration. Judges for the event included Angelica Henry, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Dr. Christeen Verchot ASID, Debbie Samartzis, ASID, Dede Radford, Allied ASID & Industry Partner and Jenny Slingerland, Allied ASID. These professional designers provided comments on the work of each project. And the winners: Jennifer Clancy, Marwah Asad and Shatha Altoyan of Team Desert Pride. “So many great ideas were presented, can we blend them?”, asked Dr.Verchot. The next phase of the project will involve students working alongside professional designers in real-world circumstances as they finalize the design for presentation to Dr.Verchot. Arizona North Chapter members will then turn to the design community and industry partners to provide materials and labor for installation of the project. The students will stay involved throughout the project. Another real-world aspect that has since occurred are the special precautions for residents’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic that must now be incorporated into the design. Project Veterans Pride – The James Walton Home “We’ve had to make accommodations in our current common areas to receive limited guests and to manage the comings-and-goings of our residents”, said Dr.Verchot. It is commendable that she reported four residents found work during the crisis in essential businesses in Phoenix, adding to her 90% success rate of veterans returned to our community with an optimistic outlook on their future. Local businesses that have already expressed an interest in participating as donors are Thoma-Holec Design, Dunn Edwards, Salt Creek Furniture and Monterrey Tile. We thank these businesses and volunteers, Michele Hartley, Normalinda Sidney, Arik Spaulding and Rachel Simmons for helping with this student event.
24 D ES ERT D ES I G N SPRI NG/S UMMER 2020
