By Julie Sharp, On-line Forty-Niner April 29, 1997
For someone who five years ago had a career in computer programming and had not drawn anything since the age of 13, to win the 1997 American Institute of Architect's student design competition seemed like an improbable conquest.
For Cal State Long Beach interior architecture student Leonie Beaumont, this feat became reality when her architectural design of a youth center won first place among 56 other student entries from eight different schools.
This personal victory for the England native was complemented by a three thousand dollar cash prize and also signifies a monumental win for CSULB and the design program.
This year was the first time CSULB was asked to enter this AIA student competition. Beaumont's design was pitted against the designs of students from other Cal State schools and architectural schools that are traditionally favored to win such competitions.
"Architectural schools do think they are a step ahead," Beaumont said.
The design project for the competition was to transform the historic firehouse in Hollywood into a youth center. Each contestant had the same requirements to fulfill with only the exterior walls and interior columns as the pre-existing material to work around.
"I try to treat every project as if it is a real-life project with real clients, then it becomes real to me," Beaumont said.
Beaumont designed the youth center around the theme of fire. She said, "Instead of focusing on the destructive elements of fire, I looked at fire as spirit, energy, vivacity and life."
From this core of flaming inspiration and intricate planning Beaumont's design evolved. She had to accommodate areas for the youth within the two story building in the limited space given. Beaumont said it seemed more like a major space planning exercise trying to fit a theater, multiple activity classrooms, an eating area and a reception office intothe former firehouse.
She chose to put the noisy activities on the first floor to draw the youth in. The quieter activities such as the theater and acting classes she designated to the second floor. The interior color scheme conforms to the concept of fire and includes yellows, reds and oranges. To keep things under control and for a calming effect, she said she splashed in a little blue.
Beaumont said, winning this competition was a landmark victory considering she started off in the field of interior design just dabbling as a hobby. "Winning meant an awful lot to me because of the recognition received from an architectural organization for me personally and for the program at CSULB," Beaumont said.