Available:  September 1, 2007

Deadline:  June 8, 2007

Decision:  July 6, 2007

Contact:  bryan@designcorps.org

Job Description:

COMMUNITY NEED:

The residents of Andrews have defined a goal to revitalize their town by making one unusable structure and a Memorial park into attractive assets for public use.

The first project selected by the Andrews community is the ongoing work to rehabilitate the Valley Town Cultural Arts Center, a large church structure donated to the community more than ten years ago. This project is seen as a pivotal element of the community’s effort to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and arts of the Andrews area. This is a massive project to rehabilitate, preserve and maintain such a huge and critical historic structure. Work on this structure has been ongoing but slow.  Although structurally sound, many of the elements of the building need to be repaired, replaced, restored and maintained.  Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, interior renovations, kitchen space, interior design for adaptive reuse, painting preservation of 84 stain glass windows and a host of other design elements need attention. The Design Corps team could provide an exceptional boost for the Valley Town Cultural Arts Center in helping to facilitate these architectural needs. The organization managing the Center is incorporated as a 501(c)3 non profit organization and partners with the Town and other community organizations working with the HandMade in America program. Additionally, the Cultural Arts Center is located across the street from the second project identified below. 

The second need for technical services is for the design and construction of a pavilion shelter in the Memorial Park. Located on the grounds of the original Andrews High School property, the Memorial Park project was developed as a local heritage site for generations of students who attended the High School.. The only remaining features of the school were the abandoned school house steps, leading up the prominent hill of the schools magnificent view of the Snowbird Mountain range to the North. The community developed a project and restored the steps, set place markers and benches donated by individuals and classes attending the school, cleaned and beautified the site and built a memorial for all military veterans from Andrews who have served in the military.  The remaining element of the project is the design and construction of the pavilion structure at the site. This structure is proposed as a community gathering place in the Memorial Park and an outdoor classroom for the adjacent elementary school.  The community has raised a portion of the funds needed to purchase the materials, but needs additional help and resources to design, fund and construct the pavilion.  It is proposed that the Design Corp team would provide the needed resources, skills and assistance to complete this valued community resource.

FELLOW’S ROLE:

In the Andrews community, there are two main activities to address this need and effect these results:

1. Design, technical assistance, resource development and rehabilitation work on the Valley Town Cultural Arts Center in Andrews, NC.
The first project selected by the Andrews community is the ongoing work to rehabilitate the Valley Town Cultural Arts Center, a large church structure donated to the community more than ten years ago. This project is seen as a pivotal element of the community’s effort to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and arts of the Andrews area. This is a massive project to rehabilitate, preserve and maintain such a huge and critical historic structure. Work on this structure has been ongoing but slow.  Although structurally sound, many of the elements of the building need to be repaired, replaced, restored and maintained.  Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, interior renovations, kitchen space, interior design for adaptive reuse, painting preservation of 84 stain glass windows and a host of other design elements need attention. The Design Corps team could provide an exceptional boost for the Valley Town Cultural Arts Center in helping to facilitate these architectural needs. The organization managing the Center is incorporated as a 501(c)3 non profit organization and partners with the Town and other community organizations working with the HandMade in America program. Additionally, the Cultural Arts Center is located across the street from the second project identified below. 

2. Design and construction of a pavilion shelter in the Memorial Park.
Located on the grounds of the original Andrews High School property, the Memorial Park project was developed as a local heritage site for generations of students who attended the High School. The only remaining features of the school were the abandoned school house steps, leading up the prominent hill of the schools magnificent view of the Snowbird Mountain range to the North. The community developed a project and restored the steps, set place markers and benches donated by individuals and classes attending the school, cleaned and beautified the site and built a memorial for all military veterans from Andrews who have served in the military.  The remaining element of the project is the design and construction of the pavilion structure at the site. This structure is proposed as a community gathering place in the Memorial Park and an outdoor classroom for the adjacent elementary school.  The community has raised a portion of the funds needed to purchase the materials, but needs additional help and resources to design, fund and construct the pavilion. 

TARGET RESULTS:

• Design, technical assistance, resource development and rehabilitation work on the Valley Town Cultural Arts Center in Andrews, NC.
• community’s effort to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and arts of the Andrews area
• Design and construction of a pavilion shelter in the Memorial Park located on the grounds of the original Andrews High School property to be used as a community gathering place and an outdoor classroom for the adjacent elementary school.
• Physical, historical and cultural assets are preserved and put to public use
• Community will be empowered through training and meetings with the means to participate and share in identifying challenges, visions, and responses.
• Residents benefit from positive change on physical environment and use of building and park
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

 The ideal candidate will have:

• A degree in architecture, historic preservation, or landscape architecture.
• Experience/study in construction, urban design, urban policy, community service, non-profit or non-governmental organizations is a plus but not required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work with diverse groups, and the demonstrated capacity to move between cultures, disciplines, and professions.
• Highly organized and motivated.