Bruce Murphy, president of the St. Isidore Historical Plaza Board of Directors, has announced a new partnership with the Department of Design, a part of the CSULB College of the Arts. In this project, the senior design students will create a plan for the restoration of the historical site and modernization of its facilities.
Working in teams, the students are presently examining the current state of the buildings and grounds in light of both current uses and future plans for the Plaza as a center of community activities.
At the students’ initial visit to the Plaza, members of the Board and the Historical Legacy Committee were excited to work with the young designers as they took photos, made sketches, and asked questions about the Plaza’s past, present and future.
President Bruce Murphy reminded the students that their plans to transform a beloved site into a place of beauty and community pride could one day be a reality, a lasting legacy to share with their friends and families.
The students’ enthusiasm was palpable and contagious.
Under the direction of Professors Ed Perez and Debra Satterfield, two classes of senior design students have now committed to this project. The classes are organized into teams and each team will choose a different aspect of the Plaza to focus on. President Murphy challenged each group by saying that the only rule is that the historical chapel cannot be moved or modernized (although it can be updated in elements like lighting and air conditioning). The classes were given a “Wish List” from the Board and the Historical Legacy Committee that included modernization of facilities, safety issues, improved functionality, and, of course, beautiful grounds and design elements.
In late September the design students will present their Phase 1 schemes to the Board and committee members. The students will describe their concepts, including drawings, material explorations, etc., and continue their dialogue with the Board and committee members. On Nov. 24, the students will present Phase 2 of their work at a reception at the College of the Arts on the CSULB campus said a board member of the St. Isidore Historical Plaza.
