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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 5, 2014 | 16 Student competitors design mainstage for jazz festival by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver The future of Oakville's aspiring architects is promising -- just ask the folks at John Willmott Architect, Inc. (JWA). For its fourth year, the annual JWAbacked student design competition assisted local Grade 11 and 12 students, who have an interest in design and/or are pursuing a career in the architectural field. Of 17 submissions received this year, the top three were announced Tuesday, Nov. 25 at Seasons Restaurant. Those competing were asked to create a reusable and collapsible main stage and area for the annual Oakville Jazz Festival. A redesign of Town Square was also offered as part of their entry, but it wasn't mandatory. The winner was 17-year-old Katherine Barrett, a Grade 12 White Oaks Secondary School student. She received an Apple iPad Air for her first-place design. Barrett was surprised when she was announced as the winner. "It's nice to get some gratification for what you do because in school it's just a grade, so actually John Willmott, Architect presented its `Ensemble' student design 2014 competition. Pictured in front with plaques, from left are: Stuart Thomson (third place), Katherine Barrett (first place) and Laura Matos (second place). Behind from left, are: Matthew Caruso, Jack Xu and Alisa Torano all of whom earned honourable mentions. With them, at right, is John Willmott. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) winning something is really exciting," said Barrett. The 17-year-old heard about the contest through her art teacher and entered because of her interest in "designing things," she said. "In school, it's more up to us to take something where we want to go. Since there are a lot of regulations (in the contest), it was more like a real-world design," said Barrett. The White Oaks student noted she spent a lot of time on her submission ­ "really playing through my design and thinking through it." "The model took awhile because it has a lot of curves in it, which tends to be harder to build. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to build it and how to really show it off in the best way possible," said Barrett, who is planning on a career in industrial design. Willmott said Barrett's' design was "quite creative and unique," noting the criteria was primarily met, the drawings were clear and it was an excellent presentation. Entries were judged mostly on design concept, overall presentation, technical detail and drawing quality. The jury consisted of architectural and guest judges. Staff from the Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) and jazz festival assisted with judging and the competition outline. Laura Matos, a Grade 12 student at Iroquois Ridge High School, is a two-time recipient -- placing second this year and coming in third in 2013. See Students on p.17 We Can Blanket Your Home In Stars! Kensington Lawns BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTING TODAY! Christmas Gifts, Cards, Books and more. The True Meaning of Christmas Starts here... This holiday season let us do the work while you enjoy the fun... *Need to visit to quote Design, install, take down and store · Serving the Oakville area for over 11 years kensingtonlawns@gmail.com · 905-802-0158 www.kensingtonlawns.com 588 Kerr Street · 905-844-3102 · www.goodbookschristian.com · goodbooks@on.aibn.com Come and visit us - Imagine what Fern Hill can do for your child Fern Hill School, an independent co-educational school for students in Preschool to Grade 8, is regarded as one of the pre-eminent elementary schools in Canada. Exceptional academics · Personalized and enriched curriculum · Secure facilities · French from PS - Grade 8 · Small class sizes · Passionate subject-specific teachers · Outstanding visual arts, band and vocal music · Athletics and outdoor education · Mandarin Language study Opportunity for Math and French secondary school credits UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES From concept to completion... Oakville Campus | 3300 Ninth Line Road Oakville, ON | 905.257.0022 · Burlington Campus | 801 North Service Road Burlington, ON | 905.634.8652 admissions@fernhillschool.com | www.fernhillschool.com www.prov-stateconstruction.ca · 905.257.4211 Together we create beautiful spaces!