MBH Wins Fastest Castle at the 22nd Annual LEAP Sandcastle Classic
On a chilly morning in October, 20 dedicated Swinerton Builders and
MBH’ers along with a myriad of family and friends braved the fog
of Ocean Beach in San Francisco for the 22nd Annual LEAP Sandcastle
Classic. The largest sandcastle building contest in Northern California.
A group of eager 4th graders from Lafayette Elementary School dragged
parents and friends along as well to help compete in this contest of
the design and construction of massive sandcastles.
The theme for this year’s event was Comic Adventures, so Team MBH spent many painstaking hours brainstorming ideas for a sandcastle to fit the theme. After long discussions with our fourth grade volunteers it was decided that the Batmobile would be the best fit.
The temperature on the beach on the day of the build-out was in the high 50’s, and the chilling spray of salt water made sure we never had to worry about the sand drying too fast or getting too warm. From a 10’ long x 5’ wide x 5’ high pile of wet sand, the MBH / Swinerton team, with the help of the kids of Lafayette Elementary were able to bring the Batmobile to life.
Our team was rewarded for their efforts with the “Fastest Castle” award. Everyone who came out to Ocean Beach that day witnessed feats of amazing architecture, engineering and constructing. But they were also treated to a large scale example of the power of true teamwork.
Proceeds from this event benefit, LEAP . . . Imagination in Learning; a local non-profit benefiting arts and architecture programs in Bay Area schools. Thousands of architects, engineers, contractors and kids participate in this event every year – and even more attend.
Leap…imagination in learning, was established in response to severe budget cuts in Arts programs in California schools. These cuts began in 1978 and continue to effect arts education in our schools today. Leap serves over 11,000 youth (primarily elementary school age) in over 60 schools in the Bay Area (San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda and Marin counties). Leap provides educational programs focused on the arts of story telling, music, dance, visual arts and an architecture program focused on our built environment.
Leap…imagination in learning encourages creative energy in children by bringing visual and performing artists and architects into the classroom for extended residencies. Leap artists and architects team with teachers to design participatory projects which augment and amplify the school’s curriculum. 2005 has been a monumental year for the LEAP organization. We are supporting more students than ever with over 190 artist residencies and over 35 architect residencies, a 32% increase in participation over 2004.