MBH Wins ‘Best Use Of Kids’ at the 23rd Annual LEAP Sandcastle Classic
Alameda,
CA – On a chilly morning in October, 7th dedicated Swinerton Builders,
BPS Staffers and MBH’ers along with a myriad of family and friends braved
the fog of Ocean Beach in San Francisco for the 23rd Annual LEAP Sandcastle
Classic. The largest sandcastle building contest in Northern California.
A group of eager 5th 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 LEAP Around the World, so Team MBH spent many painstaking hours brainstorming ideas for a sandcastle to fit the theme. After long discussions with our fifth grade volunteers it was decided that a solar system would be the best fit for the team and the theme.
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 bring the sand to life.
The intent of this event is to bring out the creativity of our fifth graders while also encouraging team work and having lots of fun. With this in mind our design morphed from a solar system to a smiley face and finally was completed as a large octopus with squiggly tentacles. Our team was rewarded for their efforts with the “Kid Partipcation” 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.
MBH Architects, is a diversified and multi-faceted practice, established
in 1989 and employing 200 professionals with offices in Alameda and
Newport Beach, California. As a comprehensive and service-oriented architectural
firm, MBH embodies Design Excellence from the inception of the project
through to its successful completion. The firm has designed and completed
a wide range of diverse projects in the housing, hospitality, retail,
restaurant, mixed use and planning industries. "It’s
our people who make great places." ®