Three groups presented their ideas to community members that gathered in the Friendship Central School auditorium
From ASC,
Alfred State College (ASC) architecture students in Design Studio 5 presented comprehensive plans to reimagine the Town of Friendship. Three groups of students worked for eight weeks and presented their concepts and ideas to interested members of the community at Friendship Central School.
View a photo gallery from the presentation.
The groups looked at a variety of different areas around Friendship including Main Street, Island Park, and GAR Hall Community Center. The groups showed concepts for economic enhancement, community beautification, architectural rehabilitation, and preservation of historical resources, and introduced new business opportunities that would be beneficial to the residents.
Led by Professors Matt DiRado, Elizabeth Joyce, and Alan Vlakancic the students met with stakeholders from Friendship, Allegany County Planning Officials, and the Allegany County Land Bank to learn more about the town, researched the area, and then put together presentations that included vision boards, a formal presentation of their ideas, and an animated walking tour of the concepts proposed.
“I am very proud of our students,” commented DiRado. They accomplished so much in eight short weeks. They worked together as teams to develop plans from what they had learned and seen while visiting and talking to the residents of Friendship. This project gave them an amazing opportunity to apply what they are learning in the classroom with real clients. We hope that the village will be able to use some of the concepts that were presented as they look to the future.”
“It is interesting to see that the students latched on to the things that I said when they interviewed me and they really got it,” commented Friendship Town Supervisor Russell Hall. “They have a good idea of the feel and history of the town and did a nice job making things new without erasing the old. I am hoping that these presentations will sparks interest.”
Hall continued, “If we can have something that is nice then maybe it will inspire others. Little by little we can put more than a few of these projects in to place.”
The Architecture Department has done similar projects in the past with other villages; Alfred, Andover, Angelica, Bolivar, Belfast, Belmont, Caneadea, Cuba, Fillmore, and Wellsville.
