CLC student wins design contest

College of Lake County student Stephanie Martoccio of Ingleside has a flair for design.

An innovative, curvilinear urban design for the second floor of the CLC’s John C. Murphy Library won Martoccio first place in a contest. The derby was sponsored by the CLC architecture technology program and library.

In addition to a $500 prize, Martoccio earned valuable experience she can include in a portfolio when she applies to study architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2012.

Second place went to Sasha Montes de Oca of Waukegan, who won a Krueger International executive task chair. In third place was Katherin Mundt of Antioch, who won $100.

CLC President Jerry Weber awarded the prizes at a ceremony April 15. Contest judges were Gabe Wilcox of Legat Architects, Ted Johnson from CLC’s facilities division, Jonathan Matta of Krueger International and David Petrulis, a CLC architecture instructor.

Petrulis raved about the winning design, which he said achieved the contest’s goal of providing a modern and usable library space better suited to student needs.

“Stephanie’s design was innovative and provided the clear and exciting concept of Chicago lights at dusk,” Petrulis said. “Her design had several interesting aspects. She successfully provided for social and quiet areas with separate identities, improved way-finding and utilized a curved book shelving system that incorporated seating within the bookshelf itself for comfortable browsing.

“How many times have you sat in the aisle of the stacks to page through a book? Stephanie’s solution would give you a seat right in the stacks. The finishing touch is her innovative use of halogen curvilinear track lighting, designed to evoke the city lights of downtown Chicago. And students can belly up to the ‘laptop bar,’ with a beautiful view overlooking the reading room and Willow Lake.”

Martoccio, a Grant High School 2009 graduate, studied the library’s traffic flow for several months, observing how students use the space. She also conducted interviews and did other research.

As president of the CLC Architecture Club, she credits Petrulis for his inspiration and assistance in preparing the design.

“Dave was there for every question,” Martoccio said. “He is amazing; the best teacher I’ve ever had. Being there for the students is so important to him. I would have been unable to do it by myself.”

A budget request for the Fiscal Year 2012 was made to begin the design process, according to Connie Bakker, dean of libraries and instructional services.

“If funded, the student designs will be taken to the architects for consideration toward the remodeling design,” she said.