A home designed by two Lethbridge College students has earned a major industry award. The Daphne, designed by Interior Design Technology students Jessica Banman and Teunieke Anker and built by Ashcroft Master Builder, was named top single family home in its price range at the BILD (Building Industry and Land Development Association) Lethbridge Region awards on Friday.
Banman designed The Daphne and animator/virtual reality creator Anker brought it to life as part of the second annual Ashcroft Design Challenge, a one-of-a-kind industry collaboration where Interior Design Technology students teamed up to create custom home designs as part of their curriculum. Representatives from Ashcroft then judged the entries and selected the winner. Ashcroft then built the winning design, while giving the students the opportunity to work as interns on the project.
“Another year, another winner!” says Cherie Reitzel, interim chair of the Interior Design Technology, Architectural Animation Technology, and Virtual and Augmented Reality programs. “We are blessed and thankful beyond. Thank you to Ashcroft for their never ending support and thank you to my students for their patience, work ethic and creative spirits. Congrats to Jessica and Teunieke!”
Ashcroft built the first edition of The Daphne in the Garry Station subdivision. It was selected as the BILD – Lethbridge Region winner for top single-family home in the $200,000 to $230,000 price range.
“I was very happy to learn that The Daphne won such a prestigious local award,” says Banman. “I know that BILD represents high standards in our industry, and I understand the value of this award for myself as a designer who is just starting my career in Lethbridge. The success that my partner, Teunieke, and I found with this design proves how dedicated our instructors and Lethbridge College are to giving us a great education that is so directly applicable to the real world.”
The design was selected as the winner of the Ashcroft Design Challenge for its retro-modern look that met with Ashcroft standards as a unique use of space that will meet market demand.
“The Daphne winning again is very special and rewarding,” says Anker. “It’s awesome to see all our hard work paying off and being recognized in this way.”
Both of the winning designs in each of the first two years of the Ashcroft Design Challenge have now earned industry recognition. The Emberly, which was designed by Lina Wiebe and animated by Jada Kot, won the design challenge in 2018 and earned a provincial BILD award for top single-family home under $300,000.
The Ashcroft Design Challenge is part of a multi-year partnership between Ashcroft Master Builder and Lethbridge College.
Ashcroft Master Builder Ltd. is an award-winning homebuilder based in Lethbridge. It was one of the first builders to take part in The College Home project with Lethbridge College and the BILD (formerly Canadian Home Builders’ Association) – Lethbridge Region. The company has a history of philanthropic efforts in the southern Alberta community, including its yearly Christmas campaign. Ashcroft won six BILD-Lethbridge Region awards this year including Builder of the Year.
The college’s Interior Design Technology and Architectural Animation Technology programs offer students the opportunity to learn leading-edge design techniques and technologies that prepare them to thrive in the home design industry.
WATCH: The initial student pitch for the design of The Daphne: