Students Designing Cristo Ray Community Center Improvements

Michigan State University (MSU) architecture students are designing conceptual renovations and improvements for the Cristo Rey Community Center in Old Town Lansing. The designs include adding a pool, courtyard or community-maintained garden.

According to excerpts from the article:

Cristo Rey Executive Director John Roy Castillo said he hopes to beautify the front of the North High Street building and make it seem welcoming.

"I think the whole community will benefit by it," Castillo said.

Castillo said that while the center has limited resources, he hoped local businesses would donate materials or provide them at a discount.

The MSU juniors from professor Jon Burley's class described their landscaping concepts to two of the center's board members and its executive director on Thursday.

The center's board members likely will make a decision when they meet in two weeks.

On May 3, more than 100 volunteers are expected to do initial landscaping work. Castillo said it is likely that the final plan will incorporate elements from several or all of the students' designs.

Many of the plans require the removal of trees and concrete - expenses the center cannot afford, Castillo said.

Terry Henson, who is in charge of the center's maintenance, estimated that it would cost the nonprofit organization $550 to take out a tree.

Read the entire article here.