Boise Architecture Project wins national award of merit

Jacob Moscrip

    The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) presented an award of merit to the Boise Architecture Project (BAP) last month. Jan Gallimore, Director of AALSH and Shelby Day, co-chair of the same association, presented the award on September 15, 2008 to THS students who contributed to BAP and to their advisor Doug StanWiens.
BAP was started to preserve the different forms of architecture in Boise, and to make students aware that architecture is more than just a building. 
“Now I can see a city for what it is, an art piece,” senior Hannah Artis said.
BAP members are assigned to take pictures and research public or privately owned property, and then they post their results on the BAP website which has over 20,000 hits to date.
“We grew so much last year,” Artis said, “Our class went all out and the word spread.”
Those who visit the site will see photos and be able to read the histories of local buildings such as the West Side Drive Inn, the Egyptian theater, and the Capitol Building.
Artis worked with senior Morgan Mushlitz on projects such as the Edith Miller-Klein Home and the Cathedral of the Rockies. “Now I look at a building more closely and wondered who lived there and what other history it holds,” Mushlitz said.
The three main goals of BAP are that students learn architecture and history, that they learn project management and that they learn photography and research skills.
“The students who participate in the project will never look at architecture the same way again,” StanWiens said.