May 18, 2012 (Cont'd) pictures," Thompson said. "But they've learned math and geography and speaking skills, all through their study of architecture." At first, student design suggestions were somewhat fanciful. "The anti-gravity room didn't make the cut," Thompson said, smiling. "The students suggested it in jest, of course. But the staff did like the idea of a hot tub in the teacher's lounge." David is still pushing for the idea of a basement pool. "With the high water table, we could really just dig a hole," he joked. The more serious study stalled with the site design. Students divided into groups and studied how best to protect the wetland on the 7-acre site, and the best place for the building and parking lot. The teachers challenged them to determine the best angle for the building, to maximize the potential for solar energy collection. Students did math problems to demonstrate long-term savings versus the initially higher cost of low-flow faucets and toilets. Students also worked in groups to design blueprints, and to build foam models, to scale, of their proposed school buildings. Students drew ground-view renderings of their building proposals. The teens researched papers and made multiple revisions. They perfected their assigned oral presentations. Students presented their findings and suggestions to the project steering committee. Architect Jeff Davis, of the Salt Lake City firm Architectural Nexus, spent a minimum of four hours a week visiting with students, teaching them specialized skills and exchanging ideas. "The great thing about working with kids is they haven't been trained in the way things should be," Davis said. "They still have their creativity and their ability to think about solutions in different ways than we would as adults. It's good to see those natural talents come out in students." Thompson said all final design decisions are made by the architect and steering committee, of course, but features based on ideas from students will be evident throughout the new school. The end result will be a $5 million, 19-classroom building with common areas for a cafeteria, auditorium and fieldhouse. Funding will come from the school's operating costs and through per-pupil funding from the state. At about 40,000 square feet, the building will be "cozy," Thompson said. "We like cozy," she added. Venture Academy has about 500 students, and will increase to 800 in the next few years as it transitions into a.K-12 school, Thompson said. Tenth-graders will be in portable buildings next year, as they watch the new high school rise, she said. Courtney Fairbourn, 15, from Perry, gave her year of learning through architecture high marks. "It's been really cool," she said. "Projects at my old school were not that big a deal. They were quick and fun, then you forgot about them. The high school will be here for a long time, and besides the usual subjects, I've learned about craftsmanship and excellence." "And only one kid lost a finger," David joked. "OK, nobody really lost a finger." UTAH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL AND FANTASY FAIRE, history-inspired event with jousting, entertainment, equestrian vaulting, food and artisans. 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. other days, May 18-20. Renaissance Festival & Fantasy Fair, 3105 W. Pioneer Road, Marriott-Slaterville. $12/adults; $10 for those in full Renaissance garb, military and federal employees; $6/ age 6-12, free/5-younger. www. utahrenfest.com. 56