UW Architectural Engineering Class Developing Site Plan for Historic Carousel in Buffalo

September 19, 2012
Old fashioned carousel
A University of Wyoming architectural engineering design class is helping a nonprofit group in Buffalo develop plans to house a historic carousel.

An architectural design class at the University of Wyoming is developing a site plan for a building to house a historic carousel in Buffalo.

Fourteen UW students in Jon Gardzelewski's architectural design I class in the UW College of Engineering and Applied Science are working on multiple designs for the project after touring the proposed site last week in Buffalo. Class members then made a presentation to the members of Arts Along the Big Horns, the nonprofit group spearheading the purchase of property to house the carousel and a proposed adjacent events center building.

Members of the UW design class are Katelyn Dery, Broomfield, Colo.; Christopher Hall, Greybull; Elizabeth Hungerford, Gillette; Leal Klingensmith, Gibsonia Pa.; Shamila Kumara Ranjan, Sri Lanka; Amanda Lange, Sundance; and Dean Lavecchia, Littleton, Colo.

Other class members are Harrison Mader, Hayden, Colo.; Deacon Maggard and Jerica Pouligot, both from Cheyenne; John Nicholas, Laramie; Bren Rasmussen, Rock Springs; Nicholas Reincke, Arvada, Colo.; and Benjamin Steer, Issaquah, Wash.

The Cowboy Carousel Center is a project of the carousel committee that is working to revitalize the historic Beutler’s building in downtown Buffalo’s developing arts district known as Artisan’s Row. The plan is to purchase  and refurbish the historic 1925 Spillman Carousel with locally crafted horses, and relocate it as the centerpiece of the  downtown historic district, says Arnette Tiller, a Buffalo resident and committee member.

“The students visited the carousel and other local historical sites to get a feel for area architecture.” Tiller says.

Gardzelewski says his students are required to take a couple of design classes at UW that allow them to design buildings. The carousel project, he says, will not only give them experience doing that, but also practical experience in dealing with an organization and real-world scenarios associated with architecture and design.

"Our committee is pleased to have this UW student group developing plans that will provide a diverse range of ideas. The class is excited to be working on a unique project that gives them the opportunity to interact with clients and have the opportunity to have their design built," Tiller says. “Plans call for a couple of project reviews before final drawings are presented in October.”

She says the final proposals will be made on the UW campus.

For more information about Arts Along the Big Horns, including details about the carousel, visit www.cowboycarouselcenter.org or contact Tiller at (307) 620-1691).

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