This summer, 12 architecture students who came from as far away as Alabama and England set the stage for the Lakeside community to gather.

The architecture students recently wrapped up six weeks of studying, designing and building a performance stage as part of the Summer Studio.

The stage, located behind the Lakeside Town Center at 306 Stoner Loop, was built for the West Shore Visitors Bureau with the goal to be a place for the community to hear music, watch performances or look at art.

The Summer Studio is offered through 100-Fold Studio, a nonprofit architecture firm based in Lakeside that provides affordable services primarily to school campuses and community centers in developing countries.

As a result, the Summer Studio provides a unique combination of Christian principles and architecture with the aim of training aspiring architects to become leaders in service and design, according to architect John Hudson, founder of 100-Fold Studio.

“Our work is faith-based and we demonstrate the love of Jesus by designing places and structures that are safe, efficient and inspiring for all,” Hudson said. “This is an opportunity for them to combine their faith and their passion for architecture in a practical way.”

Students participate in the entire design and build process while earning hours toward becoming licensed architects.

“They’re serving the Lakeside community and this experience also serves as a foundation for their career,” Hudson said. “It gives them the confidence in themselves to be a able to give back to others.”

A hands-on experience was something Florence Booth, 21, a student at the University of Manchester in England, was excited to do. Booth said it isn’t often that architects get to build and she really wanted to participate in every aspect of a project.

“It’s really good just to get the experience in what construction looks like. I think it will really help with design — just being more conscious of the people who are building and how to build well,” Booth said.

Ross Lackey, Summer Studio director, said architects are designers and while they learn about the strength and types of materials and usually take building science classes, there’s typically little hands-on construction.

“It’s a skill set that as you’re drawing, you’re drawing from your knowledge of how someone would build it,” Lackey said.

The faith-based aspect also drew Booth to participate in the Summer Studio, which she heard about through a previous experience with Youth With a Mission, a partner of the Summer Studio.

“I really want to become a licensed architect and do what 100-Fold does — build for people who can’t afford an architect, build in places where they don’t have good and safe structures,” Booth said.

Summer Studio staff intern Jake Heffington, 25, a student at North Carolina State, went through the program last year as a participant and it left a lasting impact.

“We don’t see architecture too often as something that’s really focused on serving the people,” Heffington said. “Last summer kind of acted as a platform for me to start dreaming off of for what I am going to be able to do in the future.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].