Exhibit Showcases Architects’ Vision

A marina in Thailand, a South County church and a high school in Diamond Bar can all be seen at MainPlace/Santa Ana during an exhibit of works by local architects.

The dozens of drawings and photographs are of projects submitted by Southern California architects for a design competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects of Orange County.

To qualify for the competition, architects must either be based in Orange County or have works in the county.

While the drawings show finished products, construction on some projects has not been completed, said local AIA Executive Director Carolyn Newsom.

What the architects did with the space is one thing the judges will look for, Newsom said: “Did they just go in and plow it and level it, or did they work with it?”

There is no monetary or other such award for the winners, Newsom said.

During a recent lunch hour at the mall, a number of visitors squinted and cocked their heads to better examine the drawings and photos in the small display of architecture in the center court.

Included in the display is the Edwards 21 Cinema in Irvine, billed as the world’s largest motion picture theater.

A striking photo of the Saddleback Valley Community Church in Foothill Ranch reveals gold-colored beams pressing against an etched-glass wall, while sunlight throws shadows of etched words onto the beams.

A view from above of Diamond Ranch High School in Diamond Bar makes it appear that the multifaceted roof on the $47-million building is floating.

The odd image of the school prompted mall visitor Carl Davis, who grew up in West Virginia, to quip, “It doesn’t look like a high school where I went to school.”

While many of the entries are homes and businesses, one is the Phuket Marina in Thailand.

The $2,000 display, which went up Saturday, will end today. The winners will be announced Friday at an AIA awards banquet. Organizers hope to bring the exhibit to South Coast Plaza in the fall.