The Design Center could see a new student-designed addition during the summer.

David Miller, senior in architecture, and Kerry Anne Callaghan, junior in art and design, won first prize in Iowa State’s first “Unity” mural competition.

The “Unity” mural is intended to illustrate and reinforce ties between students, Iowa State and the Ames community, Design Council President Tony Borich said.

“We’re trying to emphasize the ‘one community’ concept and the things in Ames that connect students, the university and the community,” Borich said. “These aspects aren’t often emphasized.”

Students formed teams to design murals. Each group had artists, a narrator and an optional faculty participant. Entries, due last Friday, were reviewed by a panel of judges that included members from a variety of backgrounds, including Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill and former GSB President Sophia Magill.

Borich said the submissions were judged based on the degree of design, the aesthetic value of the design and how well the narration embodied the idea.

The winning submission is tentatively scheduled to be constructed this summer. Students and faculty plan to work together on the mural. Any student who submitted work for the competition may apply to participate in the construction; however, the winners will be given precedent.

Once constructed, the mural is planned to hang on the outside of the Design Center for three years. After three years, the Design Council will decide if it will be taken down or moved so another competition can take place.

The location was the most difficult part of the planning process, said Michael Van Dyke, secretary of the council. Originally, the mural was going to be painted on a retaining wall outside of Friley Hall on Lincoln Way. The wall was city-owned, however, and the council decided working out the legalities for this location would take more time than the project would allow.

Discussion for the project began last semester, said Julie Niskanen, University Print Society’s representative to the Design Council.

Borich originally presented the idea to the council.

“We spent many long months in meetings with administrators,” Borich said.

Callaghan receives $1,000 to be used toward next year’s tuition for her winning submission. Miller will receive another form of compensation because he will be graduating.

“I hope it’s cash, because I really need to pay my rent,” Miller said with a laugh.

The projects are on display through Friday in the Design Atrium.