Shea Homes Wins 2008 Project Playhouse Grand Award

Builders, architects, specialty contractors, interior designers, landscape designers, suppliers and sponsors totaling more than 300 people cheered as Shea Homes was awarded the 2008 Project Playhouse Grand Award – Best in Show for TradePartners’ Mystic Lodge. Project Playhouse supporters gathered at Fashion Island for the annual VIP Party which recognized and honored the hundreds of volunteers for their outstanding work on the fantasy playhouses.

Thousands of children and their families have toured HomeAid Orange County’s 17th Annual Project Playhouse, at Fashion Island since it debuted Sept. 6 giving all the playhouses rave reviews. This year’s builders designed and built elaborate playhouses that broaden the imagination of children of all ages making it a challenging job for the prestigious panel of judges led by Brad Engelland, the Irvine Co. and Don Jacobs, JZMK Partners to select award recipients.

In Ed Woerth’s rustic log cabin design for Shea Homes’ TradePartners’ Mystic Lodge children can pretend they are American pioneers, except interior designer Interior Lifestyles added modern amenities of granite counters, a ceiling fan, an electric fireplace and a flat screen television.m Shea’s landscape designer, Land Care Inc., created a miniature campfire with stone ponds and creeks which merited The Secret Garden Award for Best Landscape Design.

Veteran playhouse builder William Lyon Homes’ Lyon’s Little Greek House, a USC inspired playhouse received four awards including The Grand Award – First Place. W Custom Homes, first-time playhouse builder, also received four awards including The Grand Award – Second Place for their eco-friendly playhouse The Wee Green Playhouse.

HomeAid Orange County’s 17th AnnualProject Playhouse presented by Bank of America is the nearly 20-year-old nonprofit organization’s signature fundraiser. The five-week long event raises much needed funds to build housing for homeless families and individuals in Orange County.

“This is a wonderful cause that makes a significant and positive impact on the communities where we live,” said Heather Stevenson, vice president of sales and marketing for Shea Homes Southern California. “The playhouses that support this cause are truly magical.”

Complete list of the 2008 Project Playhouse Awards

TradePartners’® Mystic Lodge – Shea Homes

The Grand Award – Best in Show

The Secret Garden Award – Best Landscape Design

Lyon’s Little Greek House – William Lyon Homes

The Grand Award – First Place – Best in Show

The Craftsman Award – TIE – Best Builder/Craftsman

The Kermit Dorius Award – Best Architectural Design

The Mirror Image Award – Most Realistic/Authentic Design

The Wee Green Playhouse – W Custom Homes

The Grand Award – Second Place – Best in Show

The Craftsman Award – TIE – Best Builder/Craftsman

The Imagination Award – Most Creative & Unique

The Roger Seitz Award – Best Modern Design

Ducks Hockey Hideaway – John Laing Homes

The Designer Award – Best Interior Design

The Playful Award – Most Fun & User-Friendly

Americana Del Mar – University of California, Irvine Facilities Management Team

The Rainbow Award – Most Colorful

The Spirit Award – Outstanding Example of Community Involvement

Caribbean Surf Shack – Finton Construction

The Criterion Award – Most Ingenious within the Guidelines

Beachside Cabana – Waterpointe Homes, LLC

The California Award – Best Depiction of Life in California

17th Annual Project Playhouse Panel of Judges

Judging Co-Chairs:

Brad Engelland – The Irvine Company

Don Jacobs – JZMK Partners

Panel:

Ed Akins – Builder/Developer

Lynn Armitage – Editor of OC Family Magazine

Rick Henricksen – Pridemark Contractors

Richard Krantz, AIA, Richard Krantz Architecture

Mark Louvier – Trimco Finish – CALPASC OCIE President

Roger McErlane – The Irvine Company

Brady O’Connell – O’Connell Landscaping

Chris Pronger – Anaheim Ducks

Craig Reem – Carlsson Public Relations

Tim Salmon – Former Major League Baseball Right Fielder – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Nick Slevin – Peninsula Publishing

Russ Van Cleve – Empire Homes