The group of eight students, led by project manager Dominic Cavello, was given the Freedom by Design Award by the American Institute of Architectural Students for their work on the gatehouse, which is replacing the previous one, which has deteriorated after years of use. The students are part of the Roger Williams Freedom by Design chapter.

Cavello, who is also the design manager of the local chapter, said it was important for the group of students to get connected with the Bristol community.

“Last semester, we reached out to a couple of Bristol organizations, including Tim Shaw and the Bristol Parks and Recreation department,” Cavello said. “He gave us a couple of projects that he brainstormed, and one of them was the Bristol town beach and sports complex entry checkpoint.”

Cavello said that a wide variety of students in both architecture and construction management came in to help. These include architecture students Ryan DeSantis, Olivia Horton, Dylan Steward and James Vigar, as well as construction management students Daniel Fontana, Bryce Riccitelli, Danny Wilson and Brendan Wyllie.

In just over a week, they had more than 30 designs, three of which were picked by Shaw. The students presented in front of numerous groups around town, including the Bristol Town Council, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Bristol Rotary Club, while funding-raising for the project.

“That helped us establish a stronger relationship and exposure as well of the school to the town,” Cavello said.

Steward said that they were shocked to win the award.

“You’re competing with schools like Harvard, Columbia and Cornell,” Steward said. “We got the email at the beginning of the semester, and we couldn’t say anything because they didn’t want to release it yet. But it was so hard because it meant everything to us.”

Both students said they see the award as a point of pride for the town of Bristol too, in that they invested in something that is getting national praise.

Steward, who has a job lined up after his graduation, said this project gave him and his project co-workers a jumpstart for transitioning into the workforce.

“You’re getting a lot of real-world experience,” he said. “For us to get that little taste of it in school, already, kind of gives you the upper leg, going into the field, that some kids don’t have.

Shaw, of the town’s recreation department, said that a lot of the actual construction of the new gateway was done last year by Roger Williams students, and that it will be finished this spring, when the students will add a permanent door and roof. “It works well. It serves its purpose,” Shaw said. “It’s unique to the location compared to a squared-up shed.”

Shaw said the unique design has been noticed by people in the community and it has gotten great feedback. He also complimented the working relationship with the students.