When you see college students with cameras invading Des Moines' main business district and marina this spring and summer, never fear.

This is not the rise of a dark side of the moon with alien kids overtaking earth, or an on-site lesson in Law and Order types resolving crime.

Unless you think the appearances of some downtown business storefronts look like a crime scene, then you could be right.

These University of Washington architecture graduates will conduct a resourceful and highly successful "Store Front" outreach project, bringing their fresh outlook and skills to the downtown area's architectural needs with recommended solutions.

While their main mandate is to identify a compatible marina access link to the downtown business district, they look for the city's personality and work with the storefront designs of businesses.

When Jim Nicholls, University of Washington senior architectural lecturer and director of his "Store Front" project, describes it as "architectural outreach," and Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler calls his Mayor's Leadership Summit reaching out for community involvement - something good is just bound to happen.

A surge of property purchases and renovations of downtown buildings by Dr. Scott Andrews has changed the area and attracted new businesses, although personally, I hope he runs out of brown paint soon.

Yet the prime downtown area has long been short of a cohesive and public convenient, attractive theme with easy waterfront access. Des Moines' land layout historically challenges solutions to connect highway development to downtown and downtown to the marina.

The University of Washington Storefront goal is to: strengthen connections between community members and their physical setting, providing anchors for emergent identities, economic growth and social interaction.

Focusing on downtown economic and cultural history of existing storefronts and new development, this architecture team utilizes a confluence of three related innovations: studio location, digital tools and sustained duration.

For about 10 weeks, UW graduate students under Nicholls direction will establish a studio office at Des Moines Square, located at Marine View Drive and South 220th Street.

Office hours will be Fridays, 2-5 p.m., from April through mid-June.

Students will offer assistance to business owners while photographing buildings and checking the community environment to collectively find answers to what this community really is, what this town's personality is and how this should be shown.

Des Moines' mandate for student architects is to draw people to the marina, and link easy access to downtown shops, restaurants and living.

Auburn, Kent and other nearby cities have successfully applied this Storefront Project.

Photographs and digitally created illustrated exhibitions of designs for Des Moines' existing storefronts and new development will be on display at the Des Moines Square office for public viewing.

The displays will become an exciting attraction that establishes participation, sustained communication and community interaction.

Open houses on April 18, May 9 and June 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. will allow students to share community and personal perceptions and goals.

At project's conclusion, both small and large deliverables will help facilitate community improvements.

When Mayor Sheckler launched the first-ever Mayor's Leadership Summit in 2006, his goal was open communication between citizens, organizations, businesses and city leaders to work together for community goals.

The Aesthetics and Beautification Committee formed at that summit recommended improvements and concerns that are incorporated into this Store Front study.

Mayor Sheckler said, "I'm excited to see recommendations Jim Nicholls' architectural students bring back to council that provide us with tools to make well-informed decisions, while maintaining the unique charm that is Des Moines. We are fortunate to have this exceptional and popular student team here."

The UW's Nicholls said, "This is a win-win project. Des Moines gets experts to furnish a fresh perspective for the city, students get a learning experience in the real world, businesses get help with design and architectural concerns.

"Students invariably become fans of small communities and some may move there. I tell them to look around the world with a fresh new vision and dream a big dream."

Comparing small city life to big cities is a learning curve well taken for future architects. Des Moines is a diamond in the rough to be polished with loving care.

Yesterday's citizens laid their vision's foundation. Our community's future lies with us to make it all it can be.

Teamwork works. See you at the next Mayor's Summit.

Today's Thought: "Wrinkles should only indicate where smiles have been." Mark Twain.