Ideas from students at St John's RC School, Bishop Auckland, won the £500 first prize in an Enterprise in Construction Challenge competition.
The team, led by teacher Paula Watson, designed an entertainment complex with a cinema, bowling alley and restaurant for a site on the banks of the Wear close to Newton Cap viaduct.
The year ten students studying GCSE graphics formed a company called Gtec Design. They took on roles as surveyors, engineers and joiners, researched the market and developed mood boards and computer models.
Ferryhill School's design came second, and Wolsingham School and Community College third. Two teams from Bishop Barrington also entered the competition, which is a joint venture between M and M Plasline, of Coundon, and the Construction Industry Training Board, with help from the National Federation of Builders.
Euro-MP Stephen Hughes presented the prizes at Auckland Castle.
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