Pizza Hut's trademark red roof was once a little too eye-catching for the beauty board.

The color of Pizza Hut, 244 W. College Ave., may go unnoticed by many, but to the State College Design Review Board, it was once a target of criticism and debate. Members thought the red would not blend in well with the rest of the town.

The design review board is a borough committee that reviews and critiques many areas of State College, such as parking lots, fraternity houses, apartment buildings and signs. Board members have an eye for aesthetics, which earned them the nickname "the beauty board."

The seven members of the board are appointed by the State College Borough Council to advise on community aesthetics.

Zoning Officer Herman Slaybaugh described the board as "a loop of the development plan."

The board's main function is to inform community members of aesthetic standards, make suggestions and offer alternatives, Slaybaugh said.

Experts in design aesthetics, architecture and landscaping sit on the board. Members' suggestions are forwarded as recommendations to the State College Planning Commission.

"The board has no municipal regulation but (the designer) must subject yourself before the Design Review Board before an ordinance is given," Slaybaugh said.

Board member Marilyn E. Shobaken, retired graphic designer for Penn State Publications, decided to join the board about four years ago because she said her expertise in design would help the community.

William F. Whitby, board member and retired architect, said the council sometimes disagrees with the suggestions the board makes.

When the board met with the architect and owner of Gateway Center, 646 E. College Ave., to make suggestions about the complex's parking lots, the council disagreed with the board's decisions, Whitby said.

The controversy surrounding Pizza Hut's roof also gained attention, Whitby said. At the time the roof was reviewed, the board members believed the color was wrong for the building.

But the current board would disagree with the decision made, Whitby said.

"Color is a very personal preference and a tough judgment to make," he said.

The board also periodically recognizes certain individuals or organizations with a Focus on Appearance Award.

The most recent award was presented to Dewey Walker, owner of the condominium complex located at 855 Stratford Drive. The board presented Walker with a certificate in recognition of Hunters' Ridge for its aesthetic contribution to the community.

"As a graduate of Penn State, I felt there weren't too many nice buildings in the area," said Walker, who added that his complex adds character to the community.

Hunters' Ridge, a single-story complex, is composed of 11 buildings, each with four units. The buildings circle a clubhouse with a swimming pool and fitness center, Walker said.

Walker, who owns the complex with his son Edward Walker, said he thought they earned the award in recognition of landscaping, architecture and design.

The Design Review Board meets in 205 Municipal Building, 118 S. Fraser St., at 11 a.m. on the second Tuesday each month. All meetings are open to the public.