Detroit Region Student Design Competition Winners 2021-2022

To encourage Michigan students to become familiar with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, the USGBC Detroit Region community opened its 3rd Annual U.S. Green Building Council Detroit Region Student Design Competition for the 2021-2022 school year. Students had to be enrolled in a Michigan accredited architecture or interior design College or University during the academic school year. The winning projects were announced on August 17, 2022. The competition focused on three project types incorporating the LEED v4 rating system for Building Design and Construction (BD+C), LEED for Homes and Multi-Family Midrise) or LEED for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) as the criteria. Winning entries will receive a cash prize and a one-year Student Membership to the USGBC Detroit Region Community. Winners will be highlighted and celebrated as this year's Sustainable Detroit Forum on September 28th.

The USGBC Detroit Region Student Design Competition Committee is planning to host this competition again for the 2022-2023 school year. For information about participating in the competition or becoming a sponsor, please contact usgbcdetroit@usgbc.org.

The competition recognizes exceptional design moving towards resource conservation in operation through a creative and innovative integration of design strategies such as daylighting, passive heating and cooling, materials, water, energy generation, and other sustainable systems, through a cohesive and viable solution. The winning entries demonstrated particular emphasis on understanding LEED criteria and how the integrative process of LEED enhances the design/planning and engineering of our built environment. Congratulations to the winning entries! The U.S. Green Building Council Detroit Region community would like to thank everyone involved; we look forward to continuing this annual competition.

Competition Sponsors & Organizer

Organizer

USGBC Detroit Region Student Design Competition Committee

Laura Long, LEED AP, Studio Manager/Senior Associate, NORR – Committee Chair
Lana Crouse, Director of Community - Michigan, U.S. Green Building Council
Daniel L. Faoro, M.arch/UD RA, Assoc. Prof., Lawrence Technological University
Peggy Matta, AIA, LEED AP, Project Architect, Redstone Architects, Inc.
Liliana Gonzalez, RA, LEED ND, Development Design Specialist, Cinnaire
Harold Wilcox, City of Detroit, Project Manager, Office of Arts, Culture & Entrepreneurship

The Jury

Amanda Brookes, RA, MBA, CDT, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP

Vice President of Operations, Catalyst Partners

Email | LinkedIn

Josh Strautz, M. Arch, NCARB

Studio Leader, Rockford Construction

Email | LinkedIn

Cherie Ng, M.Arch. OAA, MRAIC

Cherie Ng Architect Inc.

Email | LinkedIn

The Winners

View entry

1st Place: Entry 174

Student: Peter Arton
Faculty: Daniel L. Faoro, M.arch/UD RA, Assoc. Prof. (Studio), Prof. Kurt Neiswender (Lab)
School: Lawrence Technological University / Southfield
Narrative:
Sustainable design principles were taken in account during the design development phase. Specifically, for this project, maintaining focus on LEED systems and energy conservation strategies were implemented, as well as providing tactics for potential cost saving construction
Jury statement:
The presentation is visually appealing, easy to follow, shows both high-level thought as well as the detail required to make informed decisions on space relationships, response to the community and surroundings, and integration of design systems and strategies. The written statement carries through the well-organized thoughts that informed the final design.

View entry

2nd Place: Entry 116

Student: Dan Kagan
Faculty: Daniel L. Faoro, M.arch/UD RA, Assoc. Prof. (Studio), Prof. Kurt Neiswender (Lab)
School: Lawrence Technological University / Southfield
Narrative:
The goal of this mixed-use housing development is to support Detroit residence to advance sustainable urban infill housing in the city. The project is based on the LEED metric system and includes sustainable design principles, such as energy and water conservation efforts. It incorporates ground floor commercial space, at both grade levels on the site, provides mixed-income residential opportunities, and creates publicly accessible frontage at the Dequindre Cut level that extends to the Dequindre Cut’s public space.
Jury statement:
The design has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the LEED rating system as well as the documentation requirements. Kudos for the exploration of passive strategies to help reduce the energy loads before adding in any alternative energy measures. The design has used external software programs to inform the design solution to fully integrate strategies into the design and not just as an afterthought. These strategies were able to be incorporated into the LEED framework to confirm the intended outcome.

View entry

3rd Place: Entry 144

Student: Courteney Gazdik
Faculty: Daniel L. Faoro, M.arch/UD RA, Assoc. Prof. (Studio), Prof. Kurt Neiswender (Lab)
School: Lawrence Technological University / Southfield
Narrative:
While taking consideration the information that we know about the site, the form of the building began to emerge. Because of the future development of Dequindre Cut, there are multiple entrances here as well as a ramp that will bring users into the retail, education and residential spaces. Because the site is not directly faced south, the buildings that line the west and south sides of the site were kept intentionally lower to make sure that sunlight could get to the further buildings.
Jury statement:
The contextual maps are very helpful to acknowledge the site and surrounding areas. The renderings also help to imagine the experience of living in this building and how it keys into the areas of focus within the neighborhood. The building feels very layered, which captures the unique character of the surrounding areas and buildings.

Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mention - Creating Inspiring Interiors and Exhibits

Student(s): Emma Sturgill and Bowei Li
Faculty: Laura Winter, NCIDQ
School: Michigan State University
Project Description:
Grand Rapids has a huge sense of community, with lots of organizations, a love for the arts, and many surrounding schools. Involving these programs and a sense of community within the design for Boston Square will impact the local culture and it apart from its competitors. The new brewery will attract and bring together the surrounding community with a welcoming environment for friends and families of all sizes and ages to relax and socialize. Additionally, the combined office and brewery will provide jobs to those in the area. Direct access to outdoor food trucks, a large beer garden, and fun games, will make Boston square brewing company an exciting and playful place for the targeted crowd to gather and explore their community.

View entry

Student: Allyza Danica Valino
Faculty: Daniel L. Faoro, M.arch/UD RA, Assoc. Prof. (Studio), Prof. Kurt Neiswender (Lab), Prof. Eric Ward (Lab) and Prof. Faris Habba (Lab)
School: Lawrence Technological University / Southfield
Project Description:
This project will aim to re-envision urban food systems by providing a programming framework that promotes community engagement and learning. Many urban cities suffer from “food deserts”, places where there is no access to fresh produce. Eastern Market breaks that rhythm in Detroit, and this building will aim to strengthen the market’s presence in the city through greater community engagement. The building will house programs that educate all generations and demographics on urban agricultural practices.

View entry

Comments