INTRODUCTION
Architects play a crucial role in addressing both the causes and effects of climate change through the design of the built environment. Innovative design thinking is key to producing architecture that meets human needs for both function and delight, adapts to climate change projections, continues to support the health and well being of inhabitants despite natural and human-caused disasters, and minimizes contributions to further climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. Preparing today’s architecture students to envision and create a climate adaptive, resilient, and carbon-neutral future must be an essential component and driving force for design discourse.
This year’s collaboration with Architecture 2030 – INNOVATION 2030 – is a design-and-ideas competition focused on addressing and designing for the future impacts of climate change.
Given their long lifespan, new buildings must be designed to address solutions to climate change and to respond to its projected impacts, well into the second half of the 21st Century and beyond. As with the COTE Top Ten award for built work by design professionals, COTE Top Ten for Students allows designs to be characterized in terms of 10 measures ranging from Community to Water to Wellness. But this year’s competition places special prominence on three key aspects of responsive design:
- Energy and Emissions: design for zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in building operations and minimize embodied carbon for building materials and construction.
- Adaptation: research and address projected climate change impacts (increased temperatures, heat island effect, heat waves, sea level rise, drought, flooding, extreme weather, food production, etc.) and population shifts at the project site or context.
- Resilience: enable continued habitability and rapid recovery after shock events, natural disasters, absence of power, or other projected climatic interruptions.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE), in partnership with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), is pleased to announce the fourth annual AIA COTE Top Ten for Students, offered this year in collaboration with Architecture 2030 as INNOVATION 2030. The program challenges students, working individually or in teams, to submit projects that use a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems, and technology to provide architectural solutions that protect and enhance the environment. The competition will recognize ten exceptional studio projects that seamlessly integrate adaptive, resilient, and strategies for moving towards carbon-neutral operation within their broader design concepts.
CRITERIA FOR JUDGING
Successful responses should demonstrate design moving towards carbon-neutral 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 beautiful architectural understanding. Issues to consider include community enhancement, land use and effect on site ecology, bioclimatic design, energy and water use, impact on health and wellness, approach to environmental quality, materials and construction, adaptation, long-life considerations, and feedback loops. Entries will also be judged for the success with which the project has met its individual requirements, with particular emphasis on design excellence.
JURORS  |  |  |
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Karin Bjorkman
Nola | Van Peursem Architects
2016-2017 COTE Student Winner | Thomas Fisher
University of Minnesota | Jeanne Gang
Studio Gang |
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Chris Flint Chatto
ZGF Architects | Justin Brown
MASS Design Group | |
TEN SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES
Measure 1: DESIGN FOR INTEGRATION
Measure 2: DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY
Measure 3: DESIGN FOR ECOLOGY
Measure 4: DESIGN FOR WATER
Measure 5: DESIGN FOR ECONOMY
Measure 6: DESIGN FOR ENERGY
Measure 7: DESIGN FOR WELLNESS
Measure 8: DESIGN FOR RESOURCES
Measure 9: DESIGN FOR CHANGE
Measure 10: DESIGN FOR DISCOVERY
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Ten projects will be chosen for recognition at the discretion of the jury. Winners and their faculty sponsors will be notified of the competition results directly. Winning projects will be announced and displayed at the AIA Convention in New York City, New York June 21–23, 2018. Winning projects will also be promoted on the ACSA website at www.acsa-arch.org, the AIA COTE website at www.aia.org/cote, and Architecture 2030 website www.architecture2030.org.
Each of the top 10 winning projects will receive a $500 stipend to attend the AIA National Convention in New York City, New York, June 21–23, 2018.
Additional awards for this year’s collaboration with Architecture 2030 include:
Award & Student Internship
Winning students (individuals and team members) will be offered a paid summer internship at an architecture firm doing leading work in sustainable design. Students will specify their top choices from participating firms and internships will be assigned by lottery. An award of $2,000 will be distributed to each winning project.
Winning students will specify their top choices from participating firms and internships will be assigned by lottery. Firms may request Student’s resume and portfolio, and arrange a phone or video interview with the Student to discuss the internship opportunity. After discussing the internship opportunity, if for any reason the Firm or Student decides the internship is not in their best interest, either may decline the offer and the Student will not receive an alternate paid internship opportunity. Firm and Student will be responsible for finalizing the employment agreement, start date, end date, compensation, and all other details. Students must be legally eligible to work where the internship is offered (in the U.S. or Canada). Detailed competition and internship rules will be provided prior to the submission deadline (January 17, 2018).
Faculty Award
Faculty Sponsors for with the ten winning projects will be recognized for their leadership in sustainable design instruction. Faculty members (one per winning project) will be invited to attend the 2018 AIA National Convention and attend and participate in the Leadership Forum on Design Education hosted by the Design Futures Council in New York City. An award of $2,000 will be distributed to the faculty member for each winning project.