Twelfth Architecture at Zero Competition Winners Announced

Architecture at Zero //byline Contact: Margie O’Driscoll(415) 350-9955margie.odriscoll@gmail.comwww.architectureatzero.com January 30, 2025 SACRAMENTO, Calif—The American Institute of Architects California (AIA CA) announces the winners of the twelfth annual Architecture at Zero competition, a design competition for decarbonization, equity and resilience that is open to students and professionals worldwide. It serves to engage the fields of architecture, design, engineering and planning in the pursuit of sustainable design while also considering the impacts of equity and resilience. The 2024 competition challenge, a theoretical project, was to design a new building on a middle school campus in East Los Angeles (East LA), California. The building would replace relocatable classrooms and include science labs, art classroom, maker space, outdoor learning environments, and a teacher workroom. While the competition program location was Griffith STEAM Magnet Middle School, in East LA , LAUSD asked that this be an ideas competition and not a “real” project. Recipients were chosen by a panel of international experts and awarded $25,000 in total prizes. For images and individual project descriptions, click here. “The American Institute of Architects California is excited to collaborate on this important initiative in keeping with the organization’s commitment to sustainability, equity, and the fostering of future architects,” said AIA California President Carina Mills, AIA “The recent fires in the Los Angeles region have reminded us what a terrible toll climate change brings to residents and habitat; we are dedicated to continuing our advocacy for and realization of net zero buildings.” Competition entries will be juried by international experts including Paul Torcellini, Principal Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Lance Collins, AIA, a Director at Partner Energy; Group and Allison Williams, FAIA. This competition is funded by California utility customers and administered by SCE, SoCal Gas and PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Recipients receive four levels of award: Honor, Merit, Citation and Special Recognition: Professional award recipients include: An honor award for the entry “Agua-alta STEAM Engine” by the firm: Design Draw Build Inc, in Oakland, California A Merit award for the entry “Middle School for Fun Innovation and Technological Sustainability” by the firm:  Adamakis Architects & Associates in Volos, Greece A Merit award for the entry “Link plus” by the firm: McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture in South Carolina A Special Recognition award for the entry: “Griffith STEAM” by Bruna Campos, from San Jose, Brazil College and graduate school student winners included: A Merit award for the entry “The Courtyards” was awarded to students from Cal Poly Pomona A Citation, award for the entry “Little farms” was awarded to students at Cal Poly Pomona A Special Recognition Award for the entry, “El Barrio” was awarded to the National School of Architecture in Morocco A single High School entry award was awarded: A Special Recognition Award to the entry, “Green Steam Team” by students from Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village in Southern California.  Winning entries are displayed on the Architecture at Zero website:  http://www.architectureatzero.com/2024-recipients ###

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