Sustainability leads architecture students to top honors

by Jonathan McGaha | January 8, 2014 12:00 am

Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc.[1], Deland, Fla., announced Luis Sidonio, Suzie Robinson, Sarah Binns and Zach Brown, architecture students from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, placed first in the company’s Generation Kingspan, or GenK, design competition.

The international competition asked students to submit designs for an urban mid-rise, mixed-use complex for a Washington, D.C., project site. The winning design team, and recipients of the $5,000 grand prize, created the DC Visitor & Sustainability Cultural Centre featuring a range of sustainable systems including solar and geothermal renewable energy systems, which reduced reliance on non-renewable energy sources. These features earned high marks for aesthetic and energy-efficient badges from judges, according to Kingspan.

The DC Visitor & Sustainability Cultural Centre was the winning design in Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc.’s GenK competition in 2013. The winning design team comprised of Luis Sidonio, Suzie Robinson, Sarah Binns, and Zach Brown from The University of Queensland.

Judging took place at the Global Cold Chain Alliance International Headquarters, Alexandria, Va., and the panel included Lira Luis, AIA, RIBA, NCARB, CeM, LEED APBD+C, owner of Atelier Lira Luis LLC; Sean B. Beachy, AIA, NCARB, associate principal at Wendel Co.; Eric D. Birkhauser, AIA, project designer and manager associate at KGP Design Studio; Annamaria Perruccio, senior project manager at ARK/Petroff; and Chris Wood, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, at Smith Group JJR.

“Sidonio’s team project proved that it was well researched with extreme attention to detail, while showcasing a wide variety of Kingspan products,” Luis says.

Second place prize, $4,000, went to Stefano Tirocchi, Merrille Antalan, Rebecca Jordan and Phil Maerky, students at the University of Queensland, for their design, The Hill, the Washington DC Sustainability Hub. Third prize, $3,000, was given to Michael Pace, University of New Mexico student, for his project, Together @ MT Vernon Square.

Two social winners by popular vote, who each received $4,000, were also named. Maja Plavsic, Savannah College of Art and Design student, won first place for her project, Heure Memorable – Memorable Hour. Victor Rodriguez won second place for his design, Vital Re-Connection.

Jean Morana and Victor Rodriguez, students at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, received honorable mentions.

The DC Visitor & Sustainability Cultural Centre was the winning design in Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc.’s GenK competition in 2013. The winning design team comprised of Luis Sidonio, Suzie Robinson, Sarah Binns, and Zach Brown from The University of Queensland.

The DC Visitor & Sustainability Cultural Centre was the winning design in Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc.’s GenK competition in 2013. The winning design team comprised of Luis Sidonio, Suzie Robinson, Sarah Binns, and Zach Brown from The University of Queensland.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/daily-news/sustainability-leads-architecture-students-to-top-honors/

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