Architecture at Zero proposals imagine a new middle school campus for East L.A.

A group of eight selected proposals that were submitted for the 2024 edition of the Architecture at Zero competition have been publicized, each featuring a unique idea that responded to the challenge of designing a new middle school in East Los Angeles.

The competition breaks down award winners into three categories: Professionals, College/University Students, and High School Students. The brief asked each to design a new campus building for the Griffith STEAM Magnet Middle School that includes science labs, art classroom, maker space, outdoor learning environments, and a teacher workroom. 

The competition, which is sponsored by AIA California was judged by architect Allison Williams and other experts. Recognized entries will split an award pool of $25,000 in total prizes. The 2024 competition marks the 11th edition of Architecture at Zero, which began in 2011. 

PROFESSIONAL

Honor Award

Agualta STEAM Engine by Design Draw Build Inc. (Oakland, CA)

Team: Tyler Kobick (Design, Oversight), Charlie Boyd (Design, Project Management, Modeling, Graphics), Sam Miller (Energy Modeling, Graphics), Conrad Scheepers (Modeling, Rendering), Yanit Mehta (Research, Writing)

You can read their proposal here.

Merit Award

Link + by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture (Columbia, SC)

Team: Xin Gao and Jian Huang (of Goodwyn Mills Cawood)

You can read their proposal here.

Merit Award

Middle School for Fun Innovation and Technological Sustainability by Adamakis Architects & Associates (Volos, Greece)

Team: Adamakis Stefanos (Lead Architect), Adamakis Konstantinos (Lead Advisor/Architect), Tsangrassoulis Aristeides (Advisor), Elpiniki Pavlou (Designer), Efthimia Vrouza (Designer), Alexandros Kourtis (Designer), Chatzinikolaou Nikolaos (Advisor), Tragoudaras Dimitrios (Advisor), Simeon Grigoriadis (Designer), Nikoleta Christodoulou (Advisor)

You can read their proposal here.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Griffith STEAM construyendo un lugar para todos by Petinelli Consultants (São José, Brazil)

Team: Sofia Amon Idiart, Caio Couto, Carolina Falcão, Renata Ossanai, Bruna Campos, Leonardo Habitzreuter, Guilherme Ferlin, Carlos Sledz, Matheus Bier, Nicole Weishof (all Specialists)

You can read their proposal here.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Merit Award

The Courtyards by California State Polytechnic University Pomona (Pomona, CA)

Team: Belina Nguyen (Lead Designer), Stephanie Perez-Ocaranza (Energy Analyst), Pablo La Roche, Professor (Advisor)

You can read their proposal here.

Citation Award

Little Farms by California State Polytechnic University Pomona (Pomona, CA)

Team: Uliana Vasilyeva, Victoria Cavero, Gabriela Stracener, Pablo La Roche.

You can read their proposal here.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Team: Hafsa Lakhal (Project Designer), Meryem Ntama (Civil Engineer), Jihane Aat El Hamam (Civil engineer), Salma Msarni (Energy Analyst), Sara Raai (Energy Analyst), Asia Lachir (Teacher and Project Advisor)

You can read their proposal here.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Special Recognition Award

ArdalanGreen STEAM by Team Oaks Christian School (Westlake Village, CA)

Team: Ian Ardalan (Writer), Allison Buss-Mercado (Site Plan Manager), Joshua Guba (Site Plan), Shane McAfee (Mechanical Systems/Energy Calculations), Carolin Mitterberger (3D Perspective Creator/ Site Plan), Madison Prynn (Site Plan), Thomas Quaid (Cross Section Designer), Nikos Radosavljevic (Site Plan), Joshua Severen (Mechanical Systems/Energy Calculations), Greg Smith (Teacher) 

You can read their proposal here.