Syracuse University, Université Laval, Louisiana State University among winners of the 2020 AISC/ACSA Steel Design Student Competition

For the 2020 edition of the AISC/ACSA Steel Design Student Competition, 18 projects were recognized for their outstanding designs using steel. This year's competition focused on two design categories whose design brief asked applicants to design an Urban Food Hub while the second category was an OPEN category for students to select a site and building program that uses steel as its primary building material.

In addition to the first, second, and third prize winners, the jury also awarded Honorable Mentions for their design . Check out the prize-winning, and the juror comments below!

CATEGORY I: URBAN FOOD HUB WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: Food Machine Students: Hatem Bouassida and Antoine Hurez
Faculty: Jacques Plante and Richard Pleau
Université Laval

Juror Comments: Food Machine is an impressively comprehensive project with well crafted drawings and details. The students have strong conviction, which created an exuberant presentation and in-depth understanding of the steel structure and compositional form. The project is ambitious and believable from the small steel details to the larger structural members.

SECOND PLACE: From ‘AgriHood’ to AgriHUB Students: Callum Nolan, Ethan Paddock, Colin Williams, and Patrick Stephen
Faculty: Terri Boake
University of Waterloo

Juror Comments: From ‘AgriHood’ to AgriHUB is a clever celebration of an existing structure.  Through the diagrams, you are able to see how steel comes together, not just in the architectural form but throughout the project. The students’ approach of taking a minimum gesture in material and making it a grand elegant presentation, takes the design to a whole new level. The program also works fantastic with the site and scaling.

THIRD PLACE: Pesce Plaza Student: Jacob Lyons
Faculty: Kristopher Palagi, Soo J. Jo, and Tara Street
Louisiana State University

Juror Comments: Pesce Plaza is a compelling design with an art to the presentation that is understated. There’s a buildable practicality of the proposal which makes the elements on the plans believable. The drawings are beautiful, simple and clear. The students’ successful solution tackles the design problem head-on with a clear step by step process. The project shows a clear understanding of steel structure with beautiful execution.

CATEGORY II: OPEN WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: “W” for Will Students: Rui Li and Fei Hu
Faculty: Fei Wang
Syracuse University

Juror Comments: W” for Will is an intriguing design with beautifully detailed steel structure creating a faceted exterior. The students’ solution filling the entire city block is an elegant response to the gritty city site. The project’s proportions and use of long span steel structure shows a clear understanding of visual engineering.

SECOND PLACE: Hart Island Ossuary Student: Tatiana Estrina
Faculty: Vincent Hui
Ryerson University

Juror Comments: Hart Island Ossuary is a perfect balance of a poetic and technical landmark project. The interplay of steel structure and lighting is compelling. The project siting and outdoor elements allow the design to fit wonderfully within a recreational, meditative or even contemplative space. Overall, the students presented a well resolved, very unique, and sophisticated design.

THIRD PLACE: Urban Roots Students: Ashkan Radnia, Gavin Reeb, and Spencer Sparagna
Faculty: Kyoung-Hee Kim and Liz McCormick
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Juror Comments: Urban Roots is a design that takes command on demonstrating wonderful graphic techniques and skills. The building’s mass fits the scale of the city and clearly identifies itself as an intriguing building. The comprehensive submission expresses the steel structure as a new interpretation of the lattice with an exterior structural system.

To learn more about the competition and its winning projects click here.