Projects to end forced labor honored by Grace Farms and ACSA’s Design for Freedom competition

Grace Farms Foundation’s Design for Freedom movement has announced the recipients of the 2025 Design for Freedom Student Competition. Organized in collaboration with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the competition recognizes ten projects in two categories, Design Project and Material Research, that “explore a variety of issues related to the exploration of how architects can work to eradicate forced and child labor from the built environment.”

“We were thrilled to see the creativity and strong commitment demonstrated by students to address one of the most overlooked yet pressing humanitarian issues of our time – forced labor in the building materials supply chain,” said Sharon Prince, CEO and Founder of Grace Farms and leader of the Design for Freedom movement. “We must engage the entire ecosystem of the built environment, including universities that are educating the next generation of leaders, to start shifting the marketplace.”

The winning participants will be invited to present their projects at the fifth annual Design for Freedom Summit on March 26, 2026 at Grace Farms. In the meantime, more details on the ten projects are set out below.

1st Place (Category 1: Design Project)

Peace Museum – Beyond the Scars

Nidhi Naik & Shamita Shyam Honawar of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Jury comments: Peace Museum – Beyond the Scars is recognized as a first place winner for the powerful and deeply principled design that places ethical material sourcing and labor equity at the heart of the architectural design. By weaving the story through material choices and labor practices, the students ground their concept in a meaningful, real-world context. The use of cartoon bubbles is both inventive and engaging, offering a compelling way to communicate the project’s narrative that can be easily understood by a non-architect.

1st Place (Category 2: Material Research)

Unmasking Greenwashing: Creating an Ethical Timber Supply Chain

Natalie Darakjian, Noelle Osborne & Reed Wilson of the University of Southern California

Jury comments: Unmasking Greenwashing: Creating an Ethical Timber Supply Chain stands out for the bold and forward-thinking approach, offering a well-researched and clearly presented tool designed to support practitioners in making more informed material and supplier decisions. The inclusion of features such as QR-codes on the materials demonstrates a practical and innovative mindset. Overall, the project pushes the boundaries of how architects and designers engage with ethical sourcing and transparency. It is a daring and timely contribution that has the potential to significantly impact industry practices today.

2nd Place (Category 1: Design Project)

Patches in Waiting: A Shelter for Equity and Material Justice

Leonor Aguero Vivas of the University of Calgary

Jury comments: Patches in Waiting A Shelter for Equity and Material Justice has a thoughtful and compelling approach to circularity, with clear labeling and material tracing that reflect strong foundational concepts. The commitment to transparency, from material sourcing to reuse is evident throughout the graphics. The student’s design holds strong potential for scalability and a broader implementation in all construction.

2nd Place (Category 2: Material Research)

Behind the Rubber

Xingyu Liu of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Jury comments: Behind the Rubber impressed the jury with the comprehensive research and strong emphasis on policy, presenting a well-developed and innovative concept that introduces fresh perspectives of unconventional thinking. The students demonstrate a clear commitment to consumer understanding, using thoughtful storytelling to make complex systems more transparent. A key strength of the design is the clear and thorough articulation of the proposed ecosystem.

3rd Place (Category 1: Design Project)

Modular Housing for Material Justice

Sofia Ramirez of the University of New Mexico

Jury comments: Modular Housing for Material Justice presents a visionary model for ethical construction and community-centered design. The use of locally harvested mango wood and modular building methods reflects a deep commitment to material circulatory, labor empowerment, and environmental responsibility. The architecture fosters community and the presentation thoughtfully reflects cultural identity and expression.

3rd Place (Category 2: Material Research)

Unbuild to Rebuild

Teodor Mlynczyk & Kritika Sarawagi of Carnegie Mellon University

Jury comments: Unbuild to Rebuild is a well-researched concept for repurposing materials such as bricks for adaptive reuse presents a compelling model for circularity and sustainable redevelopment. Circular design practices avoid the use of new materials, minimizing the risk of forced and child labor in material supply chains. Grounded in the local context of Pittsburgh, and drawing from a database of condemned brick buildings, the design demonstrates a clear understanding of site-specific conditions while proposing a solution that is highly transferable to other urban settings. By focusing deeply on one city, the project highlights broader themes of urban resilience and responsible reuse. The design is also an excellent example of how to effectively organize and communicate a large amount of information through impactful graphics.

Honorable Mention (Category 1: Design Project)

A Garden of Stories: Placemaking in 3 Acts

Shruti Jayaraman of RV College of Architecture

Jury comments: A Garden of Stories: Placemaking in 3 Acts offers a compelling narrative that reclaims architecture as a tool for inclusion, memory, and material justice. The design critiques exploitative supply chains and recenters construction around dignity and coexistence. The drawings are engaging, and the planning exploration is both thoughtful and imaginative.

Honorable Mention (Category 1: Design Project)

Omokun Academy

Sebastian Kush of the University of New Mexico

Jury comments: Omokun Academy is beautifully designed and skillfully presented, with particular attention to natural ventilation strategies that allow the building to breathe and respond to its environment. The academy design thoughtfully represents a region of the world that is often underrepresented, and it offers an important opportunity to learn from local practices, particularly through the use of site-sourced materials such as rammed earth, compressed earth blocks, and local wood. The graphics carefully demonstrate how design can be both contextually grounded and socially impactful.

Honorable Mention (Category 2: Material Research)

Environmental and Social Justice in Building Materials: Who Bears the True Cost?

Qianyi Zhang of the University of Washington

Jury comments: Environmental and Social Justice in Building Materials: Who Bears the True Cost? receives merit for a thoughtful investigation into the material supply chain, which is both timely and essential, drawing attention to the often overlooked harms experienced by fenceline communities. The research adds valuable depth to labor ethics, transparency, and the hidden costs of building materials. There’s ambition and potential to inspire continued dialogue around equity, responsibility, and impact in the built environment.

Honorable Mention (Category 2: Material Research)

Nomadic Walls – Circular Construction System with Low-Carbon, Site Ready Wall Panels

Ishika Dinesh & Yifan Feng of Carnegie Mellon University

Jury comments: Nomadic Walls –  Circular Construction System with Low-Carbon, Site Ready Wall Panels receives an honorable mention for relying on locally harvested and reclaimed materials, while involving nearby artisans. The choice to work with community sourced bamboo, straw and recycled polycarbonate reflects a meaningful commitment to environmental responsibility and regenerative practices. The design supports more equitable labor practices while strengthening community resilience. Visually, the design is compelling, with strong graphics and well-communicated concepts that elevate the overall presentation.