Take a look at this year's winners of the ACSA/AISC Steel Design Student Competition

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) have announced the winners of their annual Steel Design Student Competition.

This year’s winning field of eleven entries is split between Open and Workplace Wellness categories. Superlative projects from Ryerson University and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa showcase a diverse range of building types that includes designs for a Boston waterfront immigrant museum and biophilic research towers.

Shaina Saporta of Arup and Virginia Tech professor Aki Ishida were among the six jury panelists. The full list of projects can be viewed below.

CATEGORY I: WORKPLACE WELLNESS

1st Place: Immersive Workplace (Cover image)
Students: Moises Lio Can, Zaw Latt, Yaning Zhang, & Ming Xu
Faculty Sponsor: Clark E. Llewellyn, FAIA
Institution: University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
Collaborators: Marion Fowlkes, FAIA & Stephen S. Huh, FAIA

Jury comments: "Immersive Workplace is a well executed design through its innovative use of steel, building form and spatial organization. The students considered the perspective of this building from the occupants point of view, which added an authentic human scale element. The thoroughly documented process of steel use and intricate drawings bring the overall design to a cohesive and well thought-out design."

2nd place: waste[USE]-full
Student: Dylan Roth
Faculty Sponsors: Soo Jeong Jo, Kristopher Palagi, & Tara Street
Institution: Louisiana State University

Jury comments: "waste[USE]-full is a selected winner for the students unique approach encompassing labor, ecology, and community. Through the site and diagrams, this design represented a soothing, sensitive and clean approach to sustainability. The use of a steel system which harkens back to agricultural structures  feels appropriate to how the building is intended to be used."

3rd Place: Holographic Headquarters
Student: John Iacobacci
Faculty Sponsor: Jodi La Coe
Institution: Marywood University

Jury comments: "Holographic Headquarters solidly integrates steel with timber through the expressive programmatic spaces. The variation in material and well-detailed steel connections with cross-laminated timber are well communicated. There is a clear understanding of the relationship between the street and site design."

Honorable Mention: Floating Oasis
Students: Ge Tian, Dong Cao, Zhiyu Feng, & Dongyan Jiang
Faculty Sponsor: Clark E. Llewellyn, FAIA
Institution: University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
Collaborators: Marion Fowlkes, FAIA & Stephen S. Huh, FAIA

Jury comments: "Floating Oasis is an honorable mention for an innovative structural steel system used in the service of healthy biophilic design. The relationship between the site and open public plaza is much appreciated."

Honorable Mention: Howard University Center for Inclusive Design
Students: Christine Griffith & Kyle Martin
Faculty Sponsor: Farhana Ferdous
Institution: Howard University

Juror comments: "Howard University Center for Inclusive Design receives an honorable mention for its approach to its urban site and emphasis on accessibility. The steel structure and terra cotta panels communicate sensitivity to human scale, light, and air."

Honorable Mention: Re(in)vent
Students: Josue Alvarez Perez & Jose Montano
Faculty Sponsor: Gerard Smulevich
Institution: Woodbury University

Juror comments: "RE(IN)VENT receives an honorable mention for an original concept to fresh air ventilation in a skyscraper. The bold concept of the building structure shows a fun approach to how steel could be used in the future."

CATEGORY II: OPEN

1st Place: Clouds Over Regent Park
Student: Thomas Gomez Ospina
Faculty Sponsor: Vincent Hui
Institution: Ryerson University

Juror comments: "Clouds Over Regent Park is a winning project for the ambitious structure and overall design that comes together to achieve a large urban impact. There’s a great balance between innovative systems from a structural perspective and aesthetic. The student demonstrates depth of knowledge of the material throughout the project and drawings."

2nd Place: Hot Cold Warm
Student: Uran Sokoli
Faculty Sponsor: Ahmed Ali
Institution: Texas A&M University

Jury comments: "Hot Cold Warm is a winning design for the efficient use of steel and the elegant way the exposed structure is presented. The students’ drawings showcase their technical understanding and depict the structure in a sophisticated and believable manner."

3rd Place: North End: Storytelling. Immigrant Museum on Boston Waterfront.
Student: Ekaterina Siemoneit
Faculty Sponsors: Jerolim Mladinov & David Foxe
Institution: Boston Architectural College

Jury comments: "North End: Storytelling. Immigrant Museum on Boston Waterfront. is a selected winner for the truss structure design and how this could be implemented on a large urban scale. The program celebrates the idea of the immigrant story through the impeccable drawings and designed storytelling."

Honorable Mention: Above & Below [the veil]
Student: Kaiyan Chen
Faculty Sponsor: Thomas Fowler
Institution: California Polytechnic State University

Jury comments: "ABOVE & BELOW [the veil] is an honorable mention for utilizing a unique truss design. From a structural perspective, the students fully grasp ideas on how trusses can be optimized."

Honorable Mention: Marché du Pont
Student: Tatiana Estrina
Faculty Sponsor: Vincent Hui
Institution: Ryerson University

Jury comments: "Marché du Pont receives an honorable mention for the ornamental use of steel. The presentation boards are well composed and reflects a clear understanding of the systems."