Architecture Students Win Two Awards in National Sustainability Competition

This is a rendering of the front of Arko Park, by Israel Zamorano.

This rendering by Israel Zamorano shows Arko Park at sunrise.

This is a physical model of Arko Park, by Israel Zamorano.

This series of diagrams by Israel Zamorano shows how folds create Arko Park.

This diagram by Israel Zamorano shows the carbon life of a building.

This elevation rendering by Israel Zamorano shows the materials of Arko Park.

This is a rendering of the yoga studio in Arko Park, by Israel Zamorano.

This is an interior rendering of the atrium in Collaborative Avenue, by Matthew Schroeder.

This section rendering by Matthew Schroeder of the main Collaborative Avenue building shows the different layers of the structure.

This elevation rendering by Matthew Schroeder shows the front of the building.

This sectional axonometric rendering by Matthew Schroeder shows the façade of Collaborative Avenue..

This diagram by Matthew Schroeder shows how the façade layers are assembled.

This interior rendering by Matthew Schroeder shows the Collaborative Avenue atrium.

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This is a rendering of the front of Arko Park, by Israel Zamorano.

Projects by two Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design students captured two of the 10 awards handed out in the national AIA COTE Top Ten for Students Competition. The competition is sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE), in partnership with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).

According to the ACSA website, the program challenges students to design projects that use a creative and innovative, thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology to provide design solutions that protect and enhance the environment.

The projects by Israel Zamorano and Matthew Schroeder were among 10 that address the impacts of climate change. Both projects also emphasize achieving net-zero emissions, adapting to resilient climate impacts and addressing social and environmental inequities. Zamorano is a fifth-year architecture student from Conway, and Schroeder is a fourth-year architecture student from Hurst, Texas.

“These recognitions reflect the commitment the Fay Jones School Department of Architecture has made in applied design that addresses climate change,” said John Folan, department head and professor of architecture. “Israel and Matthew’s work on two very different projects developed in different educational contexts demonstrates the potency of teaching by advising faculty and the departmental faculty as a whole. The sensibilities represented in the work of these two very talented and dedicated students represent a culture and way of thinking that is shared by their colleagues. Their success tangibly promotes the value of design in creating a better future.”

Of the 10 winning projects, six were each designed by an individual student. The other four projects were done by a team of two or more students. Other winning projects came from students at Clemson University, Catholic University of America, University of Waterloo, Boston Architectural College, University of Oregon and Université Laval.

Pedro Veloso, assistant professor of architecture, served as a faculty sponsor for both students. Veloso worked with Zamorano in an Integrated Design Studio, which Veloso also coordinated that semester. Schroeder was part of a studio coordinated by David Kennedy, assistant professor of architecture, in which all students took on the competition as their studio project. 

ISRAEL ZAMORANO, ARKO PARK: RECLAIMING THE GROUNDS

Located on the riverside of the Arkansas River, adjacent to the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock, Arko Park is a 41,300-square-foot recreation/athletic center designed to serve as a comprehensive facility for various athletic and recreational activities. Situated in a humid subtropical climate zone, the building will experience hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters, necessitating considerations for climate control and energy efficiency.

The architecture focuses on communicating with site and ground conditions, as well as the relationships between climate, urban, social and ecological contexts. The landscape highlights and complements the natural surroundings, providing opportunities for introspection and observation. The sports leisure area examines the landscape within the marsh, focusing on the interaction between land, vegetation and ecosystems within a single habitat.

North Little Rock’s riverfront climate poses constant challenges year-round, including air quality, moisture control, high humidity and HVAC systems. Arko Park aims to utilize these challenges as opportunities to become an asset to the surrounding neighbors of Argenta — emerging as a hub for energy production as it seeks to be below net zero.

The jury said that Arko Park “has a well-designed roof that is the centerpiece of this beautifully rendered project. The exterior shading has a simple and elegant design that can be built.”

MATTHEW SCHROEDER, COLLABORATIVE AVENUE

This is an interior rendering of the atrium in Collaborative Avenue, by Matthew Schroeder.

Located in Hell’s Kitchen in New York City, Collaborative Avenue is an advanced learning hub that aims to foster collaboration and innovation. 

By using materials and design motifs familiar to Hell’s Kitchen, the structure maintains a visual harmony with its surroundings and enhances its ties to the community. The design prioritizes flexibility, with spacious, open areas equipped with modular, movable elements that can be reconfigured as educational needs evolve. Water reuse systems significantly reduce the dependency on municipal water supplies, and the integration of a solar panel canopy minimizes the building’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

This academic facility is designed to be a place where education transcends the classroom, where the community finds a voice in academic conversations and where sustainable urban living is both taught and practiced. By incorporating public spaces within its design, the project actively fosters interaction and enriches the social and cultural life of Hell’s Kitchen. These areas, open to everyone, are vibrant hubs for workshops, cultural events and civic discussions. This deliberate integration ensures that the facility bolsters the community’s vibrancy.

The jury said that Collaborative Avenue “brings a unique approach to an eco-conscious design and combines modern architectural elements with functional sustainability. The visually compelling graphics show a clear understanding of the occupants’ experience in the breathtaking drawings.”

Each of the winning projects in the AIA COTE Top Ten for Students Competition received a $1,000 prize payment for the student and $350 for the faculty sponsor. All winning projects are featured on the competition winners’ website.

About the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design: The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas houses undergraduate professional design programs of architecture, landscape architecture and interior architecture and design together with a liberal studies program. The school also offers a Master of Design Studies, with concentrations in health and wellness design, resiliency design, integrated wood design, preservation design, and retail and hospitality design. The DesignIntelligence 2019 School Rankings Survey listed the school among the most hired from architecture, landscape architecture and interior design schools, ranking 10th, 14th and eighth, respectively, as well as 28th among most admired architecture schools.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.