Topic: College of Architecture and Planning
January 21, 2010
It was a near sweep of a national competition for seven Ball State University students whose winning designs are the latest in a list of recent distinctions for the College of Architecture of Planning.
The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)-Kawneer Municipal Courthouse Student Design Competition challenged contestants to redesign any municipal courthouse in Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, San Diego or Portland, Ore. The redesigns needed to highlight the unique features of the courthouses while incorporating sustainable and universal building principles. Ball State was one of 31 universities that entered the competition.
In recent weeks, Ball State also has been named one of the top three schools in the country to excel in digital design and fabrication and one of six schools nationwide committed to social justice. The distinctions were bestowed by Architect magazine.
"Our emergence as winners in AIAS-Kawneer national competition comes at the same time as the announcement of national top rankings of our program in the areas of digital design and fabrication and social justice by Architect magazine, an extraordinary distinction by any measure," said Mahesh Senagala, chairperson of the Department of Architecture. "These victories are not only reflective of the longstanding good work of our faculty members but also reflective of the university's more recent investments in emerging media and immersive learning."
Winners of the AIAS-Kawneer competition include Eric Laine, first place; Greg Hittler, third place and Kelly Goffiney, Lauren Comes, James Moehring, Jessie Rabideau and Jonathon Meier, honorable mention.
"We are thrilled to see how the strong credentials of our faculty and the outstanding talent of our students continue to provide evidence of our world class status," said Guillermo Vasquez de Velasco, dean of the College of Architecture and Planning.
For more information about the competition visit www.aias.org/kawneer.
By Chanel Richards