Clemson architecture students win 5 of 11 prizes in international competition

CLEMSON — Two teams of Clemson University’s School of Architecture graduate students have earned first and second places in Dow Chemical Company’s Dow Solar Design to Zero Competition. Three additional Clemson teams received honorable mention and ancillary awards.

The international competition challenged undergraduate and graduatestudents to conceptualize energy-efficient, sustainable residentialsolutions on a global scale. Clemson’s ambitious teams were selected by agroup of their contestant peers as the winners from a pool of 131design teams from 19 countries.

Winners were announced Wednesday during a ceremony at the NationalHome Builder’s International Builders’ Show in Orlando and onlinethrough a Facebook Livestream.

Clemson’s Live/Work teamwon first place and $20,000 with its sleek, modern design. Eric Laineof Indianapolis and Suzanne Steelman of Las Vegas embraced the socialand economic aspects of life and created a home that incorporates bothcommercial and residential functionalities.

Daniel Kim of Vienna, Va. and Caitlin Ranson of Pickens received second place and $10,000 for their Project Zero design.The structure’s concrete masonry units create a seamless house thatreimagines spaces and blurs the boundaries between interior and exteriorwith “zones” intended to increase ventilation.   

Honorable Mention was awarded to John Oxenfeld of Tega Cay and Adam Wilson of Chester for their unique Partial Submersion design.

Mike Niezer of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Adrian Mora of Miama took theDesign Integration Award for seamlessly integrating space, materials andtechnology to craft a serene and environmentally sound breatheZERO home.

The winners are (left to right) Jason Drews, James Graham, Adrian Mora, Daniel Kim, Caitlin Ranson, John Oxenfeld, Adam Wilson, Suzanne Steelman and Eric Laine. Michael Niezer is not pictured. image by: Clemson University

The Built-In Photovoltaic Design Award went to Jason Drews of Houston and James Graham of Wilmington, N.C., for their Below Zero design, incorporating optimal solar angles.

Architecture school chairwoman Kate Schwennsen said she is verypleased with the success of these students, as are their design studioprofessor, Ulrike Heine, and consulting professors Daniel Harding andBernhard Sill.

“The accomplishments of these students and faculty represent thehighest aspirations, values and abilities of the School ofArchitecture, Schwennsen said. The work is innovative, technologicallyintegrated and sophisticated, optimistic, engaged with industry,clearly and beautifully communicated, the result of collaborative designprocesses.

It addresses one of the critical issues of our time and is focusedon leaving the world better than they found it, she said. The Schoolof Architecture couldn’t ask for better representation of itspotential.”

Contestants created designs for three connected residences, includingareas for privacy and recreation. In addition to traditional designelements, students were tasked with incorporating environmentallyfriendly, recyclable materials with near zero-energy efficiencystandards.

Dow sponsored the competition as part of its commitment to theenvironment, health and safety as demonstrated in its 2015Sustainability Goals.