The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) recently hosted their 22nd Annual Steel Design Student Competition for the 2021–2022 academic year. Sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the program challenges undergraduate and graduate students — working either solo or in teams — to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. This year’s competition featured two themes: Towards a New Monumentality/21st Century Democratic Public Space and Open/Steel Design. Project entries must use steel as their primary structural material, they must feature at least one long-span steel structure, and they should embody innovation in steel design.
The project Forest of Conscience: A Civic Device for Hyper-Social Media by Isis Orduno and Conny Salazar, with faculty sponsor Gerard Smulevich, placed 1st in the competition. The jury appreciated the project for challenging normative ideas of what monuments are used for, stating, “The design embraces the current age of social media and how we interact. The steel columns allow for a safe open-air environment, while integrating a thought-provoking narrative of public space.”
The project Alt. City Hall by Vanessa Romo and Dario Salgado, also with faculty sponsor Gerard Smulevich, earned an honorable mention. The jury praised this project for its development and use of expressive structure, exclaiming, “The concept is powerfully depicted in the cohesive drawings and thorough details.”
Congratulations to Isis, Conny, Vanessa, Dario, along with Professor Smulevich, on your outstanding achievements!
Learn more at the ACSA website.
Last Updated on August 26, 2022.