USGBC student design competition winners 2023-2024

To encourage Midwest students to become familiar with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, the USGBC opened its 4th Annual Student Design Competition for the 2023-2024 school year. Students had to be enrolled in an architecture or urban planning college or university during the academic school year. The winning projects were announced on August 14, 2024.

The competition focused on three project types incorporating either the LEED v4.1 rating system for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) or the LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) rating system as the design criteria. The competition recognized exceptional design moving towards resource conservation in operation through a creative and innovative integration of design strategies such as daylighting, passive heating and cooling, materials, water, energy generation and other sustainable systems with the goal of creating a cohesive and viable solution.

The winning entries demonstrated particular emphasis on understanding LEED criteria and how the integrative process of LEED enhances the design/planning and engineering of our built environment. Our winners receive a cash prize, one-year Student Membership to USGBC and will be celebrated at events in their community. Congratulations to the winning entries!

Our organizer, USGBC Detroit Region, would like to thank everyone involved and we look forward to your support in future competitions. USGBC is planning to host this competition again for the 2024-2025 school year. For information about participating in the competition or becoming a sponsor, please contact us at [email protected]

Table of Contents

Sponsors & Organizer

Thanks to our sponsors and organizer for their contributions to the Student Design Competition.

Organizer

Planning Committee

Thanks to our dedicated committee members for supporting the development and implementation of the Student Design Competition.

Laura Long, LEED AP, GGP, Senior Designer, Sustainability/Senior Associate, NORR | Committee Chair

Monika Budniak-Wischmann, Self-Employed, Associate AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Chair, USGBC Detroit Region Market Leadership Advisory Board

Lana Crouse, Regional Director, U.S. Green Building Council

Daniel L. Faoro, M.arch/UD RA, Associate Professor, Lawrence Technological University

Peggy Matta, AIA, LEED AP, Detroit 2030 District – Founder, Program Manager for EV Charging Pilot

Liliana Gonzalez, RA, LEED ND, Development Design Specialist, Cinnaire

Harold Wilcox III, Director, Sustainability and Construction, Wilcox Business Consulting

Tricia DeMarco, PE, AICP, LEED AP, SITES AP, Detroit Market Lead, Spalding DeDecker

Meet the Jury

The jury members for this year’s Student Design Competition represent several leading voices in the green building. We thank them for sharing their time and talents with us.

Daniel Overbey

AIA, NCARB, LEED Fellow, LEED AP (BD+C, ID+C, O+M), WELL AP, EcoDistricts AP, ActiveScore AP

Director of Sustainability, Browning Day

Assistant Professor, Ball State University

Blake Jackson

AIA, NCARB, LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty, CPHC, EcoDistricts AP

Director, Sustainability, NORR

Barbara Lantschner

Passivhaus Designer, Retrofit Coordinator

Associate Director, John Gilbert Architects

Anthony Offak

RA, NCARB, LEED AP

Senior Technology Specialist, Walbridge

The Winners

Our congratulations to each of our award winners! We would also like to express our gratitude to all the students who submitted a project to the competition.

1st Place: Entry 137

Student: Lisa Sun

Faculty: Jim Wasley, Alex Timmer

School: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Narrative:

The Detroit Re-Makerspace project aims to address environmental, social and economic challenges by repurposing vacant houses in Detroit to create a sustainable makerspace that benefits the Medbury Park/Milwaukee Junction neighborhoods. The project focuses on deconstruction and reuse of materials, particularly 2×4 lumber, to build a LEED Platinum-certified structure that reduces environmental impact while creating new jobs and economic opportunities. It incorporates high-efficiency systems, renewable energy and water management strategies to achieve near net-zero energy use and resilience against climate change. The building is designed to accommodate a diverse group of users, including artists and residents, with features like ample natural light, accessible units and community spaces. Ultimately, the project envisions a climate-resilient, environmentally just future for Detroit, serving as a catalyst for further development in the area.

Jury statement:

We appreciated the overall concept and design of the building, particularly the thoughtful inclusion of sustainable features highlighted on the boards, although it could have been beneficial to include a daylighting analysis alongside the sun analysis. The site context image effectively shows the project within its larger surroundings and the color-coded axon is a useful tool for visualizing mixed uses, though it could be enhanced by the inclusion of furnishings in the plans. We commend the way the form-making integrates with the site, considering factors like water, sun, views and solar generation, and the renderings and 3D drawings effectively convey the experiences in and around the project. However, the potential year-round benefit of the outdoor patio spaces should be further explored. The use of vertical geothermal systems is a smart choice for constrained urban sites and overall, this is a commendable Platinum project that addresses sustainability holistically, achieving an unusually low EUI.

2nd Place: Entry 154

Student: Meredy Thomas

Faculty: Daniel Faoro Assoc. Prof, RA.(Studio/Lab), Eric Ward AIA, (Lab)

School: Lawrence Technological University

Narrative:

The Urban Forest of Sault Saint Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, bordering Canada, is planning a new sports and recreation hall aimed at promoting health, resilience and well-being while integrating the cultural background of the Soo community. The project will be located at Maritime Park, chosen for its lack of greenery and its connection to the Carbide Docks development. The hall will feature amenities like an indoor gym, pool, climbing wall and track, all designed with ADA accessibility and sustainability in mind, adhering to LEED standards. The design emphasizes energy efficiency through solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal power and sustainable building materials, ensuring low carbon emissions and resilience against seasonal climate variations. By revitalizing a previously underutilized site with green spaces and shared parking, the project aims to enhance both the environmental and social fabric of the community, creating a lasting, functional space for all ages.

Jury statement:

The concept was very comprehensive and we appreciated the attempt to incorporate biophilia into the design. However, I wish there had been a stronger emphasis on natural elements or coloring the steel to appear more wood-like. The use of psychrometric charts, sun diagrams and site integration diagrams was commendable, as was the logical space and site planning with an attempt to articulate each space with daylight. However, stacking the basement plan onto the site plan was confusing and each could have been larger and given its own space. The rationale for using steel and its articulation was sound, though a heavy timber building might have been an alternative. The summary of the building performance analysis was good but could have been more concise, with perhaps more emphasis on daylighting. While the renderings were well done, they could have been more focused on the main spaces rather than trying to show every type. The inclusion of a basement raised concerns about its logic on this site, especially considering climate change and hydrostatic pressure.

3rd Place: Entry 172

Student: Natalie DenBesten

Faculty: Michael McCulloch

School: Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University

Narrative:

The cooperative apartment complex at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, an addition to the existing sustainable village, is designed to accommodate graduate students in a harsh climate where winter temperatures average -10°F and daylight is scarce. The 12-unit complex prioritizes the psychological effects of light, using innovative “happy walls” that mimic natural sunlight during the long winter nights and harness abundant summer sunlight through transparent solar panels. The building’s curved design maximizes southern solar exposure, reduces wind load and integrates seamlessly with the natural environment. Sustainable materials and technologies, including Glulam beams, CLT floors and ETFE for insulation, create a warm and inviting space that supports residents’ circadian rhythms and overall well-being.

Jury statement:

The building design incorporates innovative concepts like circadian lighting, green roofs and triple-pane glazing, with a clean and organized presentation. However, it lacks light pollution mitigation and features puzzling floor plans where day spaces receive minimal light and views despite being oriented south. The layout includes some inefficient use of space, such as the curved stairs, which detracts from the compactness needed for heat conservation in this climate. The overall form integrates well with the landscape, but there are concerns about discontinuous insulation, shallow crawl spaces and the proximity to achieving Platinum certification. Interior renderings effectively convey the space’s ambiance, though unit privacy should be considered.

Honorable Mention: Entry #171

Student: Elisabet Mai Jatmiko

Faculty: James Shields

School: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Narrative:

The Archive of the City of Milwaukee is designed to honor the city’s history by collecting, conserving and exhibiting its early records, while maintaining the street edge like its predecessor, the Majestic Hotel. The building, which aligns with neighboring structures like the BMO Tower and City Hall, features a transparent, double-height café and lobby area, with UV-reflective patterns and motorized shades to minimize heat gain. The site design includes an accessible plaza with native plantings, water features for stormwater management, and a green roof, all contributing to a “take green, bring back green” initiative. The building incorporates geothermal energy and deep pile foundations. Program requirements, such as a separate café and gallery space, are carefully met to protect the archives and provide flexible access. The design also prioritizes safety, with clearly defined spaces and surveillance, especially around the collection stacks and administrative areas. LEED certification guides the project in sustainable practices, including rainwater management, heat island reduction and the use of innovative skylight designs.

Jury statement:

The design effectively incorporates nearby inspirations and demonstrates a strong connection to LEED credits, with excellent site assessment and consideration for all-weather facility utilization. The graphic consistency, particularly the progression shown through virtual and physical modeling, is commendable. However, if the landing image had been more impactful the model would have been stronger with transparent glazing for the skylight. While the drawings, especially the section and details, are strong, the renderings don’t adequately convey the space’s appeal. The “design for” attributes could have been more developed and although the building performance analysis and LEED points capture are appreciated, they could be more graphically integrated. The building’s elegance is noted, but it could benefit from more glazing to improve daylight and views, raising the question of why it wasn’t aimed at achieving Platinum certification.

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