The winning charrette team earned $2000. (Texas A&M College of Architecture)
“It’s imperative they learn this now,” said Rodney Hill, holder of the Harold Adams Interdisciplinary Professorship of Architecture. “In practice, there can be a difficult relationship between architects and general contractors. We want our graduates to work together and learn from each other. This competition offers students an opportunity to develop lifelong networks.”
As the contest progressed, students began to recognize how their differently majored peers enhanced the projects.”
“It was a fantastic experience applying my knowledge to what my teammates know and combining it all,” said Kennedy Boykin, a freshman construction science major. “I feel like I now have some experience for the future, some insight into what I should expect when working with designers. I think this will help with my classes and I’m really glad I did it.”
Christopher Davila, a sophomore landscape architecture major, said his team bonded quickly and deeply over the whirlwind weekend.
“I have a lot of admiration for my teammates,” he said. “They brought ideas to the table that I’d have never thought of. We had to respect each other’s strengths and let people into what we considered ‘our’ space, and by doing that it ended up a very interwoven project. I’d call on them to work together again.”
Adams, thrilled with the results and particularly the camaraderie that developed between participants, said he hopes the college will make the charrette an annual event.
“This is what we hoped for and it has gone beyond what we expected,” said Adams, who also chaired the ICU committee. “I’m amazed at the quality of the projects. This is a step in the right direction.”
Winners
First place and $2,000 went to the team that envisioned a futuristic oasis with high-tech interactive features. In their solution, stylized metal trees that light up when touched shade an area of grassy knolls offering futuristic seating near a water wall that transforms the space into a student sanctuary for relaxation, collaboration and building connections with other Aggies.
The winners were Alyssa Dophied and Wyatt Springer, both environmental design freshmen; Stephanie Morris, a landscape architecture freshman; William Trejo-Salazar, an urban planning sophomore; and Melissa Ussery, a construction science sophomore.
Second place and $1,250 went to the team that designed a triangular, three-tiered, glass-enclosed structure overlooking and integrated into the adjacent park space. The structure, topped with a lush garden-covered roof, provides a well lit, biophilic space for student presentations or meetings. The team was made up of Lauren Bradley, a visualization sophomore; Jonathan Marcell, an environmental design sophomore; John McDavid V, a construction science freshman; Katrina Urdiales, a landscape architecture freshman; and Alejandra Valdovinos, a university studies junior.
Third place and $750 went to “The Compass,” a design that calls for a large, curved, grass-covered ramp that spirals widely from the bridge between the Langford buildings to the elevated space adjacent to the Scoates building and back down to Langford’s ground level. The spiral circles a central space centered by a tall shade tree surrounded by a water feature and mobile furniture. The third place team included Canvan Anton, a landscape architecture freshman; Conner Carmichael, a construction science freshman; Marina Hanna, an urban planning sophomore; Nicholas Roman, a university studies junior; and Daniel Wang Yu, an environmental design freshman.
In addition to the prize money, Jorge Vanegas, dean of the College of Architecture, presented the remaining participant with $100, an award, he said, for their exceptional work.
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This story Sarah Wilson originally appeared in ArchOne.