Clemson architecture students earn accolades from the AIA’s Committee on the Environment

For the eighth year in a row, Clemson Master of Architecture (M.Arch) students were named among the winners of the American Institute of Architects, Committee on the Environment’s (AIA COTE) design competition.

The COTE Top Ten competition winners were announced on August 23, 2024. Among the top ten proposals, two projects by Clemson students were declared winners: “Ahupua’a: Ecosystem Intervention + Building Design,” and “Alamihi Village.”

The proposals were developed and completed in the Fall 2023 design studio taught by former Associate Professor of Architecture David Franco, Co-Director of Architecture Graduate Program’s Andreea Mihalache and Lecturer Brandon Pass.

According to AIA, “the COTE Top Ten competition recognizes 10 outstanding projects that meaningfully address the impacts of climate change” with designs that “imagine a healthy, sustainable and equitable future.”

“We are honored that our students’ work has been named among the winners of the 2024 COTE Top Ten awards,” said Clemson School of Architecture Director Jim Stevens. “Our students continue to showcase their skills in creating impactful, community-focused, and sustainable projects. This recognition reinforces our commitment to nurturing future industry leaders in design.”

Transforming livelihoods

One of this year’s winning proposals, “Ahupua’a: Ecosystem Intervention + Building Design,” was developed by Clemson M.Arch students Andrew Fulmer and Coly Tabberson. Their proposal is an intergenerational mixed-use community designed to restore the native landscape of Lahaina, Hawaii, and empower residents to transform their roles from passive consumers to active producers through sustainable agricultural practices. The proposal was created to honor Polynesian traditions while addressing the devastation caused by the 2023 wildfires.

According to Fulmer and Tabberson, the project was driven by their passion for sustainable design that empowers communities.

“The goal was to create a framework that gave residents the tools to continually reimagine and build their own sustainable future,” explained Fulmer. “This project came together by integrating traditional land and resource management strategies native to Hawaii with innovative bioremediation technologies and architecture accessible to all ages. The result is a design that meets the community’s immediate needs and contributes to Hawaii’s sustainable future.”

According to Fulmer and Tabberson, the project rendering is only one possible way that the project could be created in the future, as the proposal provides Lahaina residents with the tools to continually reimagine and build their own sustainable future.

“Being named in the COTE Top Ten is an incredible honor,” Fulmer shared. “It feels like a recognition of the hard work, dedication and passion that fueled the collaborative effort to develop a self-sustaining community fostering close relationships between residents and their native ecosystem. It serves as an inspiration to continue expanding our understanding of sustainable design, knowing that these efforts are valued and celebrated by the broader community.”

Rebuilding after a fire

The second proposal named in the 2024 COTE Top Ten, “Alamihi Village,” was developed by Clemson M.Arch students Jared Cook and Matthew Ngango. Their proposal promotes the coexistence of human activities with respect for the land and water.

“Our project responds to the 2023 Maui wildfires by demonstrating how architecture can contribute to a hopeful future by blending cultural and environmental conservation with vibrant community-building efforts in rebuilding Lahaina city,” Cook explained.

Set on a 9-acre parcel, the proposal arranges site elements along a bike- and pedestrian-friendly street that would link the historic Wharf to the main street and city center. Cook and Ngango designed the site to be primarily for public use, with a fishpond, outdoor recreation, a proposed building and agriculture and community gardens.

“Focusing on a 9-acre site at the edge of the devastation, the project is optimistic, exploring opportunities for cultural conservation, ecological restoration and economic development,” Ngango said.

According to Ngango, the project is a testament to the effective teamwork he developed with Cook, support from classmates and guidance from professors.

“Our shared enthusiasm for the project’s potential allowed us to embrace our differing styles and perspectives, which enriched the outcome,” said Ngango.

“It is an honor to represent the Clemson School of Architecture with this award,” Cook said. “This recognition holds special meaning for me because Matt and I took significant risks with the project. We prioritized delivering architecture that truly reflected what the people of Maui deserved rather than focusing solely on winning the COTE competition.”