The 2022 International Student Tall Building Design Competition, sponsored by Think Wood (see below), addressed the theme "The Use of Mass Timber in Multi-Story Buildings" and culminated with online judging of the finalists, from which the jury determined the five winners.
2022 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
Overview
1st Place
Volcano, Hut & Divine Tree - Cultural Center in Big Island, Hawaii
Yuchen Wang and Yin-Shan Lin, University of Hawaii at Mānoa
The impact of powerful civilizations broke the isolation between the island society and the western world, making the traditional Hawaiian society face comprehensive changes. The design abstracts three local characteristic objects, which are volcano, hut & divine tree to compose its main form and space, which manifests local culture, customs, history, and beliefs. This cultural center in Big Island, Hawaii provides a space for bringing natives back to seek for their spiritual home, which can benefit local cultural spread and revitalization as well as promote local education.
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2nd Place
Interwoven, San Francisco
Qianqian Zhang, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
The main content of this design is to softly embed wooden multi-function residential buildings between modern high-rise buildings and low-rise old blocks bring more warm and natural public space and residential space, and weave the cities on both sides together. The living space is dominated by loft-style apartments. The first floor is used for office reception and some daily activities, and the second floor is mainly used as a bedroom. The volume-shaped public space is inserted into the tube structure and supported by a beam-column system. At the end of the volume space, vertical pedestrian traffic is provided to facilitate communication between floors.
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3rd Place
The Sense-Scraper, New York City
Gordon Chun Hin Hon, University of Melbourne
The Financial District in Manhattan is known for its fast-paced lifestyle and high-pressure environment. Despite its popularity, the area is often criticized for having limited green spaces and this contributes to the stress and anxiety of local residents. In order to address this issue, this project aims to provide an urban sanctuary in the heart of the city. The Sense-Scraper is a mixed-use building that incorporates mass timber construction and explores the concept of biophilia in order to counteract the effects of urban mental health crisis and promote sustainability. The building is designed as a third space urban oasis, offering a refuge from the concrete jungle meanwhile provide a low carbon footprint lifestyle to the dwellers.
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4th Place
Fill in the Gaps - Triumph of the Unwanted Space, New York City
Ridho Gustama, Gilbert Aldo Theodric, and Rayhan Naufal Hadiansyah, Parahyangan Catholic University
Rapid human growth and urbanization towards dense cities, causing less and less land left in the city and increased land prices. The remaining land in one urban layer tends to form abstract, organic, and sharp forms, which are not likely to be developed further. The residue from the previous development also produces urban waste in the form of land leftovers. We propose a new way of approach of how we can build a new way of tall building typology that is more appropriate to the context and the problem, and how a tall building should take a stand against this new and rapidly changing urban context, especially to maximize a cramped land-use with ad hoc leftovers.
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5th Place
Talent Machine - The Platform for the Exchange of Skills, Knowledge, and Information, New York City
Joanna Cieslikowska, Delft University of Technology
Talent Machine is a symbolic expression where the word machine brings to mind a system, one that stays in action, in a movement. Talent is a general expression often meaning an abstract concept of a skill, knowledge or information. Talent Machine is a new kind of an innovation campus where ideas are born - a platform where skills, knowledge and information can be exchanged. The goal of the Talent Machine is to bring not only an intangible intellectual inspiration, but also a completely substantial architectural form - a building or rather a set of buildings that are given a specific program to play their roles well. The 33-level tall timber structure marks a beginning for the new era, inspiring future entrepreneurs with its fresh feel. It creates an inspirational work environment where ideas are born.
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Funding Sponsor: Council on Vertical Urbanism
2025 International Student Tall Building Design Competition Winners
Funding Sponsor: AECOM
2023 International Student Tall Building Design Competition Winners
Funding Sponsor: AECOM
2021 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
Funding Sponsor: Council on Vertical Urbanism
2020 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
Funding Sponsor: Tetra Tech
2019 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
Funding Sponsor: New World Development Company Limited
2018 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
2017 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
Funding Sponsor: New World Development Company Limited
2016 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
Funding Sponsor: New World Development Company Limited
2015 International Student Tall Building Design Competition
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