"perFORM 2016” Building Design Competition Launched by Hammer & Hand
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) January 11, 2016 -- Hammer & Hand announced today the launch of the perFORM 2016 Building Design Competition, a contest challenging emerging architectural professionals to design a net zero energy building in Seattle’s diverse Rainier Beach community.
WHY
“When it comes to the climate crisis, buildings have been a problem,” said Hammer & Hand’s Zack Semke, coordinator of perFORM 2016. “Today nearly half of US CO2 emissions comes from our buildings, but we now have the science and components to make buildings that can generate more energy than they consume. Buildings can actually be part of the solution.”
Still, the idea of “green building” conjures up images of bad design for some. The misconception persists that sustainable buildings are inherently ugly, and beautiful buildings wasteful. Furthermore, both “green building” and great design have earned a reputation for elitism.
WHAT
The perFORM 2016 Building Design Competition aims to challenge all this. Now in its third year, the competition asks architectural students and interns to explore the nexus between high design and high performance building for a net zero energy project that responds to the community priorities of an economically and culturally diverse neighborhood in fast-growing Seattle. The Rainier Beach Neighborhood’s community planning work provides the backdrop for this year’s competition.
“Given the intense growth pressures that our city faces it’s timely that this year’s competition is grounded in the real world opportunities and challenges of an urban Seattle neighborhood,” said Gladys Ly-Au Young, principal at Sunderberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects and juror for perFORM 2016. “To be truly ‘sustainable,’ green buildings will have to respond with sensitivity to the needs and hopes of diverse constituencies.”
WHO & HOW
Architectural students and interns in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to participate in perFORM 2016 (details: http://hammerandhand.com/perform/design-competition/guidelines/). Both group and individual entries will be judged by a jury consisting of practicing architects, design educators, and builders. Once net zero energy performance has been verified entries will be judged based on the criteria of resourcefulness, replicability, beauty, and community response. Professor Rob Peña of the University of Washington Department of Architecture returns as perFORM 2016 Advisor. The perFORM jury will distribute $6,000 in cash awards, and award winners will receive publication online and in print, as well as public display of their boards in Seattle and Portland.
WHERE
The 125’ x 225’ design site is made up of a combination of the parcels at 8808 and 8824 Rainier Ave. South, Seattle. It is adjacent to the track facility for Rainier Beach High School and across the street from the Rainier Beach Community Center.
WHEN
Registration for both individuals and teams is now open. Entry submissions are due by Friday, June 17, 2016 at 5:00 pm (Pacific Time).
For competition details and to see past years’ perFORM winners, visit http://hammerandhand.com/perform/design-competition/
ABOUT HAMMER & HAND and perFORM
Hammer & Hand, a builder that partners with architecture firms on every project it builds, launched the annual perFORM competition three years ago to help advance the energy performance training of emerging design professionals and to demonstrate that high performance building and high design can be inherently complementary.
Zack Semke, Hammer & Hand, +1 206-397-0558, [email protected]
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