Design Pittsburgh, one of AIA Pittsburgh’s signature programs, is a great chance to connect with peers, network, support, and be a part of the local architecture community. But at its core, it’s so much more – through events, exhibits, social media, and press it is an opportunity to honor and publicly promote the importance of architectural services, good design, and those who create it. In order to thoroughly recognize how good design is impacting the world around us, we have identified the importance of collaboration and advances in technology that are impacting the profession. With this in mind, two new design award categories have been added to the competition this year.
Engineering + Science Award – The Engineering + Science Award category will recognize innovative uses of building, site, campus, community and regional engineering to advance the design field, approach to systems and infrastructure integration and demonstrate use of engineering science to solve complex problems.
Excellence in Sustainable Design – Sustainability envisions the enduring prosperity of all living things while sustainable design seeks to create communities, buildings, and products that contribute to this vision. This award recognizes built projects that have successfully integrated sustainable building strategies and practices into the design.
Additionally, the Young Architects Studio Competition has undergone restructuring in order to continue to engage not only young architects, but also all industry related emerging design professionals and students by challenging them to find innovative ways to approach a regional design problem. This year, you can enter the competition as an individual or by creating a design team. This year’s challenge, A Sign of the Times, asks emerging professionals to reimagine the Bayer Billboard Site.
AIA Pittsburgh has partnered with Design Center Pittsburgh, the City of Pittsburgh, and the Office of Mayor Peduto as part of the Pittsburgh 200 celebration for this sixth annual YASC. In line with the Pittsburgh 200 theme, the Young Architects Studio Competition will focus on the billboard site, a true Pittsburgh icon that celebrates our history and future, but has been exposed to years of neglect. What could this iconic site become?
In conjunction with the Young Architects Studio Competition, Design Pittsburgh will be the site for a juried exhibition, Places That Inspire. The “place” could exist as is, or be a place reimagined within the region, located in the 11-county area represented by AIA Pittsburgh. Anyone interested is eligible to submit a digital image.
With all of these opportunities to get involved, what are you waiting for? Challenge yourself today and be a part of Design Pittsburgh 2015!