How do next generation designers envision the future of their city and individual buildings within it? What are student designers’ priorities for architecture? Which conventions will they break from and which will they choose to follow?  These answers can be found in the winning entries of 2×8, the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles chapter’s 2018 student competition, and revealed further in a corresponding live event on Thursday, June 7, from 6 to 8PM at the Helms Design Center.

Join us for a rapid and eclectic presentation by winners of this year’s AIA|LA 2×8 student competition + live, insightful commentary from this year’s jury.

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP HERE to let us know you’re attending.

Dubbed “2×8: Inside Stories”, the evening will feature rapid-fire presentations by winning students, augmented by real-time commentary by this year’s competition jury Carlos Madrid – SOM; Catherine Johnson, AIA – Design, Bitches; and Jeanne Chen, AIA – Moore Ruble Yudell Architects.

Fifteen students representing seven schools across the region received $13,000 in scholarships for their 2×8 work, including first place winner Sally Park of Otis College of Art and Design – Architecture | Landscape | Interiors who was awarded $5000 by the AIA|LA for her entry “Collage City.” Student work is currently displayed on Helms Avenue until June 19, 2018.

Park’s entry recognized the significance of lifestyle in driving design, an emphasis on functionality as well as aesthetic. In this case, Park organized a multi-family residential building according to lifestyles inhabitants might pursue, apportioning some areas of the multi-level residence for dwellers who might lead academic lives, others who followed athletic or artistic pursuits and so on.  Carlos Madrid, a competition juror, noted that Park’s “clarity” drove recognition of her entry. “This was a strong, clear concept, that the student communicated with great simplicity,” he noted.

Here’s a complete list of 2018 2×8 Winners:

First Place: Sally Park
School: Otis College of Art and Design – Architecture | Landscape | Interiors
Entry: “Collage City”

Second Place (The Montalba Architects Scholarship): Socrates Medina and Joyce Abarsosa    
School: CalPoly Pomona Department of Architecture
Entry: “Agnes Martin Museum”

Second Place (The BaronHR Scholarship): Siqi Zhang
School: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Architecture & Urban Design
Entry: “Steel Fabric”

Third Place (The AIA National Component Scholarship): Ashley Mangus
School: University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture
Entry: “City Seed”

Third Place: Yeqi Wang and Kyle Reckling
School: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Architecture & Urban Design
Entry: “Interpelago”

Honorable Mention: Armen Janazyan and Ka Kit Chiu
School: Woodbury University School of Architecture
Entry: “Between The Lines”

Honorable Mention: Bianca Lin and Wilson Fung and Joshua Park 
School: California College of the Arts, Architecture Division
Entry: “Dead Ends Aren’t Dead”

Honorable Mention: Sarah Sager and Jiming Bai  
School: University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture
Entry: “Interstitial Space”

Honorable Mention: Chris Danielle Caracena    
School: East Los Angeles College Department of Architecture
EbtrtL “The Irony on the Iconic”

What is 2×8?
2×8 is a competition, exhibition, and scholarship fund for architecture students at institutions of higher education throughout California. Academic institutions select two projects by student teams, which is then considered by a jury of architects and designers who select winning entries. Winners and scholarship recipients are announced at the exhibition opening but all entries are displayed.