PVAMU
students build their awarding-winning French-inspired design. (Photo
courtesy of Gitonga M’Mbijjewe.)
(Galveston)—A team of Prairie View A&M University School of Architecture students won the 10th Annual College Challenge Award in the 20th Annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) Sand Castle Competition on Galveston Island’s East Beach June 3. This was PVAMU’s second consecutive win.
For close to two decades, the Houston Chapter of the AIA has hosted the spirited competition for Houston-area architects, designers, engineers and contractors. The professional competition allows design firms and architecture schools to compete against each other for the best sand castle design in several categories. Many within the industry consider the event one of the world’s largest sandcastle competitions.
The
sand castle as it appeared during the final hours of the competition. (Photo
courtesy of Gitonga M’Mbijjewe.)
This year, 88 group participants competed for the coveted Golden Bucket award. PVAMU’s School of Architecture was the only school to place in the entire competition by winning the College Challenge Award. Some of the other schools that participated include the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, the Art Institute of Houston and the University of Houston, College of Architecture. The design office of Steve Neumann & Friends won the Golden Bucket award.
“I am very proud of our students. This competition brings out the competitive nature in the other schools and architects who participate. I also recognize the hard work and determination our students put forth. Each year our students are successful because of their creative designs and teamwork,” said PVAMU School of Architecture Dean, Ikhlas Sabouni.
Students began researching and planning months in advance. In recognition of early contemporary architecture influences, the students chose a theme inspired by the French architect Le Corbusier. The famous architect wrote "the plan is the generator,” and “without a plan there can be neither grandeur of aim and expression, nor rhythm, nor mass, nor coherence…” in his book Towards a New Architecture.
These quotes remained the constant motivation for the interior design and planning of the project. The team’s sand sculpture was a low relief mock floor plan design of the Notre-Dame-du-Haut in Ronchamp, France.
The team members were Lindsey Slay, Ogunenika O. Akingbade, Marco P. Ramirez, Amy E. Taylor, Myriam A. Tincoco, Yolanda Ford, Robert Jimenez, Claudia Pacheco, Chris Hall, Cleandria Chevalier, Joshua Aaron, Wilfred Mensah and Daryl W. Flaggs, Jr.
The four faculty members who assisted students were Barry Norwood, Dan
Bankhead, Brad McCorkle and Juanita Jimenez. 