Winners Announced for Architecture at Zero Competition

SAN FRANCISCO — On Oct. 23, San Francisco-based Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the American Institute of Architects, California Council (AIACC) announced the winners of the fifth annual Architecture at Zero competition for zero net energy building design.

Out of over 30 entries, six students and professionals were awarded with a total of $25,000 in prizes. The competition, which is sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric includes the contestants designing a zero net energy building for the University of California’s San Francisco’s Mission Bay campus. The designs were for a multi-family housing unit that will be a zero net energy structure. For the structure to be zero net energy, the structure must produce as much clean energy as it uses during a year through a combination of energy efficiency and onsite renewable energy generation, according to a statement from PG&E. “The American Institute of Architects, California Council is delighted to be the competition organizer. The winning designs are not only aesthetically interesting but also demonstrate zero net energy spaces that help UCSP Mission Bay continue its leadership in driving community change through innovative design solutions,” said Lee Salin, president of AIACC in a statement.

The competition includes architecture, engineering and planning, which engages experts in those fields to pursue energy efficient designs. “The Architecture at Zero competition demonstrates how we can push the boundaries of reducing energy waste through innovate, efficiently designed buildings. Supporting zero net energy designs is one of the many ways PG&E can lead on its commitment to help support California’s ambitious energy efficiency goals,” said Vincent Davis, senior director of energy efficiency at PG&E, in a statement.

Winners for Student Entries:
• Citation Award to: “Breeze Block” by students from across the nation at Cornell University in New York, N.Y.; Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.’; and Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore.
• Citation Award to: “Transformer” by students at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati

Winners for Professional Entries:
• Citation Award to: “Alveo” by EBS Consultants in San Francisco, Calif.
• Honor Award to: “Conspicuous Consumption” by Weber Thompson in Seattle.
• Honor Award to: “Estuary” by MITHUN in San Francisco
• Special Recognition Award to: “Mission Zero” by BAR Architects in San Francisco.

A panel of architecture, engineering and design experts chose this year’s winners. The designs are not intended for actual construction by the university, the competition does generate new ideas for construction for zero net energy buildings in the future, according to a press release from PG&E. The California Public Utilities Commission has a goal for all new residential building is California to be zero net energy by 2020 and for all commercial construction in California to be zero net energy by 2030.

The companies that sponsored and put on the event are both dedicated to delivering clean energy and energy efficiency. The AIACC is dedicated to serving its members, advancing their value and improving the quality of the built environment, according to the press release from PG&E. They are an association of individuals that share a commitment to excellence and livability in the nations building and communities. PG&E is one of the largest natural gas and electric utilities company in the United States and the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people.