Aggies capture 2 of 3 top spots in
design awards sponsored by HKS

Students from Texas A&M's College of Architecture captured two of the top three awards in a design research competition sponsored by Dallas-based international architecture firm HKS, Inc.

Nicholas Gignac captured first place in the competition, HKS' Design Research Awards, with his entry "Application of Horizontal Light Pipes in Levels Below Grade.” Gignac, who earned a Master of Architecture degree in May 2010 and a Bachelor of Building Construction degree in 2006, netted a $1000 prize with his entry.

He examined the architectural integration and energy conservation of solar light pipe technology in basement spaces.

Solar light pipes funnel sunlight from an outdoor light collector through a pipe of highly reflective material to rooms in a building's interior.

Gignac predicted a 16.55 percent reduction in a building's overall electricity usage when a ground floor and basement in a two-story building was illuminated using solar light pipe technology.

He was the student leader of a team that earned an award at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's P3 (People, Prosperity and the Planet) competition in Washington, D.C. in April 2010.

He and his fellow team members presented a solar light pipe project developed by Liliana Beltrán, associate professor of architecture, at the contest. The Aggie team was one of 42 other student groups demonstrating their plans for sustainable solutions to worldwide environmental problems through technological innovation.

Seher Zunaira, a Master of Science in Construction Mangaement student, won third place with the entry, "Solving Daylighting Issues in Deep Plan Office Buildings." Zunaira examined the use of active reflectors to deliver sunlight from an exterior light collector into office spaces located deep inside a building, and found that the system can be an efficient device for such a task.

The Design Research Collaborative Program was created by HKS to pair industry and academic talents to cultivate a culture that encourages a knowledge-seeking attitude, enabling the development of innovative products and services.

Jurors included Dan Noble, FAIA, FACHA, LEED AP, executive vice president, HKS; Ana Pinto-Alexander, president, Margatti Interiors, Indianapolis; Wilfried Laufs, Ph.D., P.E., LEED AP, vice president, Thornton Tomasetti, New York; Anthony Martin, P.E., LEED AP, Henderson Engineers, Inc, Addison, Texas and Michael O'Neill, senior director of workplace research, Knoll, Inc., East Greenville, Penn.

“We must encourage students to explore innovations in building systems and design,” said Noble.  “It’s their future.  We need them to lead the newest generation of architects, engineers and contractors into the next era of building, which will take place on a competitive, high-tech, global scale.”

- Posted: Nov. 30, 2010 -

Contact:   Phillip Rollfing, prollfing@archone.tamu.edu or 979.458.0442.