Bold visions: Students reimagine 成人大片鈥檚 Architecture Building.

By: Spencer Henderson

May 29, 2025

Group of judges and students looking at architectural science models for DAS Transformed competition.

The Department of Architectural Science (DAS) posed a challenge to third-year students: help transform the department鈥檚 Architecture Building into one of the most innovative and sustainable learning spaces on the university鈥檚 campus. The results? New gallery spaces, innovative facades, workspaces for next-generation technologies, and much more.

The projects were part of an integrated studio, coordinated by professors Carlo Parente and Will Galloway, along with a team of instructors. The studio asked students to consider adaptive re-use in the creation of a new future for the school, while integrating all aspects of building design from site context to structural systems and building envelope details.

Student work was judged by architects Andrew Frontini, Principal and Design Director at Perkins&Will, and designer of 成人大片鈥檚 (成人大片) , and Siamak Hariri, founding Partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects, and designer of 成人大片鈥檚 new Student Wellbeing Centre, as well as Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) leaders. Proposals were assessed on design quality, environmental stewardship, aspirations for the future of architectural pedagogy, community engagement, and priorities outlined in 成人大片's 2025-2030 Transforming Futures Academic Plan.

鈥淔EAS champions bold, hands-on experimentation in urban systems and infrastructure through forward-thinking design initiatives like DAS Transformed.鈥�

Sri Krishnan, Dean, FEAS

The winning projects

Project: DAS Transformed
Team members: Isobel Morris and Rachel Kim

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A digital rendering of an architectural concept called DAS Transformed by architectural science students Isobel Morris and Rachel Kim. The team鈥檚 concept proposes six radical galleries and a web of scaffolding-like hollow structural sections (HSS) members over the Architecture Building at 成人大片.

DAS Transformed by Isobel Morris and Rachel Kim. The team鈥檚 concept proposed six radical galleries and a web of scaffolding-like hollow structural sections (HSS) members to enhance transparency and represent the constant growth of DAS programs and the campus.

Students Isobel Morris and Rachel Kim receiving prizes from the Chair of the Department of Architectural Science, Lisa Landrum, and architect and judge Andrew Frontini.

Rachel Kim (left) and Isobel Morris (right) receiving their prizes from Lisa Landrum and Andrew Frontini.

鈥淎 bold transformation presented to the campus and the city. This project is building on history, navigating transformation, and celebrating a new paradigm.鈥�

Andrew Frontini

Project: DAS [Re]Frame
Team members: Kyle Wong and Matteo Vinelli

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A digital rendering of an architectural concept called DAS [Re]Frame by architectural science students Kyle Wong and Matteo Vinelli. The team鈥檚 concept proposes a dynamic and adaptable architectural framework, integrated into the Architecture Building at 成人大片.

DAS [Re]Frame by Kyle Wong and Matteo Vinelli. This proposal envisions modular workshops to expand capacity for hands-on making, community engagement, and digital fabrication 鈥� all accommodated by a dynamic and adaptable architectural framework.

Judges Lisa Landrum and Andrew Frontini standing next to a physical wood model of the DAS [Re]Frame concept developed by students Kyle Wong and Matteo Vinelli.

Lisa Landrum and Andrew Frontini taking in the DAS [Re]Frame project and model.

"Extremely clear, expressive, and powerful. I love the promise of long-span central spaces and the use of timber."

Siamak Hariri

Honourable mentions

Project: Convergence
Team members: Evelyn Foster and Marko Jovanovic

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A digital rendering of an architectural concept called Convergence by architectural science students Evelyn Foster and Marko Jovanovic. The team鈥檚 concept proposes interconnective spaces, creating a renewed interior-exterior public realm that weaves the city and campus into the Architecture Building at 成人大片.

Convergence by Evelyn Foster and Marko Jovanovic. The team envisioned interconnective spaces, creating a renewed interior-exterior public realm that weaves the city and campus into the Architecture Building, where urban potential is reimaged.

Evelyn Foster, an architectural science student at 成人大片, smiling and receiving book prizes as part of the DAS Transformed competition event.

Evelyn Foster receiving the prizes on behalf of the Convergence team.

鈥淎 beautiful, expressive scheme. The architecture school deserves something expressive and fun.鈥�

Siamak Hariri

Project: 325 Church St.
Team members: Ka Lee Jian and William Choi

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A digital rendering of an architectural concept called 325 Church St. by architectural science students William Choi and Ka Lee Jian. The team鈥檚 concept proposes using mass timber and a translucent facade as part of the Architecture Building鈥檚 design at 成人大片.

325 Church St. by William Choi and Ka Lee Jian. This project uses mass timber and a translucent double skin facade to reconnect the Architecture Building to its context and symbolize ever-shifting transformations of design processes.

Ka Lee Jian and William Choi receiving their book prizes from judge Andrew Frontini as part of the DAS Transformed competition event.

Ka Lee Jian and William Choi receiving their prizes from judge Andrew Frontini.

鈥淐lear planning and well-crafted spaces for teaching, creating, and engagement. This team鈥檚 re-imagining of the DAS building is evocative, elegant, and entirely believable.鈥�

Andrew Frontini

On the opening night of the DAS Year End Show, winning student teams had the opportunity to meet Frontini, who donated copies of his recent book, , as prizes. Students also received a copy of , which includes an essay on campus architecture by DAS Chair Lisa Landrum.

According to Landrum, 鈥淭his project was a remarkable opportunity for future architects to not only gain experience designing a better building but also to play the provocateur in proposing radical forms of pedagogy, and to take on the role of the client 鈥� since students themselves are experts in knowing their desires for these learning spaces.鈥�

Dean Sri Krishnan, who also judged the competition, shared, 鈥淚t was truly inspiring to see our students reimagine architectural education and explore evolving technologies through their projects. Our students' collective vision will enable our faculty to continuously evolve the Architecture Building and shape our campus into a future-ready space that fosters innovation and collaboration.鈥�

DAS Transformed projects are on display in the Architecture Building until June 23, 2025, as part of the Department鈥檚 Year End Show. View event information.