The recent “Building Ecologies” installation at Houston’s POST has been listed as one of three finalists for the 2024 Forge Prize by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).
Led by Assistant Professor Juan José Castellón, this project proposes to utilize a modular prefabricated system composed of a space truss steel structure, segmental and hollow ceramic columns, and a lightweight waterproof membrane acting as a canopy to provide cooling shade while capturing rainwater for irrigation purposes as well as for the potential implementation of hydronic heating and cooling systems on rooftops and public areas. The project is a creative collaboration between the Rice University School of Architecture, the Rice Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Shepherd School of Music, with support from the Carbon Hub Initiative.
The three finalists are currently working with AISC steel fabricators to refine and update their concepts for a final presentation. Read the AISC press release covering the 2024 Forge Prize finalists.