By BUILDER Magazine Staff. In January, the National Center for Seniors’ Housing Research (NCSHR) announced the winners of its third annual national student design competition, “Aging in Place: An Open Design Competition for Students.” The NCSHR is a cooperative effort between the NAHB Research Center and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging. The competition’s goal is to solicit smart-aging residential design.
Travis Bunt, an architecture student at the University of Arizona in Tucson, won first place. Competition judges observed that Bunt’s design entry’s low-scale and adaptable design fits into the historical context of its “barrio” neighborhood. Units are also easily adaptable to meet residents’ changing housing needs.
This year’s design challenge encouraged students to address urban issues, such as infill housing and smart growth, as well as aging in place. Students were asked to design a community on a 10-acre urban site with transportation and other amenities in close proximity.
The NAHB Research Center will develop a virtual tour of the winning entry and publish “Spotlight on Ideas,” a booklet showcasing the best design features from this year’s competition.
