May 1, 2009

A team of seniors in the Architecture program has won second place in the national AIAS/AARP Livable Communities Design Competition.

Alice Chiang, Tony Maiolatesi, Dan Reed and Sandra Schwartz collaboratively designed a mixed-use development that incorporates housing, retail and community amenities. Mark Ramirez was the team's faculty sponsor.

The team's proposal includes a 30-unit apartment building with 12,000 square feet of retail, a public gym and a green roof. The site is in downtown Silver Spring, two blocks from the Metro and adjacent to the proposed Purple Line. 

The competition was judged in April at the AIAS office in Washington, DC. The Maryland team won $4,000 and an additional $550 contribution to the University of Maryland AIAS Chapter.

The Maryland team's prize-winning proposal will be displayed at the 2009 AIA Convention in San Francisco, the AIAS Grassroots Conference and the AARP headquarters in Washington, DC. It will also be published in Crit, the AIAS journal.

The competition brief asked students to look at how their proposed development would fit within the larger master plan of the neighborhood to help create a livable community. The proposal was required to incorporate universal design principles that would make the project accessible to an aging population.

The School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland is home to four academic disciplines: architecture, urban planning, historic preservation and real estate development. Committed to educating its students and community about the importance of sustainability and smart growth, the School practices an interdisciplinary approach to education, research, creative work, and community and professional service. For more information, please e-mail us or call 301.405.8000.

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