student design competition

INTRODUCTION

The Pan American Games bring together athletes from over 40 different countries of the Americas in a festival of sport and international friendship. The Games are held every four years in the year preceding the Olympic Games.

The Awards Ceremony Pavilion should showcase the athletes’ accomplishments and Toronto’s pride in hosting the Pan Am Games. In the design of the Awards Ceremony Pavilion, five basic principles should be addressed:

Location to ensure maximum accessibility and visibility within the Pan Am Games Village
Clarity of Design Concept (addressing the needs of access, viewpoint, security and back stage needs)
Overall design that is sympathetic to the surrounding area and supports the spirit of the Games
Versatility of design for multi-purposes use including awards ceremony, outdoor theater and music performances and social gatherings
Sustainability, energy efficiency, durability and recyclability of vinyl materials to be used over many years

By utilizing vinyl building products in the design of a Pavilion for the Pan Am Games, designers will be able to ensure the building is not only cost effective, but energy efficient and resistant to the drastic climate changes, among the other benefits offered by vinyl building products. In developing an efficient and creatively designed facility, the pavilion may endure as a landmark and city highlight on the waterfront for years to come.

Sponsored by The Vinyl Institute and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the program challenges students to learn about building materials, specifically vinyl building products and systems in the design of an efficient and creative pavilion for the Pan AM Villiage in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The competition is designed for architecture and design students of all levels. Total prize money is $7,675, including $2,500 for the first place winning design.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The objectives of this competition are:

To encourage and reward design excellence for civic design, which integrates function, aesthetics, structure, details and celebrates the Pan Am Games
To research, respond to and highlight the unique aspects of designing a pavilion that serves the selected site and community
To build knowledge about materials, products, and assembly (primarily vinyl building products) contributing to sustainable and safe design
To implement the "Action/Reaction" theme of the AIAS FORUM 2010 in Toronto into the creation of the pavilion, allowing the structure to serve as a public setting
To encourage designers to employ sustainable design principles in all design work

Competition participants will have the opportunity to:

Investigate applications for both existing and new construction materials with the goal of contributing to sustainability
Broaden understanding of vinyl as a material and the products made from it
Develop an awareness of the recyclable nature of vinyl building materials
Develop an awareness of the comprehensive life-cycle criteria to be used in the evaluation of all building materials
Investigate new building materials, systems, and methodologies
Understand the impacts of construction methods, joinery, and material choices on function and aesthetics

Additional information on the site can be found on the resources page or in the quick links to the right.