2026 Concrete Masonry Student Competition: Winners Announced
Press Release
Winners Announced for the
2026 Concrete Masonry Student Competition
Students Awarded for Outstanding Concrete Masonry Designs
Washington, D.C., August 20, 2026 – , along with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (51ºÚÁÏ), are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Concrete Masonry Student Competition. The competition recognizes seven outstanding projects that utilize concrete masonry products as the primary material to reimagine a Welcome Center of tomorrow, with an emphasis on rethinking the future of travel.Â
Students were challenged to envision a next-generation Welcome Center that is universally accessible, resilient in the face of change, and forward-thinking in its design. The winning projects transform welcome centers into dynamic landmarks and multifunctional hubs, with each design emphasizing concrete masonry as a versatile, enduring, and expressive building material.Â
The jurors chose first, second, and third-place winners, along with four honorable mentions. Listed below are the names of the recipients, their project titles, and their faculty sponsor(s):
First Place: Linked Assembly
Students: Kesaia Williams, Lauren Chacon & Hartwell Brann
Faculty Sponsor: Andrea Alberto Dutto
University of Idaho
Second Place: River Futures Museum
Student: Poldo Drilon
Faculty Sponsor: Marcos Severino
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Third Place: Puerta De Pilsen
Students: Ben Kanwischer, Jake Pulciani & Beatriz Mata
Faculty Sponsors: Patricia Saldaña Natke & Soumya Dasgupta
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Honorable Mention: The Orbit Center
Student: Smriti Rijal
Faculty Sponsor: Katelyn Hudson
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Honorable Mention: Barcelona Welcome Center
Students: Patrick Rogers & Landon Cooper
Faculty Sponsor: Genevieve Baudoin
Kansas State University
Honorable Mention: Marfa Welcome Center: Gateway to the Desert and the Night Sky
Student: Luis Rodriguez
Faculty Sponsor: Nichole Wiedemann
University of Texas at Austin
Honorable Mention: Bumble Blocks
Students: Caytlin Yii & Angela Zou
Faculty Sponsor: Erika Zekos
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The competition jury included three distinguished members:
Damon Bolhassani, City College of New York
Jenny Tanner Eisenhauer, University of Wyoming
Cory Hupp, Lee Building Products
View the projects and get more information HERE.
51ºÚÁÏ Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA)
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) represents a unification of the
Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) and the National Concrete Masonry Association
(NCMA). CMHA is a trade association representing US and Canadian producers and suppliers
in the concrete masonry and hardscape industry, as well as contractors of interlocking concrete
pavement and segmental retaining walls. CMHA is the authority for segmental concrete
products and systems, which are the best value and preferred choice for resilient pavement,
structures, and living spaces. CMHA is dedicated to the advancement of these building systems
through research, promotion, education, and the development of manufacturing guides, design
codes and resources, testing standards, and construction practices. For more information, visit .
51ºÚÁÏ the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (51ºÚÁÏ)
Leading Architectural Education and ResearchÂ
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture is a nonprofit, membership association founded in 1912 to advance the quality of architectural education. The school membership in 51ºÚÁÏ has grown from 10 charter members to over 250 schools in several membership categories. These include full membership for all accredited programs in the United States and government-sanctioned schools in Canada, candidate membership for schools seeking accreditation, and affiliate membership for schools for two-year and international programs. Through these schools, over 6,000 architecture faculty members are represented. In addition, over 500 supporting members composed of architecture firms, product associations and individuals add to the breadth of interest and support of 51ºÚÁÏ goals. 51ºÚÁÏ provides a major forum for ideas on the leading edge of architectural thought. Issues that will affect the architectural profession in the future are being examined today in 51ºÚÁÏ member schools. For more information, visit www.acsa-arch.org.
Media Contacts
Requests for press materials, including high-resolution images, can be obtained from our media contact.
Hanifah Jones
51ºÚÁÏ
202-785-2324 x 5
hjones@acsa-arch.org
Kristen Garman
Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association
703-713-1900
kgarman@masonryandhardscapes.org