Several architectural students from the University of Nebraska’s College of Architecture were among the honorees at this year’s AIA Nebraska/Central States Region Design Excellence Awards Celebration held October 5th in Omaha, Nebraska.

Mallory Lane and Ben Kunz won the Emerging Architects Excellence in Unbuilt Architecture | Honor Award from AIA Nebraska for their project “Interstitial Hope”. Their design focuses on a multi-sensory experience for a funeral chapel, specifically addressing the grieving process.

The jurors were intrigued by the team’s use of light, “The relationship between earth and darkness, as well as between air and light, define the poetic nature of this proposal. The project is earnest and stands out because of its thoroughness in conceptual research and design execution. The building would offer a compelling reinvention of the cultural paradigm and process of mourning.”

In addition to the AIA Nebraska award, “Interstitial Hope” was the winner of the spring 2017 SGH/Dri-Design competition and selected for a SARA-National Award.

Additionally, architectural students Tyler Howell and Kylie Miller’s project “Triune”, a design concept for a Lutheran Church, earned the Emerging Architects Unbuilt People’s Choice award.

Miller says theology played a huge role in influencing every aspect of their design. “Our Material selection was accomplished by looking at three main parts: pure, haptic and comfort, all of which come together to highlight the relationship humanity has with its creator; symbolizing God’s immortality, human morality and God’s protection.”

The AIA Nebraska/Central States Region Design Excellence Awards Celebration is an annual event that recognizes outstanding regional architecture from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The AIA Design Excellence Awards have been developed to encourage and recognize excellence in architecture, to elevate public awareness and to recognize the architects, consultants, contractors and owners whose efforts enhance the built environment.

Entries were judged based on a variety of features, including unique design, originality, extended use attributes, sustainability and use of environmental surroundings.

More information about the awards can be found at http://aiane.org/aia_design_awards/2017_excellence_in_design_awards_ne/index.htmlffor the AIA Nebraska winners.