We are proud to announce that several outstanding projects from our architecture program have been recognized in the prestigious 2025 AIA Florida Design Awards. Congratulations to Jack Pearce, Ecem Aksoy, and Marcson Tanis for receiving Citation Awards in the Theoretical and Research Student Category. These awards highlight the exceptional talent of our students and the innovative, socially engaged design education fostered in our studios at FIU.
Jack Pearce
Citation Award, Theoretical and Research Student Category
Project: The Langston Hughes Literary Center
Location: Harlem, New York
Studio: Fall 2024 Comprehensive Design Studio with Associate Teaching Professor Mark Marine
Design Description:
The Langston Hughes Literary Center is a proposed community center in Harlem inspired by the poetry, writings, and life of Langston Hughes, a seminal figure of the Harlem Renaissance. The project explores how “inclusive design and new architecture” can be proposed from a global perspective while honoring local histories and traditions. It involves multi-scale collaborative research, documentation, and mapping, challenging architecture beyond formal aesthetics. Key design considerations include public space versus building mass, local versus global context, and the relationships between building, landscape, institution, and history.
Ecem Aksoy and Jack Pearce
Citation Award, Theoretical and Research Student Category
Project: House Legato
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Program: Summer 2024 Japan Study Abroad with Associate Professor Alfredo Andia and Professor Camilo Rosales
Design Description:
House Legato centers on a piano room, the heart of the home for a music-loving couple. The design features a dynamic spatial organization revolving around this focal point with an open floor plan. Exterior elements unify different levels and zones, serving circulation and providing a visually sculptural quality. These architectural components create movement and flow, crafting a home that celebrates harmony and places music at the core of daily life.
Marcson Tanis
Citation Award, Theoretical and Research Student Category
Project: Manhattanville Jazz Center & HVAC Facility
Location: Manhattanville, New York
Studio: Summer 2024 Comprehensive Design Studio with Associate Teaching Professor Henry Rueda
Design Description:
This project merges an HVAC facility supporting Columbia University’s Manhattanville campus with a Jazz Center on the historic site of the Cotton Club. The design promotes transparency and social interaction through a prominent storefront façade inviting the public inside. A bold, processional staircase guides visitors through the building, emphasizing circulation and flow. The exposed HVAC pipes challenge traditional infrastructure concealment, revealing the building’s programmatic uniqueness and deepening user connection.
Special Recognition
Jason Chandler, FAIA, Chandler and Associates, Architecture, P.A.
Merit Award of Excellence, Renovations and Additions
Project: Nestled Volumes: A Residential Addition
Location: Miami, FL
Each of these projects reflects a thoughtful engagement with culture, community, and context. From Harlem to Tokyo to Manhattanville, our students are advancing design thinking by integrating research, storytelling, and innovative form-making. We congratulate Jack, Ecem, Marcson, and Jason for their remarkable achievements, which exemplify the future of inclusive, research-driven architecture.
