Global Track Dual Degree GT10 Students First-Place Winner The 11th International Student Tall Building Design Competition

The 11th International Student Tall Building Design Competition, which focused on multi-storied buildings sited within the United States that maximize the use and expression of mass timber, concluded in April 2022, with the jury deliberations on high caliber submissions from all around the world. Among the 59 entries for this year’s competition, the first-place winner was the Global Track Dual Degree GT10 cohort team, Yuchen Wang and Yin-Shan Lin.

“Volcano, Hut & Divine Tree: Cultural Center in Big Island, Hawaii” explored the impact of how powerful civilizations broke the isolation between the island society and the western world, making the traditional Hawaiian society face comprehensive changes. The design abstracts three local characteristic objects, which are volcano; hut; and divine tree to compose its main form and space, which manifests local culture, customs, history, and beliefs. This cultural center in Big Island, Hawaii, provides a space for bringing natives back to seek their spiritual home, which can benefit local cultural spread and revitalization, as well as promote local education.

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) is the world’s leading nonprofit organization for all those interested in the future of cities. It explores how increased urban density and vertical growth can support more sustainable and healthy cities, especially in the face of mass urbanization and the increasing effects of climate change worldwide.

From Left to Right: Clark Llewellyn (Director of Global Track), Yin-Shan Lin and Yuchen Wang

Sustainability

Timber Structure

Ritual and Exhibition Space

Sunken Exhibition Square

Research Communication Space