The Hawai‘i Housing Lab’s Holistic Housing Design Toolkit, developed by Associate Professor Karla Sierralta and her team, has received international recognition for its innovative approach to equitable housing.

Selected from over 2,000 entries, the toolkit was honored in the Social Justice category of Fast Company’s 2024 Innovation by Design Awards, which honors projects that advance community well-being and systemic change. Celebrated globally, the awards showcase the power of design to create lasting, positive impact across diverse fields.

The toolkit was also featured in an 2.5 hr interactive session at the 2024 AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in Washington, DC, where architects and industry professionals explored localized design strategies using hands-on activities and digital tools tailored to promote more equitable and sustainable communities.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91129798/social-justice-innovation-by-design-2024

https://www.acsa-arch.org/awards-archive/2025-architectural-education-award-winners/