The CTBUH 2023-24 Mass Timber Student Design Competition, kindly sponsored by Think Wood, concluded in January 2025 with the jury evaluating a remarkable array of entries and selecting the following five winners and honorable mentions:

• 1st Place: T-LINE by Jixuan Li, Linru Wang, Luyan Li, and Yingxi Dong, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA (US$5,000 Prize)

• 2nd Place: Live, Laugh, Learn by Marco Zhou, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA, USA (US$4,000 Prize)

• 3rd Place: Green Gables by Cindy Duan and Julie Chan, Yale University, New York City, NY, USA (US$3,000 Prize)

• 4th Place: 131 W 133rd St. by William Pyle, Yuka Imada, Eduardo Cabrera, Philippe Martel, and Caroline Harris, Columbia University, New York City, NY, USA (US$2,000 Prize)

• 5th Place: PreFabulous by Olivia Loncar-Bartolini and Rick Schutte, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (US$1,000 Prize)

• Honorable Mention: Charwood Tower by Blayne Burnside, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

• Honorable Mention: Share-Care Village by Darren Sun and Hongxuan Wang, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

• Honorable Mention: Half Street Hall by Reilly O'Grady, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

The goal of this competition, which is open to all students who are currently enrolled at U.S. and Canada-based institutes, is to shed new light on the meaning and value of tall buildings in modern society. The competition focuses on the use of mass timber in multi-story buildings through the lens of affordable housing that emphasizes rapid development. The only stipulation is that the building should be multi-storied (i.e., not a pavilion or single space), and be designed to maximize the use and expression of mass timber while taking into consideration the 2021 IBC building code and current standards. It is also suggested that participants consider prefabricated components or volumetric modular approach to highlight the benefit of utilizing mass timber for rapid development.

Participants should engage with the exploration and resolution of the synergistic relationship between a tall building and its urban setting; how that tall building can be inspired by the cultural, physical, and environmental aspects of its site; how the program of the building is influenced by the micro and macro site/urban conditions; and how the building responds to global issues. Proposals should show evidence of a clear understanding of how considerations of structure, environment, servicing, etc. are as vital to the success of a tall building as the form, materials, aesthetics, etc.

Kindly sponsored by:

Jury

The jury shortlisted the submissions to 10 finalists, from which the five winners and their placements were determined based on the evaluations. The jury comprised prominent experts involved in Mass Timber initiatives within the SLB network.

• Arash Adel, Assistant Professor & Founder of ARG, Princeton University School of Architecture

• Edward Becker, Associate Professor & Founder of Helsinki-based Vor, Virginia Tech School of Architecture

• Philip Tidwell, Assistant Professor & Director of Peripheral Projects, University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design

• Lindsey Wikstrom, Adjunct Assistant Professor & Founding Principal of Mattaforma, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
  
  
  

Submission Requirements/Criteria/Procedures

Full details of the CTBUH 2023-24 Mass Timber Student Design Competition, including submission requirements, criteria, procedures, etc. can be found in the Competition Brief.