3/20/03

Kyes Stephens, 334/844-4523

AU ARCHITECTURE WINS AWARD FOR DESIGNHABITAT

AUBURN -- Auburn University's School of Architecture has won a Collaborative Practice Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture for its DESIGNhabitat project.

The ACSA awards recognize outstanding school-based outreach initiatives. DESIGNhabitat is a collaborative project of AU's School of Architecture, Habitat for Humanity and Design Alabama.

The project started as a classroom assignment to design and build a prototype house for the Alabama Affiliates of Habitat for Humanity. The prototype house was designed -- mindful of Alabama's climate and culture -- and built by architecture and building science students under the direction of David Hinson, an AU associate professor of architecture.

Upon completion, the 1,250-square-foot, four-bedroom prototype house was turned over to a family in Opelika.

"This collaboration is important for many reasons," said Hinson. "It gives Habitat for Humanity a functional, integrated approach to making homes responsive to the cultural context of Alabama. It gives students the skill set and insight they need to develop broader a approach and understanding of design and build."

Habitat for Humanity is the largest non-profit affordable housing builder in the state. Hinson says this project has the potential to put Auburn Architecture in every corner of the state, taking the skill and creativity into regions of the state that can benefit from Habitat homes.

The ACSA award is the second the AU School of Architecture has won for its work with the DESIGNhabitat project. In the fall, it won a "Silver Award" in the HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence division of the 19th Annual "Best in American Living Awards" competition.

mar03:AU-designhabitat

CONTACT: Hinson, 334/844-5438.