Vinyl Institute Sponsoring Habitat for Humanity Design Competition

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 9, 2012 – The Vinyl Institute and the National Endowment for the Arts are sponsoring “The Sustainable Home: Habitat for Humanity Student Design Competition” for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the program is designed to engage young professionals in Habitat for Humanity’s effort to eliminate poverty housing by advancing the design of simple, decent, and affordable homes, using vinyl building products and systems whenever possible.  Four regional finalist designs (East, Midwest, South, West) will be selected, and a separate prize for the best use of vinyl building materials will be awarded.

The Sustainable Home Competition offers architecture students the opportunity to design a modularly constructed three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath home that does not exceed 1,070 square feet and $100,000 in material cost.  Competition will have three primary areas of focus:

• Passive solar energy design techniques that can be affordably implemented;
  
  
•  Flexible interior layouts, exterior elevations, and modular construction components that are affordable and allow for limited homeowner customization, with consideration given to different family dynamics and regional design characteristics;
  
  
• The home must meet accessibility and universal design requirements, comply with “Designed to Meet Energy Star” standards, and should be designed for optimal functionality in the student’s local climate zone.

The Vinyl Award competition challenges students to learn about vinyl building products and systems.  By utilizing vinyl products, designers will ensure the structure is not only cost-effective, but also energy efficient, durable, sustainable, and resistant to weather exposure.  Designs submitted should clearly show and explain the use of vinyl building materials accompanied by an essay describing the project’s most important vinyl concepts.  Total prize money for the best use of vinyl is $2,350.

"The Vinyl Institute is committed to design education,” noted Vinyl Institute President Richard Doyle.  “Over the past 5 years, design competitions have inspired architecture students to consider the valuable role vinyl products play in material selection as they advance sustainability, innovation, and affordable solutions.  We are delighted to support the National Endowment for the Arts on this very worthy design competition.” 

The design jury of five to seven individuals includes at least one student, one faculty member, one practitioner, and one sustainability expert.  Projects being judged should demonstrate how knowledge about materials, products, and installation contributes to sustainable housing, a creative and unique design solution, and basic architectural concepts such as human activity needs, pride of ownership, and structural integrity.

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 to invite people of all backgrounds to build houses together in partnership with families in need, and seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness.  The non-profit organization supports the development and delivery of innovative, affordable, and sustainable housing, and has helped build more than 500,000 houses serving more than 2 million people around the world. 

ACSA faculty members will register student participants for the competition by mid-February, and the deadline for project submissions is May 30.  The jury review will take place in June and early July, with announcement of winners in July.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture is a nonprofit, association of 250 schools, founded in 1912 to advance the quality of architectural education.  For more information on the competition, go to the ACSA website. 

The Vinyl Institute represents the leading manufacturers involved in the production of PVC vinyl in the United States, and promotes the value of PVC and vinyl products to society. 

For more information, contact:
Jeffrey B. Palmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Vinyl Institute
571-970-3327
jpalmer@vinylinfo.org

Also go to:  www.vinylindesign.com, and www.vinylinfo.org.