On the coast of Brazil sits a national park stuck in a cycle of desert dunes and rainy lagoons, and a project by two IIT College of Architecture students showcases how to ease the burden for a community relying on the whims of the rainy and dry seasons.
The American Institute of Architects Chicago Foundation awarded Moid Ali (B.ARCH ’23) and Trae Horne (B.ARCH ’23) the first place Benn-Johnck Student Award for the duo’s project, “The Seam,” about how simple, green infrastructure like tied bamboo retention walls, native plantings, and erosion prevention spread over 10 years can benefit life in the dunes of Lencóis Maranhenses.
The Chicago Award in Architecture is a juried competition of student projects from universities in the Chicago area, including University of Illinois Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. IIT Architecture students and alumni are often seen on lists of award winners. Last year, Mallikarjun Gudoor (M.ARCH 2nd Year) and Mistika Jimenez (B.ARCH 5th Year) were awarded the Foundation’s Diversity Scholarship.