Forsyth Tech Team Takes National Honors for Youth Housing Design

Forsyth Tech is proud to announce that a team of Architectural Technology students received Honorable Mention in this year’s national Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs (CCCAP) Design Competition — a distinction placing them among just five teams recognized out of 57 submissions from community college architecture programs across the country. 

Each year CCCAP challenges students to design thoughtful, innovative and sustainable community resources. This year, CCCAP competition students submitted designs for a youth transitional housing and support center. Drawing on technical skills learned in the Architectural Technology program, award-winning students Michael Joy, Omar Santiago-Hernandez and Chelsea Castro Olvera balanced thoughtful site analysis, program planning, structural detail, sustainability and strong visual presentation, working as a team under a tight deadline.

In the past, architectural design competitions for college students were largely limited to students in their third year of a four-year architecture program — leaving community college students with few, if any, opportunities to compete on a national stage. CCCAP was created to change that, giving community college architecture programs a platform to showcase student talent alongside peers from across the country and to increase racial and economic diversity within the field of architecture.

Achievements like national CCCAP Honorable Mention reflect the focus of Forsyth Tech’s Architectural Technology — providing students with a hands-on, industry-connected approach that gives students real opportunities to apply their skills to sustainable, socially meaningful design challenges alongside faculty, alumni and industry professionals.

Competing in the CCCAP competition requires students to demonstrate skills in site analysis, plan programming, structural detail, sustainability, CAD and rendering — while collaborating as a team within a limited timeframe. Earning national recognition in this environment is a genuine testament to students’ abilities and growth as emerging designers. A special thank you goes to Ja’Maul Redmond who served as faculty sponsor for the team and provided outstanding support to the students throughout the process.

Congratulations to Michael, Omar and Chelsea for representing Forsyth Tech on a national stage. Check out their winning design here. Interested in Architectural Technology? Take a look at the program here.