SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the American Institute of Architects, California Council (AIACC) announced the winners of the seventh annual Architecture at Zero competition for zero net energy (ZNE) building design. The competition has awarded 10 student and professional winners with a total of $25,000 in prizes.

For the seventh year of the PG&E-sponsored competition, contestants designed a ZNE bayside community education and visitor’s center supporting the mission of San Francisco State University’s Estuary and Ocean Science Center, based in Tiburon, Calif.

ZNE structures are designed from the start to be energy efficient and offset the energy they consume through onsite renewable energy generation such as private rooftop solar. Preparing for the next generation of building design, Architecture at Zero encourages architecture, engineering, planning and design students or professionals to put ZNE at the forefront of their plans. The competition strives to generate new, innovative ideas for ZNE construction to help achieve California’s goal for all new residential construction to be ZNE by 2020 and all new commercial construction to be ZNE by 2030.

Winners for student entries:

• Honor Award for “Romberg Resurgence” by students from New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, CA
• Honor Award for “Transparencies” to students from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville in Knoxville, TN
• Merit Award for “Terra Delta” by students from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville in Knoxville, TN
• Merit Award for “Tiburon Treasure” by Students from University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ
• Special Recognition Award for “RENOVATIO” by students from University of Camerino, Architecture and Design in Folignano, Italy
• Special Recognition Award for “Using Up Water” by students from Waseda University in Chigasaki, Japan
• Special awards were also given to the following high school student entries:
  • A Citation Award for “Architecture at Zero Wave Project” by students from Burlingame High School in Burlingame, CA
  • A Merit Award for “Project Butterfly” by students from Burlingame High School in Burlingame, CA

Winners for professional entries:

• Citation Award to “Aestus” by 4240 Architecture, Inc. in Denver, CO
• Merit Award to “Bay Area Transect” by Arrowstreet in Boston, MA

“Every year, the Architecture at Zero competition encourages designers to push the boundaries of innovative, efficiently designed homes and buildings. Supporting zero net energy designs is one of the many ways PG&E helps California combat climate change and reach its ambitious clean energy and efficiency goals,” said Vincent Davis, senior director of energy efficiency at PG&E.

"The American Institute of Architects, California Council is excited to collaborate on this important initiative that affirms the role of architects in leading efforts to use design to curtail climate change,” said Britt Lindberg, AIA, AIACC President.

“As SF State’s interdisciplinary center for research and education, with a mission to connect science, society and the sea, we are excited to partner with PG&E on this competition. Designing and developing a zero net energy community education and visitor’s center on San Francisco Bay reflects our commitment to California’s leadership in addressing climate change,” said Karina Nielsen, Director of the Estuary and Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University.

A panel of architecture, engineering and design experts chose this year’s winners at an event at the Estuary and Ocean Science Center. Competition entries were juried by the following international experts including Paul Torcellini, Principal Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Gregg Ander, President of Gregg D. Ander, LLC; Allison Williams, FAIA; Marsha Maytum, FAIA, LEED AP, Leddy, Maytum Stacy Architects and Lynn Simon, FAIA, Thornton Thomasetti, Inc.

To learn more about the annual competition, visit architectureatzero.com.

About the American Institute of Architects, California Council

The American Institute of Architects, California Council (AIACC) is the voice of the architecture profession, dedicated to serving its members, advancing their value, and improving the quality of the built environment. The AIACC is an association of individuals in California, with more than 11,000 members including licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners in design. All share their commitment to excellence and livability in the nation's buildings and communities.

About San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University is a doctoral public university serving the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin with nationally acclaimed programs that span a broad range of disciplines. Nearly 30,000 students enroll at the University each year, and its more than 236,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Through them — and more than 1,600 world-class faculty members — SF State proudly embraces its legacy of academic excellence, community engagement and commitment to social justice. For more information, visit sfsu.edu.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and pge.com/news.

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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company