Architecture students’ projects receive Honorable Mention in national wood construction competition
Two projects by students from the David R. Ravin School of Architecture received Honorable Mention in the “Timber in the City 6: Urban Habitats Competition,” a national competition held annually by Think Wood and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
This sixth installment of the “Timber in the City” competition “challenged students to explore how wood construction can help address the need for more attainable housing in urban communities,” said a press release announcing the awards. “Focusing on the ‘missing middle’ between single-family homes and high-rise apartments, participants developed thoughtfully designed, replicable housing solutions that increase residential density while responding to the scale and character of existing neighborhoods.”
Proposals were accepted in three categories: Small Building, Medium Building and Large Building. Both UNC Charlotte projects were in the Medium Building category. Learn about them below!
Ensemble of Living
Student: Kaoutar Baddy
Faculty Sponsor: Greg Snyder
Ensemble of Living is a multi-family residential development organized into eight clusters, each composed of two floors. The program includes a total of 32 units with a balanced mix of housing types to accommodate diverse occupants. The unit distribution consists of eight three-bedroom units (1000 SF each), eight two-bedroom units (800 SF each), eight one-bedroom units (700 SF each) and eight micro units (350 SF each), resulting in a total residential net area of 22,800 SF.
The site strategy distributes open space across the clusters to create a network of shared and semi-private outdoor areas, improving accessibility, environmental quality, and community interaction.
Juror Comments: “Ensemble of Living is a cohesive housing model that integrates modular timber construction into a walkable and community-oriented neighborhood. The use of prefabricated timber supports an efficient construction process and reduces the project’s embodied carbon. The natural qualities of wood contribute warmth to the residential spaces, complementing the shared courtyards and surrounding landscape.”
Three Ply
Students: Sundus Abu Reyal, David Mba, Quincy Rackley & David Peterson
Faculty Sponsor: Marc Manack
As Charlotte continues to experience rapid population growth and escalating housing costs, Three Ply proposes attainable, scalable, sustainable housing centered on mass timber construction. The project leverages Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) not only as a structural material but also as an organizing logic for adaptable urban living.
Inspired by the layered composition of CLT, Three Ply translates laminated timber into a modular kit-of-parts system. Just as individual wood layers are cross-assembled into a unified structural panel, timber components are configured into flexible spatial assemblies. Rather than fixed layouts, the system allows units to be uniquely composed and customized, scaling from studios to duplexes and triplexes.
Juror Comments: “Three Ply presents a well-developed housing system that uses cross-laminated timber (CLT) as both a structural material and a foundation for the modular design. The modular kit-of-parts system highlights the efficiency of prefabricated timber construction. The project offers a strong exploration of mass timber construction and its potential to support scalable housing in a rapidly growing city.”