December 16, 2024
APDesign's Zhan Chen wins first place in Masonry Innovation Competition
Zhan Chen, assistant professor at Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, has been awarded first place in the 2024 Masonry Innovation Competition hosted by the International Masonry Institute, or IMI.
Chen's proposal, titled "Modular Ecologies: A Masonry System for Flood Control," earned top recognition and a $10,000 prize for its strategy in integrating flood control with ecological restoration and recreational possibilities.
Modular Ecologies is a modular masonry system that re-imagines the paved surfaces often found along the water's edge. The system uses permeable masonry planks, called GeoPlanks, to create a diverse, productive and programmed landscape. The planks are designed to support natural vegetation and accommodate various soil, water and planting depths. The system creates a corrugated landscape that reduces the water flow rate, mitigates erosion, and supports native plants and wildlife.
The design also transforms utilitarian infrastructure, such as flood channels, breakwaters or embankments, into opportunistic landscapes for human use. The different plank profiles can be used to construct various programmatic structures such as pedestrian trails, fishing piers, tidal pools and manufactured wetlands, providing opportunities for recreation and social interaction.
The Masonry Innovation Competition, a platform for design-research in masonry, celebrates projects that push the boundaries of engineering, sustainability and architecture. This year's awards ceremony highlighted the innovative potential to rethink urban flood control while promoting ecological resilience.
To learn more about the Masonry Innovation Competition, visit the International Masonry Institute's website or view the awards ceremony coverage.
APDesign's continued encouragement of faculty participation in events like these aligns with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan's initiative to deliver impactful experiences through participation in national competitions.