Architecture at Zero

The 2023 Architecture at Zero competition focuses on decarbonization, resilience and equity.  The challenge is to design a teaching and innovation farm lab, connecting the history of California’s first Black town, to its present aspiration to become a destination for sustainable agriculture.

There are four parts to this competition:

• First, entrants will create an overall site plan to accommodate the program. Entrants are encouraged to highlight any energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, and carbon reduction strategies or systems shown. 
• Second, entrants will design the building in detail, demonstrating how the design will result in lower carbon emissions and embodied carbon, and addressing the requirements of the California Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. In order to indicate how the building design will result in lower carbon emissions, entrants will provide required documentation and may also include supplementary documentation. 
• Third, entrants are asked to describe how this project will build resilience. Entrants will be asked to complete a table outlining the inclusion of climate adaptation strategies and indicate on the site plan or section aspects of design strategies that support resiliency.
  
• Finally, entrants are asked to consider how their design addresses equity for the project’s residents. Entrants will be asked to write a short essay and indicate on the site plan or section aspects of design strategies that support equity.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)