Future100 Architecture Undergraduate Winners

Emilie Cooper | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

NOMINATOR: Francisco J. Rodríguez-Suárez, Director and Clayton T. Miers Professor, School of Architecture, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

“Her graphic talent is remarkable. She is an extraordinary student, articulate spokesperson, committed leader, and an outstanding voice for our academic community.”

Elvia Karina Delgado | University Of Houston

NOMINATOR: Dalia Munenzon, Professor, University of Houston

“Elvia’s work reflects a belief that the future of design relies not on grand gestures but on humble, thoughtful actions rooted in people, place, and possibility.”

Khaoula El Jaabak | New York Institute of Technology

NOMINATOR: Jeannette Sordi, Visiting Associate Professor, New York Institute of Technology

“Khaoula’s work is distinguished by an innate design sensitivity; her projects engage with site and user holistically, consistently seeking an elegant equilibrium between architecture and landscape.”

Forrest Gill-Ehlen | Pratt Institute

NOMINATOR: Farzam Yazdanseta, Undergraduate Associate Chair, Undergraduate Architecture, Pratt Institute

“Forrest is a driven, talented, and contentious student who is representative of the stature and status of citizen any institution would be proud and privileged to consider part of their community.”

Lira Gomes | North Carolina State University

NOMINATOR: Shawn Protz, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Digital Technology, North Carolina State University

“Lira is a rare talent: technically skilled, ecologically minded, and unfailingly generous. She has been a force multiplier in our department, elevating the quality of work and the spirit of the studio for everyone around her.”

Bennett Herbolsheimer | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

NOMINATOR: Carmen Trudell, Professor, Architect, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

“Bennett is a quick-learner with exceptional spatial understanding coupled with attention-to-detail and aptitude for technical concepts. He has rare ability to excel in both design and building technology.”

Asha Hokanson | Tulane University

NOMINATOR: Sonsoles Vela Navarro, Associate Program Director for Architecture, Tulane University School of Architecture and Built Environment

“Asha’s projects demonstrate rigorous attention to material experimentation, environmental performance, and social equity. Her clarity of vision and depth of execution embody a commitment to resilient, inclusive, carbon-conscious futures.”

Sarah Ishida | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

NOMINATOR: Marcus Carter, Assistant Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

“Sarah maintained high design ambitions that students rarely achieve in [my course]. Faculty and students know her as an immensely talented and dedicated student. Her design thinking, work ethic, and positive attitude have enabled her to excel.”

Sivapriya Janakiraman | New York Institute of Technology

NOMINATOR: Farzana Gandhi, Professor, Associate Professor of Architecture, New York Institute of Technology

“Siva’s work is marked by an energy and passion that pushes her to consistently examine alternative design strategies across scales from masterplan to building to furniture. Siva is not afraid to push the envelope.”

Maxwell Kaplan | Tulane University

NOMINATOR: Sonsoles Vela Navarro, Associate Program Director for Architecture, Tulane University

“Maxwell is an exceptional student whose work demonstrates architecture as a regenerative force, uniting ecological repair, cultural stewardship, and human well-being. He shows remarkable range across scales and typologies, with a clear vision of architecture’s role in shaping resilient and equitable futures.”

Nour Khalifa | Georgia Institute of Technology

NOMINATOR: Katherine Wright, Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology

“Nour is a designer of exceptional promise, a leader in discourse and community-building, a rigorous thinker, and a compassionate human being. Her potential for impact in the field is immense.”

Iman Khan | Georgia Institute of Technology

NOMINATOR: Katherine Wright, Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology

“Iman embodies the values of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and poetic design thinking. She is an emerging designer of uncommon promise: sensitive, thoughtful, talented, and profoundly dedicated to shaping more caring relationships between people and place.”

Gabrielle Knauf | Syracuse University

NOMINATOR: Nimet Anwar, Assistant Professor, Syracuse University; Architect, NO Office Architecture

“Gabrielle is curious and thoughtful, with a natural ability to guide others and explain complex ideas in an engaging way. She explores new methods and tools with enthusiasm, and her passion and curiosity spark the same energy in those around her.”

Heming Liu | Washington University in St. Louis

NOMINATOR: Constance Vale, Chair of Undergraduate Architecture, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, College of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis

“Max stands out as a uniquely original and forward-thinking designer—one whose work is grounded in architectural thinking yet unbounded in its creative reach. His technical skill, intellectual ambition, and interdisciplinary sensibility position him to make significant contributions to the discipline.”

Kimhour Lor | University of Houston

NOMINATOR: Dalia Munenzon, Assistant Professor, Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston

“Few students approach their work with the same level of dedication, curiosity, and emotional intelligence as Kimhour Lor. Her approach to design combines rigorous analysis with an intuitive, almost poetic sensibility that is rooted in her childhood landscapes.”

Yudi Luo | The Cooper Union

NOMINATOR: Benjamin Aranda, Acting Dean, The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, The Cooper Union

Luo’s work reimagines existing buildings and urban systems to foster belonging, shared civic life, and cultural exchange through adaptive reuse, layered public spaces, and carefully choreographed thresholds and communal environments.

Ian Mejia | University of Florida

NOMINATOR: Judi Shade Monk, Instructional Assistant Professor, University of Florida

“Ian’s work demonstrates dexterity and efficiency in his own mastery of foundational design concepts. He grasps abstract concepts quickly, sets ambitious goals, and builds on appropriate ideas to move the design process forward.”

Mason Montgomery | University at Buffalo

NOMINATOR: Miguel Guitart, Associate Professor, University at Buffalo

“Mason is an incredibly promising designer. He has demonstrated an unusual capacity for abstract thinking and the understanding of complex solutions. Far from conventional, his work always offers more than a simple solution.”

Ziching Ooi | California College of the Arts

NOMINATOR: Keith Krumwiede, Dean of Architecture Division, California College of the Arts

“Zi’s work feels simultaneously precise and otherworldly, one whose talent arrives not with bravado but with an almost disarming generosity. Her design sensibility is unmistakably her own and her presence in our community elevates everyone around her.”

Hannah Puerta-Carlson | Syracuse University

NOMINATOR: Omar Ali, Assistant Professor, Syracuse School of Architecture

“Hannah has excellent ideas, and she can convey them through the architectural and design language. Her interdisciplinary approach, her ability to translate this into design application, paired with her dedication, position her as a promising leader in the field.”

Joseph Quan | Northeastern University

NOMINATOR: Dr. Zorana Matić, Visiting Associate Teaching Professor, School of Architecture, College of Arts, Media & Design, Northeastern University

“Across all his work, Joseph moves fluidly between ecological systems, architectural strategies, and district-scale thinking. He approaches every design challenge with curiosity, care, and strong design intent.”

Kexuan Shang | Rice University

NOMINATOR: Carlos Jiménez, Professor, Rice University; Principal, Carlos Jiménez Studio

“Kexuan brings an exceptional level of contextual intelligence and cultural discernment. Her project situated architecture as a civic protagonist and presence in the city fabric rather than an isolated object, demonstrating a refined sensibility in translating cultural and spatial histories.”

Holden Waters | Northeastern University

NOMINATOR: Zorana Matić, Visiting Associate Teaching Professor, Northeastern University

“Holden is one of the most exceptional emerging designers I have taught. Across all scales—from retrofit tectonics to neighborhood frameworks—he works with conceptual clarity, representational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to community and environmental well-being.”

Kathy Ye | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

NOMINATOR: Jaehun Woo, Assistant Professor in Architecture, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

“Kathy possesses a rare balance of technical rigor, theoretical depth, and inquisitive research. She does not simply accept design methodologies; she interrogates them to refine her own process.”

Emily Zheng | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

NOMINATOR: Ryosuke Imaeda, Lecturer, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

“Emily is a visionary designer and an intellectually curious thinker who excels in collaboration. She illustrates impeccable design details across diverse themes, ranging from environmental awareness and cultural heritage to traditional craftsmanship and technological integration.”