The Architecture at Zero Competition Imagines the Future of Net Zero Energy

The winners of the 2016 Architecture at Zero competition took a case study located in the fog-locked city of San Francisco and delivered a net-zero site plan for a mixed-use academic facility.

1 minute read

December 7, 2016, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Antonio Pacheco reports on the winners of the 2016 Architecture at Zero competition, which comes with the potential for a $25,000 prize.

"This year’s competition focused on the development of zero-net energy (ZNE) student housing for the San Francisco State University campus in California," explains Pacheco. "Entrants were asked to create an overall site plan to accommodate the erection of 784 housing units and attendant programs like a student services center, food hall, and child care facility."

Winners included both students and professionals. Students from Taiwan, Texas, and France were awarded. The professional awards were all follows:

  • Citation Award: Piezien Circuit by Modus Studio, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
  • Merit Award: Nexus by Dialog in Vancouver, Canada.
  • Merit Award: Fog Catcher by LITTLE in Los Angeles.

The article includes renderings of examples from both categories. 

Monday, December 5, 2016 in The Architect's Newspaper

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

People board a bus in Seattle.

Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion

Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.

15 minutes ago - KOMO News

Elon Musk in front of a sign for Grok 3

Post election, Texas is no longer Musk’s 'AI oasis'

Elon Musk dolled out $446 million on the 2026 midterms, the most ever spent by a non-canidate.

1 hour ago - Politico

People vote in Chicago behind blue privacy screens

Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners

Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents

November 5 - Block Club Chicago