The design challenge was a zero net energy (ZNE) student housing or administrative office building design for the University of California Merced in Merced, California. As part of the Architecture at Zero 2012 challenge, entrants were asked to create a diagrammatic district energy plan for the Bellevue Gateway development.

The challenge was to include buildings will be part of the Bellevue Gateway, a new mixed-use development located on the campus that will act as both the primary entrance to the University and as a bustling center of activity with sports facilities, dining, residential spaces, administration, and parking.

Above: The Bellevue Gateway District, in its current use as pasture lands.

Architecture at Zero 2012 Winners

Silver Streak
Alameda, CA

Susan Ubbelohde, George Loisos, Brendon Levitt, Michael Martinez, Nathan Brown, Chris Humann, Eduardo Pintos, Ibone Santiago, Susanna Douglas
Loisos + Ubbelohde

Cactus
Porto, Portugal

Ren Ito, Guida Goncalves, Joao Ramos, Denise Edwidges Soares, Ana Silva, Hugo Texeira, Filipe Quinta, Claudia Sousa, Maria Ferrao, Miguel Augusto

Ren Ito Arq.

Homeostasis
Seattle, WA

Wei Yan, Edward Clark

Cotton Farm
Melbourne, Australia

Byungmin Youn, William Campbell, Stuart Waters
Archassist Pty Ltd.

[AGRI]CULTURAL DURABILITY
University of Virginia
South San Francisco, CA

Daniel LaRossa, Amadeo Bennetta

The Mountain
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA

Yi Wang, Leticia SooHoo, Laura Bao, Saraswati Sri Lalitadewi Latumahina, Myra Wang, Ricardo Moreno, Suni Almidani

2012 Architecture at Zero Jury

Alison Kwok, University of Oregon
Ed Mazria, Architecture 2030
Stephen Selkowitz, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Susan Szenasy, Metropolis Magazine