FSA announces Student Design Challenge recipients

Published On: October 7, 2015

The Fabric Structures Association (FSA), a division of ATA, announced the recipients of the 2015 Fabric Structures Student Design Challenge today at IFAI Expo 2015, which runs through Oct. 9 in Anaheim, Calif.

Nicholas Musilli won first place for his project, titled “Sail Stage,” and received a prize package worth $6,000, which included a trip to IFAI Expo to present his project to the industry.

Second place went to Kyle Baron and Catherine Smeykal for their project, “Urban Canopy Garden.” Dominic Skrajewski and Leslie Hulbert were awarded third place for their project, “(Con) Temporary.” All winning students currently attend Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.

Students were challenged to create or transform a space using fabric structures. The site could be invented or pre-existing. Musilli designed the fabric structure to act as an entertainment venue for the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover, located on the historic grounds of Fort Adams in Newport, R.I. The design aimed to reference the culture of Newport, as well as the importance of the international competition.

Baron and Smeykal designed an urban tree canopy garden along the Charles River in Boston. The structure would consist of a central space surrounded by fabric hung via a tension cable system, with an outer fabric membrane acting as leaves to provide shelter and shading.

Designed by Skrajewski and Hulbert to be a temporary covering for outdoor events held on the Roger Williams campus, the circular “(Con) Temporary” structure spans 90 feet in diameter, and is attached to four aluminum tubes, able to split apart and create two 45-foot sections for storage when out of use.

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