Waterloo Students Sweep Top Prizes in National Architectural Design Competition
Students from the University of Waterloo have claimed the top three awards in the 24th Annual CISC Architectural Student Design Competition.
The three projects created as part of Professor Terri Meyer Boake's ARCH 570: Architectural Steel Design course showcase innovative observation platform designs that blend structural artistry with environmental storytelling.
First Prize: Aeolian Soundscape
Designed by Darren Miranda and Sophie Longval, Aeolian is a wind-driven acoustic structure located along the Dalhousie Mountain Trail in Nova Scotia. Inspired by wind harps, the spiralling steel form harnesses the resonant properties of metal to produce a haunting, melodic hum tuned to the pentatonic scale.
Visitors ascend through a rhythmic array of acoustic steel cables and tubes, experiencing a soundscape shaped by the wind. The structure’s accessible ramp ensures inclusivity, while its elevated position offers panoramic views of the surrounding wind farm. Each visit promises a unique auditory experience, echoing the ever-changing nature of the wind.
Second Prize: Weathered Lines
Cindy Ma and Mahara Falif, earned second place for Weathered Lines, an observation platform nestled beside the Don River in Toronto. Facing the historic East Don Trestle, the design invites visitors to ascend through layers of industrial and ecological history.
Crafted from weathered steel, the structure blends seamlessly into the ravine’s textures while referencing the industrial past that shaped the valley. Framed views guide the eye toward both the river and the rail bridge, encouraging reflection on the Don River’s transformation—from ecological corridor to industrial site, and now a symbol of renewal.
Third Prize: Stairway to Heaven
At Stanley Park’s Hallelujah Point in Vancouver, Stairway to Heaven by Yev Stepanyuk and Sadie Berzins rises as a 20-meter-tall beacon. The tower’s diagonal box truss of exposed steel creates a striking silhouette, while glass panels of varying opacity play with light and shadow throughout the ascent.
A central staircase is paired with a fully accessible funicular, ensuring barrier-free engagement. The journey culminates in a breathtaking view of Burrard Inlet, the North Shore mountains, and Vancouver’s skyline, framing the city’s natural and urban beauty in a new light.
About the Competition
The Architectural Student Design Competition challenges students from Canadian schools of architecture and engineering to design observation platforms using Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel (AESS). Entries must incorporate vertical structural typologies, ensure barrier-free access, and engage meaningfully with their chosen Canadian site’s views and context.
This year’s winning entries exemplify the power of architecture to evoke emotion, tell stories, and connect people to place—through sound, history, and perspective.