Announcing the Winners of the 2023 SoA Graduation Awards

*Lydia Randall, B.Arch ‘23 received the Alpha Rho Chi Medal for her leadership and service and what she offers the future of the profession.*

The Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture is proud to announce the winners of our 2023 Graduation Awards. The winners were announced during the 2023 School of Architecture Diploma Ceremony on May 12, 2023. These annual awards recognize the outstanding achievements of graduating students. Please join us in congratulating the winners on their tremendous accomplishments.

Madeline Cotton, B.Arch ‘23 was one of two recipients of the honor of top-ranking graduate in the Bachelor of Architecture program.

Xinyi Wang, M.Arch ‘23 was recognized as the top-ranking graduate in the Master of Architecture program.

Xiaoyu Kang, B.Arch '23 received an Alumni Design Award for exceptional design and representation in the last two years of studio work in the Bachelor of Architecture program.

Carson Michaelis, B.Arch '23 received an Alumni Design Award for exceptional design and representation in the last two years of studio work in the Bachelor of Architecture program.

Xu Xu, B.Arch '23 received an Alumni Design Award for exceptional design and representation in the last two years of studio work in the Bachelor of Architecture program.

Alpha Rho Chi Medal

This award recognizes graduating architecture students for their leadership and service and what they offer the future of the profession. One graduate from either the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program or the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program is eligible to receive this award each year.

Winner: Lydia Randall, B.Arch ‘23

AIA Medal for Academic Excellence

The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of AIA, awards the AIA Medal for Academic Excellence (formerly the Henry Adams AIA Medal) to the top-ranking graduate in each architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Graduating students in the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program and the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program are eligible for this award. The school selects the candidates based on the guidelines provided by the AIA national organization.

Winner: Nicholas Coppula, B.Arch ‘23

Winner: Madeline Cotton, B.Arch ‘23

Winner: Xinyi Wang, M.Arch ‘23

Alumni Design Award

This award is the highest honor granted by the faculty of the School of Architecture to a graduating student in the Bachelor of Architecture program. The award recognizes exceptional design and representation as demonstrated through studio work within the last two years of the Bachelor of Architecture program.

Spring 2023 Jury: Kai Gutschow (Chair), Mary-Lou Arscott (ex-officio), Heather Bizon, Doug Cooper, Francesca Torello, Tommy CheeMou Yang

***Almono Greens Complex: Redefining Urban Farming****; Hazelwood, Pittsburgh, PA; Instructor: Jeremy Ficca; Collaborator: Xu Xu; 2021*

Winner: Xiaoyu Kang, B.Arch '23

Award: $5,000

***Past Futures: Ohio River Valley****; Instructor: Heather Bizon; Collaborator: Nick Coppula; 2022*

Winner: Carson Michaelis, B.Arch '23

Award: $5,000

***Construction Engendered****; Pittsburgh, PA; Instructor: Mary-Lou Arscott; 2022*

Winner: Xu Xu, B.Arch '23

Award: $5,000