NoBS Club receives grand prize at 2023 Solar Decathlon

May 18, 2023
A group photo of the NoBS team advised by Pat Huelman, all posing with their grand prize trophies.

Design Challenge Division and Grand Winners were announced during the Solar Decathlon Competition Event in Golden, Colorado, April 20–23, 2023.

The students from 55 Finalist Teams represented 61 collegiate institutions during the 2023 Design Challenge. Teams competed in one of six divisions: New Housing, Retrofit Housing, Attached Housing, Multifamily Building, Office Building, or Education Building.

  • Residential Grand Winner, University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
A rendered image of the retrofitted PhilipsGen building

The winning project titled Phillips ReGen, is a deep-energy retrofit that aims to preserve the original character of a century-old masonry building while meeting current global environmental demands and the local need for affordable, durable, and resilient housing.

Originally built in 1904 and vacant since the 1990’s, the existing building is a deteriorated three-story brick structure located in the Phillips Neighborhood of Minneapolis. In collaboration with the City of Lakes Community Land Trust and Hope Community, the University of Minnesota NorthStar Retrofit Team has developed a strategy to “ReGenerate” this neglected property into a lasting community asset.

The overarching goal of this project was to develop a solid Net Zero Energy retrofit solution based on a systems-guided approach and sound building science principles in a way that can be replicated for other buildings of this iconic archetype in cold climates.

The overall design strategy for Phillips ReGen is defined by the needs of the community, building preservation techniques, and net zero design principles. Compared to Minneapolis averages, this neighborhood has twice the population density and half the median household income. 20% of households have elderly dependents and 40% of households have children, making affordable multifamily and intergenerational housing a priority. The living space has been split into eight units of varying size to accommodate these family types and needs. Rehabilitating this building, rather than demolishing it, symbolizes the importance of community revitalization. Restoring the facade of the iconic, highly-visible property aims to preserve and respect the architectural and cultural history of the  neighborhood. Through a combination of climate specific enclosure assemblies, the NorthStar Retrofit Team has identified an approach that allows for the original decorative brickwork on the building’s south face to remain for all to enjoy without compromising overall energy and hygrothermal performance.

For more information, download the PDF:

 

In addition to the Retrofit housing team's grand prize, the NoBS club also had students competing on a Modular team.

  • Multifamily Division 2nd Place Winner, NorthStar Healthy Homes, University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
    • The team impressed the jurors with their articulate presentation, well thought out modular details, and the encouragement of their residents through biophilic and trauma informed design.
The modular team poses with their award in from of the national renewable energy laboratory sign in Golden, CO.