CASA-ACEA showcases À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ Architecture undergraduate work
Three À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ Architecture undergrad student projects are featured in CASA-ACEA's annual .
1st/2nd Year Finalist: Mariem Saad
Project: Climate Choreography
Each microclimate within Climate Choreography is a crafted vignette of Cambridge’s rich history. From the industrial heritage of the Blair Mill Spillway to the cultural significance of the Speedsville Railway, each section reflects a distinct historical narrative. The walls not only separate these microclimates but also weave them together, guiding visitors through a seamless narrative that highlights the interconnectedness of historical and ecological elements. Re-purposed materials from historical sites are integrated into the design, creating educational installations that deepen the visitor’s experience. The project manipulates environmental factors to create the different microclimates. The walls influence how water collects and drains, affecting soil moisture and plant health. They also alter wind patterns, shaping the airflow and its effect on vegetation. Sunlight is filtered differently in each microclimate, changing light levels and temperatures.
3rd/4th Year Winner: Nicole Cao
By deconstructing the traditional wall assembly into its functional layers—air barrier, water barrier, insulation, and structure—Four Membranes establishes four distinct climatic zones, creating a haptic learning experience attuned to the site’s natural cycles. As diurnal temperature shifts and weather variations permeate different areas of the building to varying degrees throughout the year, occupants develop a heightened awareness of their surroundings. In addition to utilizing repurposed materials and nested construction, thematically and functionally related programs overlap through shared amenities and fixtures, significantly reducing the building’s overall footprint and carbon emissions while fostering dialogue between community, educational, and artist-residency programs. Four Membranes aims to deepen the connection to the land within the RARE conservation, bringing environmental awareness and sustainability to the forefront of the learning experience.
Project:Â Four Membranes
3rd/4th Year Finalists: Jessica Wang, Jessica Jia
Project:Â Vive ut Vivas
This project is an urban redevelopment of the major transit station area at Cambridge Centre Mall, a key point connecting the historic communities of Galt and Hespeler in the amalgamated city of Cambridge, Ontario. Vive ut Vivas proposes a new model for housing—prioritizing adaptability, affordability, and social resilience in response to contemporary urban needs. The design uses repurposed shipping containers to create modular, transportable, and stackable units. These personalized modules are designed to move with residents, supporting continuity and a sense of home even as life circumstances change. It is housing that grows with people—emotionally and practically. Integrated within a Community Land Trust and co-operative housing framework, the project ensures long-term affordability, community ownership, and shared governance. This model reduces environmental impact while strengthening social connection and emotional well-being. Vive ut Vivas is more than a response to the housing crisis—it is a vision for living with intention: rooted in place, yet flexible; durable, yet human. It offers a future where homes are not just spaces to occupy, but places to belong.
A number of UWSA student projects were also selected to compete in the People's Choice Awards, which you can currently vote on here: . Voting ends on June 15th at 11:59pm EST.
is an independent, bilingual, non-profit, student-led organization which brings together students of architecture from across Canada. CASA.ACEA connects and advocates for the community of Architecture Students across Canada by supporting, promoting and profiling student success.
Each year CASA-ACEA put out a call for submissions from architecture students across Canada. Student work is displayed and shared as part of a Nation Student Work Showcase.