A group of Kennesaw State University architecture students has received international recognition for their design work in an architectural competition. Gabriela Almeida, Wade Brock, Quincy Smith, and Justin Barkie, all students from the College of Architecture and Construction Management at Kennesaw State, participated in the Terraviva Competitions’ Venetian Villa challenge. Their project, titled “When Walls Roam,” was awarded the Community’s Choice Award.
The competition required participants to reimagine a centuries-old villa in Italy’s Veneto region as a modern hospitality retreat that balances tradition with contemporary design. The KSU students used research, sketches, and 3D modeling to create a design concept that aimed to honor the historical structure while proposing new uses.
“Adaptive reuse is about integrating an existing structure with a new life,” said Almeida. “Every wall we reimagined carried a story. Instead of discarding what existed, we preserved and framed the past within the present.”
The students expressed excitement after learning they had won the Community’s Choice Award. “It was very exciting and overwhelming,” Brock said. “We had people from all over the world voting for us – family, friends, even people we didn’t know. It really showed how our community came together to support us, and that made the win feel even more special.”
The team spent several weeks preparing for the competition by researching Italian villas and preservation methods. They developed their ideas through sketches and models and examined how light and architectural elements interacted within the villa. Smith explained their design process: “We had to find that one idea that could carry the entire project. Once we found our concept, every design decision connected back to it.”
The students worked collaboratively, using digital tools such as Rhino and AutoCAD to develop technical drawings and visual presentations. Almeida noted, “Everyone had their strengths, but we all contributed to every stage. Someone might lead the modeling, another handled final renderings, but each of us touched every part of it. We were constantly giving feedback and refining details together.”
Terraviva Competitions attracts participants from around the world, including both students and established architects. Barkie reflected on their achievement: “Seeing our names among professionals was surreal. It proved that the work we’re doing here at KSU stands on a global stage.”
The students credited faculty support as a key factor in their success. “Our professors believed in us and made sure we had everything we needed,” Brock said. “Associate Professor Peter Pittman, our faculty advisor, pushed our thinking, and Professor Jeffrey Collins, our former chair, made sure we had studio space and fabrication lab access. Their support was huge.”
Hazem Rashed-Ali, dean of KSU’s College of Architecture and Construction Management, commented on the students’ accomplishment. “This award is a powerful example of what our students can achieve when creativity, collaboration, and passion come together,” he said. “Their project demonstrates how thoughtful design can bridge history and innovation while showcasing the exceptional mentoring of our faculty.”
