LAGOS, 25 February 2022 - The Winner of the inaugural ATO Design > VR Competition, Aliyu Ibrahim Mohammad joined the firm on 24th February 2022. This comes after the jury adjudged his entry - ICT Institute, Kano which displays sensitivity to adverse effects of climate change - as the winning entry. The building's curvilinear perimeter is intended to radiate rather than absorb the heat of the sun thereby reducing solar gain. It also serves as a nod to the traditional round huts in Northern Nigeria. Furthermore, the proposal incorporates materials and elements such as: bamboo brise soleil, compressed earth blocks and an open-to-air courtyard for optimal thermal control.

Concept Sketch: ICT Institute, Kano, a Competition Entry by Aliyu Ibrahim Mohammed

Aliyu drew inspiration from sources such as Interstate Architects' competition entry for African Development Bank AfDB HQ, Yameen Lari's Zero carbon shelter in Pakistan and Francis Kere's Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso.

Aliyu Ibrahim Mohammad at work on his first day.

In response to winning, Aliyu says "ATO Architects has always been my dream workplace and I am incredibly excited meeting great minds, knowing that I am going to learn a lot."

Our Founder/Chairman, Ayoola Tokunbo Onajide welcomes Aliyu Ibrahim Mohammad to ATO Architects.

Aliyu who joins the Lagos Head Office of ATO Architects as an architectural intern was welcomed by the Chairman/Founder of ATO Architects, Ayoola Tokunbo Onajide FNIA RIBA Pr.Arch, FIoD, Int'l Assoc. AIA and Managing Director, Ekaete Bassey-Fujah, FNIA LEED AP.

Announced Winner at the 9th ATO Annual Lecture which held on 8 December 2021, Aliyu Ibrahim Mohammad is a graduate of Kaduna Polytechnic. He among many other students and early graduates of architecture responded to the competition brief of "How architecture can adapt to the times considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the adverse effects of Climate change."

The competition was juried by Tosin Oshinowo, Principal Architect cMDAtelier, Adeyemo Shokunbi, Co-Creative Director, PatrickWaheedLagos and Ekaete Bassey-Fujah, Managing Director, ATO Architects.