The Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism at Carleton University has announced a new student architecture prize fund that will go toward supporting the work of fourth-year undergraduate students enrolled in the school's housing and community building-focused studio. 

The Hobin Prize, which will consist of several monetary prizes set to be awarded to students from the design, urbanism, and conservation focuses offered at the school, is endowed by Barry Hobin, founder of Ottawa, Canadia-based Hobin Architecture. Hobin, who graduated from Carleton University's school of architecture in 1974, explains his inspiration for the prize via press release: "Architecture has a more complex role than it ever has in the past. It’s not just about buildings. It’s about building places and trying to respond to things like the LRT (light-rail transit) and how we plan to live around it.”

The studio projects the prizes will support typically delve into topics that include housing affordability, new and innovative housing typologies, and forms of architectural practice that engage with community input, according to the school. Regarding the prize, Jill Stoner, director of the Azrieli School, stated, "The Hobin Prize will continue to affirm and emphasize the importance of city building as a crucial dimension in architectural education.”

The first students set to receive the award will be announced in January 2020.