This news post is brought to you by AIA Los Angeles

*Competition Update: The open call for faculty submissions has been extended to February 17, 2020

AIA Los Angeles is seeking local faculty to design and build this year’s exhibition for the annual 2x8 student competition. The theme “DOMUM” centers on the urgency of California’s housing crisis. The exhibit will curate ideas from schools of architecture, allowing students the opportunity to present their work to a professional jury as well as the AEC industry. The exhibition provides visibility to students and showcases their work, as well as the pedagogy of their institutions, to the greater architectural community.

BACKGROUND: 2x8 is an annual exhibition & scholarship program showcasing exemplary student work from architecture & design institutions throughout California. Celebrating the state’s unequaled diversity in pedagogical directions, each of the participating academic programs select two projects that embody their core vision. As many as twenty schools participate in the annual show.

2x8 has been a springboard for designers to introduce themselves to LA and the world. In 2020, the visibility of the program is increased with the AIA national conference in Los Angeles. The opening night coincides with the conference, facilitating over 20,000 individuals attending Architects and AEC professionals to observe the student work. This raises the bar on the quality and execution of the exhibition, and will provide a greater platform for everyone involved.

ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to all faculty of California schools of architecture and design. Please register via the link below and download the RFP: https://www.aialosangeles.org/aiala-events/2x8/

CHALLENGE: Design, build, and install the 2020 2x8 exhibition to showcase up to 40 student projects.

DETAILS: Student work is to be displayed on digitally printed backlit presentation film. The AIA|LA committee will provide reusable LED lighting measured in two-foot segments for back-lighting the work, and the printed film. The size and proportion of the boards is up to the discretion of the designer but must be a minimum of 15 square feet. The design concept of the exhibition should be flexible and capable of accommodating changes to the number of school entries. The design must also include two additional boards to display exhibition sponsors, an informational board regarding the exhibition, and signage as desired (i.e. show name, logo, school names). 

FUNDS: The AIA|LA budget for the exhibition is $20,000.

THEME: The curatorial theme of 2x8 this year reflects on the dialogue surrounding housing in Los Angeles and other urban centers across the country. This year, AIA|LA intends to create a dialogue around the topic of housing by asking schools to submit student work that responds to the current housing crisis. 

AR: An augmented reality app will be built by the 2x8 Committee, allowing the exhibition designer to overlay 3D student models with the design of the exhibition. The proposal should address the integration of an AR overlay with the overall exhibition design. The AIA|LA committee will develop an application incorporating both marker and markerless tracking methods for the overlay of super-graphics and student models at the discretion of the exhibition designer. Considerations should be given to AR activation spaces in front of student boards. We do not anticipate incorporating the use of any goggles, and we suggest that the submitted design avoid overly reflective, monochromatic or featureless exhibition surfaces for AR compatibility. 

SECOND LIFE: A goal for this year’s exhibition design is to ensure minimal waste in the production of the exhibit. Submitted proposals are required to incorporate an innovative strategy for the reuse of the exhibition materials after the exhibit and future recycling potential. One option for material reuse is to partner with a community organization in order to formulate a plan for long-term secondary use of the components of the exhibition. If fitting the intent of the designer, the 2x8 Committee has conducted initial outreach to the following organizations: Skid Row Housing Trust, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative, and Friends of the LA River. If the designer elects to partner with an organization, it is advised for the designer to communicate with the organization during the design phase.

To learn more about about the 2x8 exhibition check out last year's event highlights and winners. 

Stay up to date on exhibition/competition updates following them on Instagram @aiala2x8!