24-hour problem-solving contest targeted place, space, diversity

At Hack-a-thon ’18, a 24-hour anything goes creative problem-solving marathon Langford Architecture Center, registered teams vied for $5,000 in prize money while tackling issues of place, space and diversity.

[ ] (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIbvEIff4ArIe0tSQmvB3XqVB8AWPHmP3J20r_JT5mZhDoPA/viewform) The popular annual interdisciplinary university-wide juried competition was hosted by the Texas A&M College of Architecture Diversity Council with support from organizations across campus.

“The hack-a-thon stimulated diversity and inclusion dialogue on our campus and beyond in a creative, collaborative and interdisciplinary environment,” said Carlo Chunga Pizarro, the diversity council’s undergraduate representative and an urban and regional planning major.

Individuals and teams chose to solve one of several challenges related to diversity, space and place pitched by participating campus groups at the Hack-a-thon launch. Those identifying issues in need of a fix will include the Center for Disability and Development, the GLBT Resource Center, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the College of Engineering and others.

It’s was an anything goes competition, because there were no boundaries regarding what form or medium the solutions take. Winning submissions could be architectural or planning proposals, applications or even art.

“We were looking for innovative projects and ideas that broke away from the status quo,” said Chunga Pizarro.

Contest mentors were on hand to offer advice on data mining, interpreting large datasets or just to weigh in on brainstorming and spark creative thinking. College of Architecture resources including the woodshop, large format printers and 3-D printers and laser cutters were available to Hack-a-thon ’18 contestants.

The event culminated with team presentations to a select jury that chose winners in a range of categories: most daring, most critical, most creative, most engaging, most practical and people's choice.

Richard Nira
rnira@arch.tamu.edu