Students selected as 2022 CRIT Scholars by the American Institute of Architecture Students

Students selected as 2022 CRIT Scholars by the American Institute of Architecture Students

Students selected as 2022 CRIT Scholars by the American Institute of Architecture Students

UDC Master of Architecture degree program students Moyosore Oguntoye, Cameron Wright and Alexander Hagen were chosen earlier this year as 2022 CRIT Scholars, a research-based program supported by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and several prominent architecture firms.

AIAS is an independent student-run non-profit dedicated to providing progressive programs, information and resources on issues critical to architecture and the educational experience. The organization promotes excellence in architectural education, training and practice, fosters an appreciation of architecture and related disciplines, enriches communities in a spirit of collaboration, and organizes students and combines their efforts to advance the art and science of architecture.

CRIT is the journal of the AIAS and the premier publication for students in architecture, design and associated fields. Published since 1976, it offers a variety of opportunities for AIAS members and is a forum for critical discourse and knowledge dissemination.

The program’s goals are to support student research and provide an exclusive opportunity for students to receive further guidance in their research from a professional advisor. The long-term objective is to encourage students to be actively involved in furthering architectural innovation in support of the design profession through mentored research projects embedded in academia and practice.

Alexander Hagen

Alexander Hagen

For Hagen, whose research project is entitled, “The application of social inclusion design principles within healthcare design,” becoming a CRIT Scholar is especially important as a nontraditional student. He began college in 2008, left for the Navy, and then got his undergraduate degree in architecture from UDC in May.

“It’s meaningful because we are receiving recognition on a national scale,” he said. “We are gaining access to professionals in the field and having the opportunity to grow. I’m extremely happy that I was selected.”

Each CRIT Scholar receives a $1,000 grant for their research project and is paired with a mentor involved in conducting research at an architectural firm. Mentorship from this practitioner assists students with their projects by giving them a practical perspective on their work and insight into working at an architectural firm.

Moyosore Oguntoye

Moyosore Oguntoye

With a research project entitled “Assessing bamboo and coconut trees as sustainable building materials: a case study of Lagos, Nigeria,” Oguntoye said he is grateful and honored to be one of the 2022 CRIT Scholars.  “It’s a morale boost to continue my research, which I believe has the potential to make life more comfortable for some underserved African communities.”

Cameron Wright

Cameron Wright

Wright says that her life experience has given her an empathetic approach to design and how it can affect well-being and survival. Her research project is entitled, “Designing a resilient lifestyle by using ‘independent utility integration’ in households to mitigate risk during a time of aging infrastructure and natural hazards (a focused case study on a Washington D.C. row-house).”

“By studying current events and history, I have focused on ‘circular design approaches’ to make the average citizen’s lifestyle easier,” she said. “A well-designed home and environment positively impact an individual’s life, resulting in more positive reactions elsewhere in society.”

Students will present their final projects at next year’s National Research Forum and will be published in the CRIT Journal.

For more information about the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), visit https://www.aias.org/