“Glitched Systems” is a product of manipulating established architectural works, reinterpreted through the theme of “glitch.” © Ferras Coulibaly.
The SOM Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Robert L. Wesley Award. Four fellows, Ferras Coulibaly (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, School of Architecture), Erin Kurtycz (University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning), Beni Lawson (University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, School of Architecture), and Salma Rodriguez (Texas Tech University, Huckabee College of Architecture) will each receive a $10,000 award in addition to a yearlong mentorship program that connects the students with leading BIPOC practitioners and educators. Awardees will also be supported by Black Spectacles as they work toward becoming licensed architects.
“I was beyond impressed with the caliber of students that applied for the Robert L. Wesley Award. We have so many talented young people in design that are deserving of an easier path in school. The fact that this award can honor, support, and provide mentorship is invaluable,” said Monica Chada, 2024 Robert L. Wesley Award juror. “The students who have received the award exhibit leadership, talent, and commitment to each of their communities. I feel privileged to have had a chance to see the work that they have done, and I look forward to seeing how they grow both through the support of this award, and the mentorship that this award offers.”
“Prod. Library” serves as a space where traditional library functions are reimagined. Production spaces invade the library in the form of large objects that function as rooms where users can actively create. Within these structures, there is a performance auditorium accessible to professionals and the broader community, an immersive exhibition room, and a project lab also open to both professionals and the public. Additionally, a dedicated space for kids and teens fosters creativity and exploration. These production spaces create tension between the old function of the library and the new function that is proposed as they coexist together. © Ferras Coulibaly.
Kalamazoo Post Office Branch. © Erin Kurtycz.
Ferras Coulibaly is a fifth-year architecture student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a four-year member of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), and a candidate for a minor in artificial intelligence. From an early age, Coulibaly was captivated by the spectacle of construction, an experience that ignited his passion for architecture and has profoundly influenced his approach to design. While deeply committed to architecture, he also developed a strong interest in technology, innovation, and computer science, prompting him to explore the intersection of these fields. His academic and professional pursuits are driven by the belief that technology and computational methods can be leveraged to create sustainable, socially conscious communities that emphasize cultural competence and equity. This vision has informed his undergraduate studies in architecture and his professional experience, including his recent role as an urban designer with the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Outside of his academic and professional endeavors, Coulibaly has a deep appreciation for fashion, dance, and automobiles, and he seeks to integrate these passions into his broader work, using architecture as a platform for positive change.
Erin Kurtycz is a fourth-year architecture student at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. She most enjoys spending time in studio and making new friends. While faculty might call this distracting other students from their projects, Kurtycz believes the type of critical yet non-judgmental socialization she engages in with her peers has been the most important aspect of her education. She sees the skillset held by architects as a tool for the transfer of abstract ideas and mutual understanding among various groups of people. She hopes to continue challenging the idea of exactly who and what purpose architecture is meant to serve, forcing both client and designer to constantly question their own intent. Other than architecture, Kurtycz holds a position as a tattoo artist and loves dancing to techno music and petting dogs in her free time.
Beni Lawson is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a minor degree in Informatics. Currently, Lawson is the President of the American Institute of Architecture Students chapter at UIUC, the President of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students chapter at UIUC, and the Class of 2025 Student Representative on the Architecture Student Advisory Council. His work and architectural interests deal with broader issues of extraction, both material and temporal extraction, as well as topics involving the future of computational application in architecture.
Salma Rodriguez is a fourth-year student at Texas Tech Huckabee College of Architecture in El Paso, Texas. Growing up moving from Mexico to the U.S., she had to face the struggles of adjusting to a new language, culture, and living circumstances. These experiences helped her see architecture as a powerful tool to create stability and a sense of belonging. Her passion for architecture has overcome numerous challenges, including working multiple jobs and navigating financial independence. As a Research Assistant at POST (Project for Operative Spatial Technologies) directed by professors Stephen Mueller and Ersela Kripa, she has been inspired to approach architecture as a bridge between cultures and environmental issues. While at Matter Matters, a material research lab directed by Catherine Soderberg, she explores the potential of waste materials to create eco-conscious designs. She hopes to extend these approaches as a Latina architect, reinforcing her commitment to creating spaces that honor communities like her own. Coming from a culture that values family and community, she aims to create spaces that reflect these values and the needs of diverse populations. Her hope is that her work will inspire others, including her siblings and underrepresented communities, to pursue their dreams, knowing their perspectives matter.
Treehouse—Consequences of Your Actions. © Beni Lawson.
“Framing Mobility Through Space.” © Salma Rodriguez.
This year’s jury was chaired by Robert L. Wesley (Retired Partner, SOM, Chicago) and included Monica Chada (Founder and Principal, Civic Projects Architecture, Chicago), Andrew Santa Lucia (Founder, Office Andorus; Associate Professor of Practice, Portland State University’s School of Architecture, Portland), and Stephen Slaughter (Chairperson of Undergraduate Architecture, Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture, New York City).
“This was the most difficult jury I have ever participated in. I found myself moved by both the students’ essays and videos, and waffled back and forth between the value of merit versus value of need. Seeing how accomplished, compelling, and beautiful the work was, only made my deliberations more difficult,” said Stephen Slaughter, 2024 Robert L. Wesley Award juror. “In all honesty, if every applicant was awarded the prize, I would be overjoyed, but I am satisfied with the short list we settled on, and content knowing the prize will make a difference in the lives, and possibly careers, of the recipients.”