Study Architecture 
ProPEL Winners Announced for the
2025 Concrete Masonry Student Competition
Students Awarded for Outstanding Designs using Concrete Masonry
For Immediate Release:
Washington, D.C., September 2, 2025 – The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA), along with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Concrete Masonry Student Competition.
The competition recognizes six outstanding projects that utilize concrete masonry products as the primary material in the design of a state-of-the-art Fire Station, with an emphasis on local civic engagement. Students were challenged to design a fire station that accommodates diverse needs, ranging from equipment storage and gender-inclusive housing accommodations to recreation and civic events. Each project emphasizes the use of concrete masonry as a flexible, resilient method to convey form, function and expression.
The jurors chose first, second, and third place winners, along with three honorable mentions. Listed below are the names of the recipients, their project titles, and their faculty sponsor(s):
First Place: The Periurban Firestation
Students: Alec Rosen & Akhil Singh
Faculty Sponsor: Sergi Serrat Guillen
Tulane University
Second Place: East Harlem Fire Station & Local Marketplace
Students: Rafah Alzindani & Era Hulaj
Faculty Sponsor: Suzan Wines
City College of New York
Third Place: Flash Point
Student: Michael Zemaitis
Faculty Sponsor: Erik Hemingway
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Honorable Mention: Fire Station Number 7 – Re Axis
Student: Alireza Alikaei
Faculty Sponsor: Silvia Acosta
Indiana University
Honorable Mention: Underhill – Encinitas Fire Station #01
Students: Alvaro Nunez & Wenjie Zhuang
Faculty Sponsor: Peter Noonan
University of Maryland
Honorable Mention: The Dog House
Students: Andrew Dewalt & Stephanie Orr
Faculty Sponsor: Bryce Truitt
Georgia Institute of Technology
“Engaging the next generation of architects is critical to the future of our industry,” said CMHA President & CEO Robert Thomas. “Competitions like this not only highlight the creativity and innovation of today’s students, but also inspire them to see concrete masonry as a versatile, sustainable material with endless design potential. By challenging young designers to push boundaries and explore new possibilities, we help ensure that concrete masonry will continue to play a vital role in shaping resilient, community-centered spaces for decades to come,” Thomas added.
The competition jury included three distinguished members:
- Marcus Shaffer, Pennsylvania State University
- Annicia Streete, Louisiana State University
- Mark Wilhelms, Best Block Companies
View the projects and get more information HERE.
About Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA)
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) represents a unification of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) and the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA). CMHA is a trade association representing US and Canadian producers and suppliers in the concrete masonry and hardscape industry, as well as contractors of interlocking concrete pavement and segmental retaining walls. CMHA is the authority for segmental concrete products and systems, which are the best value and preferred choice for resilient pavement, structures, and living spaces. CMHA is dedicated to the advancement of these building systems through research, promotion, education, and the development of manufacturing guides, design codes and resources, testing standards, and construction practices. For more information, visit www.masonryandhardscapes.org
About the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
Leading Architectural Education and Research
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture is a nonprofit, membership association founded in 1912 to advance the quality of architectural education. The school membership in ACSA has grown from 10 charter members to over 250 schools in several membership categories. These include full membership for all accredited programs in the United States and government-sanctioned schools in Canada, candidate membership for schools seeking accreditation, and affiliate membership for schools for two-year and international programs. Through these schools, over 6,000 architecture faculty members are represented. In addition, over 500 supporting members composed of architecture firms, product associations and individuals add to the breadth of interest and support of ACSA goals. ACSA provides a major forum for ideas on the leading edge of architectural thought. Issues that will affect the architectural profession in the future are being examined today in ACSA member schools. For more information, visit www.acsa-arch.org.
Media Contacts
Requests for press materials, including high-resolution images, can be obtained from our media contact.
Hanifah Jones
ACSA
202-785-2324 x 5
hjones@acsa-arch.org
Kristen Garman
Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association
703-713-1900
kgarman@masonryandhardscapes.org
