By Ben Jacks, Associate Professor, Architecture + Interior Design

Fifty-one students in a multidisciplinary design studio in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design have been vying this semester to create the winning farm landscape, physical infrastructure, and graphic design for the new Institute for Food. The competition included identity, branding, product packaging, food carts, a restaurant, a student living-learning community, and a comprehensive vision for the IF farm.

Eight student teams presented their work to an expert jury of professional designers on Wednesday, May 4. Three winning teams were later announced at an end-of-semester celebration at the historic Austin-Magie farm site on Morning Sun Road. Eight acres of the 35-acre farm have been dedicated to the Institute for Food. An acre has been planted for vegetables to be harvested later this year, in time for President Hodge’s farewell banquet.

In granting first place, the jury noted “a scheme that perfectly balances accessible and familiar farm imagery with a vision for an open ‘Austin-Magie Pavilion’ that fully expresses IF’s goal of integrated learning. It’s a place where learning about sustainability, nutrition, food justice, food cultures, food systems, and farming could all be embodied through experiential education on the farm. This vision shows how to distinguish Miami’s Institute for Food from other programs at other schools.” The Second Place winner was praised for “a modest, practical, joyous solution that sensitively respects the existing historic buildings and places them at the center of the community.”

All eight projects are currently on display in the Cage Gallery, Alumni Hall, and may be viewed at the Department of Architecture + Interior Design Open House, Friday, May 6, which begins at 7:00 pm. The top two winning teams will also present their work at the Institute for Food Symposium, Friday, May 6, 1:00-5:00 pm, Armstrong Pavilion A.