Projects from UC Riverside, Newschool of Architecture and Design-San Diego, Cal Poly Pomona Take Top Honors at ECO Innovators Showcase

Second Annual Competition is part of Metropolitan’s Spring Green Expo

LOS ANGELES--()--Sustainability and renewable energy projects developed by students at the University of California, Riverside, the Newschool of Architecture and Design in San Diego and California Polytechnic University, Pomona, captured top recognition at Metropolitan Water District’s second annual ECO Innovators Showcase competition.

The competition was part of Metropolitan’s 7th annual Spring Green Expo, an educational event featuring more than 70 of exhibits by college students, businesses and public agencies at Metropolitan’s downtown Los Angeles headquarters building on May 1. The contest attracted projects from 20 universities and community colleges throughout Southern California in individual and team categories.

“The hard work and creativity of these university and college students is inspiring and we hope their ideas lead to practical sustainability solutions,” said Assistant General Manager Gilbert F. Ivey, who greeted the students. “Metropolitan is proud to showcase their accomplishments.”

There was a tie for top individual honors between students from Cal Poly Pomona and Newschool of Architecture and Design-San Diego. Cal Poly’s Samantha Schieldge’s project dealt with creating a healthcare center that included recycled water systems, natural ventilation, drought tolerant landscaping and solar power. Nick Wilson from Newschool of Architecture and Design displayed examples of single-family sustainable “Eco Houses” for desert climates such as Phoenix, Ariz.

First place in the team category went to a four-person team from UC Riverside whose project involved using renewable energy to dry clothes, provide space heating and humidify homes in a low-income community development in Moreno Valley. Student team members were Christian Alcaraz, Julianne Rolf, Ryan Schoeman, and Samantha Mak.

The second and third place honors in the individual category both went to students from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Second place in the team category was won by students from UC Riverside, followed by students from Pasadena City College.

In addition to the school teams earning the top awards, other universities and colleges participating in the ECO Innovators Showcase competition included Bakersfield College; California State University Channel Islands; California State University Fullerton; California State University Los Angeles; California State University San Marcos; Chapman University; Harvey Mudd College; Los Angeles Trade-Tech College; Occidental College; Orange Coast College; Otis College of Art and Design; University of California, Irvine; University of Southern California; and Woodbury University.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

Contacts

Metropolitan Water District
Armando Acuna, (213) 217-6853; (530) 574-3111, mobile

Contacts

Metropolitan Water District
Armando Acuna, (213) 217-6853; (530) 574-3111, mobile