Denver Affordable Housing Challenge competition 2nd and Sustainability prize winners - Meghan Helena Kress, Margaret Rose Krantz and Sean Edward Pike

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 2nd prize and Sustainabilty Award winners of our Denver Affordable Housing Challenge competition – Meghan Helena Kress, Margaret Rose Krantz and Sean Edward Pike from United States!

2nd prize and Sustainability award winners

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

We met while pursuing our Master of Architecture where we formed a close friendship rooted in shared values and creative ambition. Following graduation, we began collaborating on this design competition while working at separate firms, bringing together a diverse range of professional experiences. Our collective work explores complex social issues through architecture, blending our varied backgrounds to expand our design expertise. United by a passion for thoughtful, community-driven and sustainable design, we approach each project as an opportunity to challenge conventions, foster inclusivity, and have fun through the creative process.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

While this is the first time we have worked together, we have always been each other's peer reviewers for studios, assignments, and projects throughout our graduate program. In our respective firms we have worked on a variety of scales of projects from single family homes to large scale commercial and residential developments.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

To us, architecture is the art of shaping space around people. It blends creativity with responsibility, using physical space as a form of artistry while prioritizing how people live, connect, and feel. We believe architecture should be people-centered, rooted in equity and inclusion, and designed to bring communities together. An architect’s role is to create environments that support well-being, and integrate thoughtfully with the natural and cultural context.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We use competitions as a way to collaborate, explore new ideas, and push our skills. They let us step outside constraints of everyday work, experiment freely, and simply have fun creating with friends.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Choose a topic that you're excited by. Embrace the balance of creativity and pragmatism. Don't be afraid to try.