Workplace Reimagined competition Sustainability Award winners - Yi Jiang and Xinran Shen

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Sustainability Award winners of our "Workplace Reimagined" competition – Yi Jiang and Xinran Shen from United States!

Yi Jiang and Xinran Shen

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.

Both graduated from Columbia University, Yi Jiang and Xinran Shen currently work as architectural designers in New York City. Fun architectural design productions take place in ours small apartment. Meanwhile, Yi works at SOM, and Xinran works at Perkins Eastman.

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?

We both work on multi scale mixed-use projects in the office both locally in New York City and the States as well as international projects around the world. Scales vary from single building design/renovation to large scale urban developments.

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

Architecture is the mega device which we’ve been exposed to that shapes our experience, influences our emotions, and interacts with the environment around us. An architect’s major role is to balance functionality, aesthetics, and the environment, so as to create practical solutions responsive to human needs, while benefiting both the nature and the community.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in competitions for fun! Architecture competitions offer us the chance to let our creativity run wild, unfettered by the usual shackles of professional projects. We architects thrive on challenges – the kind that make us grow taller, not just our buildings! These competitions throw us into a whirlwind of diverse concepts, like a wild ride through the theme park of design. We get to play with different design philosophies, shuffle spatial arrangements like a deck of cards, and indulge our curiosities until they're bursting at the seams. It's like being mad scientists in a laboratory of architectural innovation!

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

It’s a chance to showcase your talent. Don't hold back from making radical statements, and don't be afraid of venturing into the seemingly unrealistic. Concentrate on crafting a compelling narrative, allowing your voice to be heard.