Award competition asked Philadelphia-area design students to conceptualize civic spaces celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and the city’s role in the nation’s founding.
Philadelphia is preparing for a monumental 2026. The United States celebrates its 250th anniversary next year, and Philadelphia—an early U.S Capital and the city where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed—will play a central role in the festivities. If that weren’t enough, Philadelphia also plays host to the FIFA World Cup and MLB All-Star Game in 2026.
Looking ahead, the 2025 HOK Futures Design Challenge asked Philadelphia design students to conceptualize two permanent new civic spaces to showcase the city’s history while offering visitors and residents a place to gather and learn. The design brief specifically asked architecture students to conceptualize a public pavilion at Eakins Oval along the city’s popular Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Interior design students were asked to conceptualize a nearby event space, café and gallery.
This is the ninth time HOK’s Philadelphia studio has presented the awards competition. Open to graduate and upper-level design students from Philadelphia-area design schools, HOK Futures offers cash prizes in two categories of architecture and interior design. Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, this year’s winning teams earned $5,500 for first place, $4,500 for second and $3,500 for third. First place winners also receive an opportunity to intern at HOK.
“As we’ve come to expect, this year’s student design teams did not disappoint,” said Sherri King Parente, senior regional practice leader for HOK’s Philadelphia studio. “They offered thoughtful and elegant solutions, demonstrating both an understanding of the local context and an appreciation for how it could be improved.”
Interior Design 1st place: Love & Grit by Anoushka Mann and Krystal Hu – Drexel University
Winners of the interior design competition were:
- Third place: Mallika Shankar and Valeria Ferrin – Drexel University
- Second place: Meg Cuca and Emily Malina – Drexel University
- First place: Anoushka Mann and Krystal Hu – Drexel University
Architecture 1st place: An Axis, An Oval, A Table for All by Mic Ma and Yona Wang – University of Pennsylvania
Winners of the architecture competition were:
- Third place: Yang Liu and Hang Ku – University of Pennsylvania
- Second place: Rain Yang and Chendou Zhu – University of Pennsylvania
- First place: Mic Ma and Yona Wang – University of Pennsylvania
Congratulations to this year’s winners, and special thanks to the following jurors and sponsors.
Jurors:
Interior Design
- Tim Casper, Project Manager, Capital Projects, Comcast
- Royce Epstein, Senior Director | Design Insights, Mohawk Group
- Matthew LoPresto, Senior Design Manager (Global), Equinix Corporate Real Estate
Architecture
- Alan Greenberger, VP for Real Estate and Facilities, Drexel University
- Heidi Segall Levy, Senior Project Manager, Watchdog Real Estate
- James Mallory, Principal, Sr. Project Designer, HOK New York
- Allison Schapker, Chief Operations and Projects Officer, Fairmount Park Conservancy
Sponsors:
Event partner: McGrory Glass
Rittenhouse Square level: Brickworks Design Studio, Glen-Gery, McKeon, Milliken, Shildan Group, Teknion
Washington Square level: ALW, Bentley, Corporate Interiors, Daltile, DesignTex, Diener Brick Company, Duet Design Partnership, Edelman, Facility & Design Resource, Harmon, Haworth, Innovation Glass, Intech, Interface, Interiors.Design, Kimball International, Knoll Textiles, Maharam, Metalwërks, Mohawk Group, Rulon International, ShawContract, Steelcase, Transwall, USG.