Architectural Technology student Flavia Pinto has made history for being the first Humber Polytechnic student to win the Best Concept award at the annual KEA Charrette.

The yearly event, which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, is an intensive, collaborative process that brings together students, community members and professionals to develop innovative solutions for complex issues. During a week of brainstorming, discussion and expert consultation, participating teams create a broad range of ideas and solutions to pressing, relevant challenges.

Nine Humber students and two faculty advisors traveled to participate in this year’s event that was held from October 5-12.  

They worked in multidisciplinary teams with students from 10 different countries to answer the question “What is sustainable?” Working together, they developed concepts to support local Copenhagen businesses.  

Pinto was part of the group that was assigned Alice, a venue for musical events designed to showcase up-and-coming artists. The team realized that both the indoor and outdoor spaces at Alice weren’t being utilized when there were no concerts, and they thought that incorporating more community events into the space could improve their sustainability both socially and structurally.

Pinto said one of the keys to the project was connection so they suggested creating multifunctional furniture that could be easily moved between the courtyard and the indoor space, maximizing Alice’s usability. By providing functional seating and tabletops, it would be easier to activate the space outside of the regular programming.

“The experience was enriching both personally and academically, providing me with deep learning about sustainable design, teamwork and the positive impact we can create in communities through a people-centred approach,” said Pinto.  

“This award wasn’t just a personal achievement; it represented what we could accomplish by working together toward a common goal. This validation reinforced the importance of collaboration and made me proud of our contribution to rethinking community spaces. It was a powerful reminder that impactful design is truly a team effort.”

Michael Guido, program coordinator and professor in the Architectural Technology program, was one of the faculty advisors who attended the KEA Charrette. Guido said the advisors guided the students to rethink and push the boundaries of sustainability in an urban context.

“The event allowed design students to experience team idea finding, generate solutions collectively and test multiple irritative strategies through the integrated design process between group members, advisors and the modern architectural backdrop of Copenhagen,” said Guido.

The week debuted with talks and presentations on sustainability, introductions to the local collaborators and the New European Bauhaus Compass. Activities included advisor sessions and workshops to support the charrette work, which culminated in final presentations and celebration.

Architectural Technology student Nasrat Ghaibi said making great friends not only from Humber but from other Canadian and international post-secondary institutions was the most rewarding aspect of attending the KEA Charrette. Ghaibi said participating in the event will have benefits for his career growth and professional development.

“The competitive environment pushed me to think creatively and work efficiently under tight deadlines, strengthening my decision-making and time-management abilities,” said Ghaibi. “Also, working with an international team improved my ability to communicate effectively and adapt to diverse work styles, which are essential in today’s global workforce.”

Ghaibi said the event was a unique chance to meet people from all over the world while making new memories and experiencing a style of learning that goes beyond the classroom.

More information can be found on the KEA Charrette website.

Visit Humber’s Global Opportunities website to explore more global learning experiences.