Solar Decathlon

LightHAUS placed third in the U.S. Department of Energy 2024 Solar Decathlon, led by Turma Asokan and fellow senior’s Sam Gandhi, Sydney Flowers, and Asha Saifullah alongside an ensemble of underclassmen from the University of Missouri and Missouri S&T. The LightHAUS project is a sustainable multi-family housing complex designed for international college students and early-career educators in Columbia’s lively North Village Arts District. With goals to provide affordable and dynamic living options while demonstrating environmental responsibility by transforming a former brownfield site into a thriving cultural hub. Ideally situated within walking distance of the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College, catering to a diverse student population who are often priced out of affordable housing. To achieve beyond net-positive performance, the building maximizes passive strategies and incorporates active strategies when necessary to optimize energy efficiency and occupant experience. The site integrates rooftop solar arrays and agro-voltaic gardens.