ROSWELL, Ga. — Boral Bricks announced the winner of its “Live.Work.Learn” student architecture contest at the 2012 AIA National Convention in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by Boral Bricks and planned in collaboration with the American Institute of Architectural Students (AIAS), the student membership arm of the American Institute of Architects, the contest showcases the creative use of bricks. Contest winner Eun Grace Ro, a student at the Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, accepted her $5,000 award onsite from a panel of judges representing industry leadership in the architecture, brick and building industries.

“We were extremely impressed with the caliber of talent we saw during this contest,” said Shelley Ross, director of Marketing for Boral Bricks. “Our contest required students to design a live/work building using brick for 70 percent of the exterior siding. We saw really imaginative and creative ways to use brick for a unique exterior façade.”

“With so much focus on building product innovation, we sometimes lose sight of the Earth’s longest-lasting materials,” noted Ross. “Brick stands the test of time because it truly is so energy efficient and durable. It is also locally-sourced from natural material, and can be fired with the safe use of methane from landfills then distributed with limited packaging to reduce waste.”

Judges included Chip Clark, vice president of Engineering Services for the Brick Industry Association and licensed AIA industry architect; Manny Gonzalez, senior partner of KTGY’s Santa Monica, California office and 25 year veteran of the Residential Architecture field; Nick Mancusi, president of the American Institute of Architecture Students; Nigel Maynard, senior editor of Builder magazine and Residential Architect magazine; and Glenn Hennessey, director of Marketing and Communications for the Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House.

For more information, visit www.boralbricks.com.