Thomas Huntingford awarded 2022 National Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture

Melbourne School of Design (MSD) Master of Architecture student Thomas Huntingford has been named joint winner of the 2022 Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture through the Australian Institute of Architects' Student Organised Network for Architecture (SONA).

Thomas has made substantial contributions to the advancement of the education of architecture by inspiring camaraderie among his student cohort, promoting student engagement and consistently challenging himself and his peers to do more.

He has formed meaningful relationships with his teachers, peers and colleagues, and collaborated with them to successfully initiate ways to increase student engagement with architectural discourse.

In early 2020, he worked with his lecturer to start a student initiative called “Interviewing Designers and Architects”.

He is the co-chair of the MSD Student Forum, which he has made a more accessible place for all students by removing the need for formal applications.

In 2019, he created the MSD Discussion Board Facebook group.

This online platform, which now has more than 1,500 members, has simulated the studio culture online, allowing the sharing of work, ideas and events.

A human-scale peer-to-peer approach has been brought to SONA’s executive team through his leadership and advocacy for meaningful engagement of SONA members. He has represented students at the institute’s Victorian Chapter Council, Victorian Education Committee, Architect Victoria Editorial Committee and Sustainability in Architecture Forum.

Thomas has made a genuine contribution to the promotion of architecture for the benefit of the profession and the student experience.

His leadership has had a positive impact on the culture of the education of architecture and student wellbeing, and has included providing students with a safe place to contribute and do more through friendship and camaraderie.

This article first appeared on Architecture AU.