Emi Nevara won first place in the 2025 Student Design Awards hosted by California’s Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH). Her design for a new campus at Albert Einstein Academy High School in San Diego, CA sustainably transforms an existing structure into a modern learning environment.  

Emi earned a Bachelor of Architecture in 2024 from the NewSchool of Architecture & Design. This project was her final thesis with feedback and critique provided by Buddy Gessel, Principal at DLR Architecture Group.  

Re-Envisioning Learning Spaces 

Emi’s design honors the site’s history and meets the needs of future learners. At the heart of her concept lies a bold vision: to create a learning environment that supports academic growth and inspires students to interact with the dynamic nature of knowledge itself. 

“This project is not just about reshaping a building—it’s about reshaping the way students interact with space, with one another, and with ideas,” said Emi. “I wanted the architecture to inspire learning, to encourage curiosity, and to reflect the energy of the school community.” 

Fostering Intellectual Curiosity through Design 

Emi’s design philosophy for this project drew directly from Albert Einstein Academy’s mission — to teach students how to think, fostering intellectual curiosity and independent reasoning.  

Emi’s design captures this ethos through an expressive architectural language. The building’s facade visually symbolizes the energy, diversity, and fluidity of student thought and was inspired by the movement of particles in Brownian motion—the random movement of microscopic particles suspended in a fluid caused by their collisions with the surrounding fast-moving molecules.                                   

Beyond aesthetics, the project integrates sustainable design strategies throughout. By repurposing a former research facility, Emi’s design is both cost-effective and reduces environmental impact.  

The campus also features adaptable interiors designed to support evolving pedagogical models, collaborative learning, and student well-being.                         

Recognizing Student Achievement at NewSchool 

Emi’s first-place win is a testament to her creative vision as well as her ability to translate abstract educational goals into a built environment that is both functional and inspiring, skills she honed during her studies at NewSchool. 

“We are incredibly proud of Emi and the impact her work is already making in the field of educational design,” said Amin Espandiarimahalati, NewSchool Assistant Professor and Fifth Year Coordinator.

About the CASH Student Design Awards 

California’s Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) is the premier statewide organization promoting, developing, and supporting state and local funding for K-12 public school construction and modernization. As part of CASH’s commitment to developing future leaders, the Student Design Awards were established as a joint venture by the Outreach and Architects Committees. They recognize excellence in student work that addresses real-world challenges in school planning and design.