Health Sciences Education Building, University of Arizona CO Architects (2012)

A green roof is another defining feature of the renovation. Photo by Sebastian van Damme.

Vertical louvers are a defining feature of the second-story facade, shading the floor-to-ceiling windows from excessive sunlight. Photo by Sebastian van Damme.

The 11,300-square-foot building, which Kaan Architecten calls Dreamhouse, was designed in the 1950s by Van den Broek en Bakema. Photo by Sebastian van Damme.

Photo by Sebastian van Damme.

The building's cantilevered second story hangs over the ground floor, casting a shadow over the storefronts. Photo by Sebastian van Damme.

The building houses a jewler's and a fashion retailer. Photo by Sebastian van Damme.

The jury evaluated the entries on the basis of these criteria: significant use of aluminum, energy efficiency, contemporary design, socioeconomic impact, and value added to the original building Photo by Sebastian van Damme.

University of Zambia. 1965-1970. Designed by Julian Elliott. Lusaka, Zambia.

These products for the bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, and hall closet will make improve your mind and body.

The balcony is notable for its outdoor shower.

One of the few remaining structures left from the 1964 World's Fair, the Great Hall at the New York Hall of Science recently reopened in Corona, Queens, following a renovation by Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects.

Another view of Cornell University’s Silo House.

With 400 bicycle parking spaces, the Collaborative Life Sciences Building—a partnership between Oregon Health & Science University, Portland State University, and Oregon State University—earned a Bike Score of 91.

The plan of the Parksite residence.

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Cornell University's Silo House.

The Cedar Hall residences at the University of Washington not only allowed for a more affordable and green expansion for the campus, but the wooden frames are also more flexible and modular, giving the dorm the ability to be reconfigured over time.

Greiner Hall at University of Buffalo, designed by Cannon Design, boasts floor tiling made from recycled soda bottles, man-made ponds for recycling greywater, electrical outlets that are wheelchair-height accessible, and lounge-style classrooms and meeting areas.

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The California Academy of Sciences by David Bryan.

South Dakota. The Muenster University Center at the University of South Dakota by Charles Rose Architects features large stretches of glass that open the structure up to the rest of the campus.

Arizona State University's Polytechnic Campus.

Turin University Faculty Building (Foster + Partners: 2013) Amid the sparkling new facades of these curved structures on the River Dora, the concept of a quad has been radically updated. While the steel-and-glass exterior calls to mind the forward-thinking seriousness of a tech company campus, the spacious green quad, rooftop canopies, and a “philosopher’s walk” make sure the renovation leaves space for old-fashioned contemplation.

The firm’s principals describe the Museum of Anthropology at University of British Columbia as “a West Coast icon worth the trek.” Aside from the incredible collection of archaeological objects, the glass and concrete building by Canadian architect Arthur Erickson is equally impressive.

Inspired by the color wheel, the interior design firm Silvola & Seppänen reimagined the art and design department of the University of Lapland to be spacious and open that features a spacious common area connecting all the activities from the art library to a virtual studio. This was achieved by dividing the space into four zones, each distinguished by a different color and function.

University of Oregon Hatfield-Dowlin Complex (ZGF Architects: 2013) Architect Gene Sandoval and the rest of the design team created this futuristic athletic complex to create a structure centered around the players, not the fans. This new home for the Oregon Ducks football team incorporated the firm’s various disciplines to create a space scaled to football-player dimensions (note the larger entryways and hallways). The textured glass facade, detached from the building envelope, reduces glare inside, where players often spend hours studying film.

The center added 375,000 square feet to The New School campus in the form of classrooms, a 800-seat auditorium, a residence hall, and more.

University Classroom Building; Duluth, Minnesota Salmela Architect Architect David Salmela relied on plant coverage to help maintain the strict standards of a German Passivhaus design system. Passivhaus, which utilizes a thick envelope created by insulated walls and roof and triple-glazed windows is a highly effective way to structure ultra-low energy systems. Salmela added a living roof, planted with butterfly-attracting vegetation, and surrounding tree covers to shade the building.

ASU Polytechnic Academic District; Mesa, Arizona RSP Architects and Lake|Flato The architect teams wanted to design ASU’s campus in a way that would reflect the surrounding desert climate. They maximized shade by grouping the new LEED gold buildings in dense clusters and creating courtyards and arcades to maximize airflow. The teams also removed 14 acres of asphalt and concrete sidewalk and replaced it with indigenous plants, which will help alleviate solar heat gain and reestablish the native habitat. ASU hopes that this will increase the amount of pedestrians and build a community around this former commuter campus.

After graduating from the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Scherer established his own studio in Berlin in 2010.

The Essalam Mosque in Rotterdam photographed by Christian van der Kooy

The Mevlana Mosque in Rotterdam, photographed by Christian van der Kooy

A series of meandering stairways is meant to facilitate leisurely travel through the building. When rushing to class, students can use a traditional stair or skip-stop elevators.