Nexus competition showcases student-driven campus innovation
Campus, Feature November 20, 2025, Comments OffThis year’s Nexus Design Contest, organized by Drury University’s American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), brought architecture students from all levels together to collaborate, create, and reimagine campus spaces. The competition, which is still run by AIAS President Dain Wood, gives students an opportunity to influence Drury’s built environment moving forward.
This year’s competition was especially exciting because it focused on Drury’s own campus. Competitors had two choices for campus sites: a project at Drury Prairie, east of the Architecture building, or a reimagined Curry Sports Center. Teams were challenged by each prompt to think about sustainability, community connection, and how design could strengthen relationships between students, faculty, and disciplines.
“The purpose of Nexus has always been to connect students through meaningful, hands-on work,” Wood said. “By designing for real spaces on campus, we want students to see how their ideas can directly influence the environments they live and learn in.”
P.L.A.M Studio, this year’s first-place team, was motivated by community building. Abby Martin described the team’s goal as “a gathering space that is multipurpose—used for classes, workshops, studying, events, exhibitions, and overall interaction between students.” She was a double major in both architecture and art, and she loved how the design combined the two subjects through student-designed seating, sculpture displays, and murals.
Paige Robinson, her teammate, stressed the significance of breaking down academic boundaries. She explained, “We wanted to create a space where all STEAM majors could interact with one another through a courtyard.” In order to bridge the gap between several majors, their team chose the arts-focused Prairie campus.
Both designers faced challenges along the way, including managing the existing topography to incorporating needed window sizes. Nonetheless, their concept struck a chord with the judges, and P.L.A.M Studio earned the top award.
Another noteworthy entry came from AME Architects, who addressed the competition from the perspective of visibility and identity. Emma Geurin stated that their team was inspired by the concept of establishing a “billboard” for Drury along Chestnut Expressway. She commented, “Drury’s campus is such a beautiful and creative place, but it’s often hidden from the main roads.” Their design angled the building toward Chestnut and included a perforated metal screen that illuminated at night with the phrase “Panthers Create.”
One of the most difficult issues they faced was balancing four strong design voices. It required time and persistence to coordinate schedules and merge ideas into a single cohesive story. “In the end, it was incredibly rewarding to contribute to the ongoing conversation about Drury’s campus development,” Geurin remarked.
Their team chose the southern location for its visibility and connection to the Maker Space program. Preserving the existing Drury Prairie was equally important, so they designed outdoor spaces and a central courtyard that combine nature and creativity. Geurin added, “We hope our project inspires Drury to pursue bold, forward-thinking architecture that welcomes both students and the broader Springfield community.”
Jennifer Worley, Richard Stange, Joshua Nason, Layne Hunton, and Dain Wood (representing Alex Riddle) judged the submissions, which were also examined and approved by the contest’s title sponsor, Pella Windows & Doors.
P.L.A.M Studio, consisting of Abby Martin, Paige Robinson, Levi Morris, and Mariana Vargas, won first place this year. BLoC Studio received second place, with Brooke Spencer, Logan Schockmann, Claire Nation, and Samantha Mattingly. SheBuilds, consisting of Emma Neidig, Nellie Tatar, Brooklyn Johnson, and Kristen Gerdes, and AME Architects, with members Amy Bah, Emma Geurin, Madelyn Brown, and Aweellie Aganya, were two other teams who participated, each providing unique perspectives and creative solutions.
All project submissions, pictures, and judge comments are available on the Nexus Design Competition website and the AIAS Public Drive.
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