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Eight Inc. Wins the Mâlama Learning Center

Kapolei, Hawaii—October 8, 2003—The Nature Conservancy and Kapolei High School announced Eight Inc. the winner of the Mâlama Learning Center Design Competition on Wednesday, October 8, at Kapolei High School. The announcement was made at Kapolei High School, Building J.

The international architectural competition accepted design entries through July 2003. Over 230 entries were submitted via cyberspace from 36 countries and 28 states in the United States. In August, professional jurors from New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Hawai‘i judged the entries, unidentified by name, to assure a fair competition. The primary objective was to create a joint-use facility that would serve as a hands-on laboratory, focused on preserving Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural resources with the support of modern technology.

Eight Inc. works out of Honolulu and San Francisco. The firm will receive a $20,000 cash prize. The competition was supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, matched by funds from businesses, individuals, and a local foundation.

"This was the strongest design. The Center will incorporate the principles and best practices of green architecture. It will exemplify the importance of caring for our resources for the long term," says Pauline Sato, the Nature Conservancy’s O‘ahu program director and competition coordinator.

"This is a wonderful project because it has both roots and wings," says Billie Tsien, a design competition juror from New York City. It is grounded literally, yet it brings green space up high, where native plants can be used in an educational way and be displayed on the tops of buildings. It expresses the heart of the conservation movement."

"To have a firm from Hawai`i win the top award shows that architecture in Hawai`i is on the cutting edge and can compete globally," says Michael Pittas, professional advisor to the competition.

The Mâlama Learning Center will be built near the entrance to Kapolei High School. Its doors will be open to students and adults wishing to experience the sustainable correlation between science, culture, arts and the environment.

Funding to construct the Malama Learning Center will be raised through grants, private donations, and community-based fund-raising efforts.

A traveling exhibition of the award-winning designs will begin at Kapolei High School in October. A virtual exhibition, accessible via the Internet, is posted at www.malamalearningcenter.org.

For more information, call The Nature Conservancy at 621-2008, or visit www.malamalearningcenter.org.

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