CAPPA Alumni Named Semifinalists in Department of Energy’s Building Envelope Innovation Challenge
In a remarkable achievement for the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at the University of Texas at Arlington, alumni Audrey Lucardi-Worden and Alex Worden have been named semifinalists in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Envelope Innovation Prize. The pair, who graduated in 2007 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Architecture, were awarded $50,000 for their innovative secondary glazing system, the Thermalswitch Building Envelope Extension™, developed through their Boulder, Colorado-based firm, StudioTJOA.
The Building Envelope Innovation Prize, sponsored by DOE’s Building Technologies Office (BTO), aims to advance high-performance, cost-effective solutions for improving the efficiency of commercial building windows. The program aligns with DOE’s broader goals of equitable decarbonization and optimized building envelopes for electrification. With $2.1 million in total funding across three phases, the prize incentivizes the development and deployment of secondary glazing systems (SGS) that enhance insulation and reduce energy costs while minimizing disruption during installation.
Audrey and Alex’s winning design, the Thermalswitch Building Envelope Extension™, addresses varied climate and performance needs with advanced thermal performance and a user-friendly design. Their innovation is poised to contribute to a growing demand for retrofit solutions that increase energy efficiency without requiring extensive renovations. “We are thrilled to share this achievement with our UTA CAPPA community,” Audrey and Alex said in an email to the college. “This recognition validates our mission to create sustainable and accessible design solutions.”
Phase 1 of the competition, which recently concluded, required participants to submit detailed design concepts and preliminary performance data for their SGS innovations. Seven semifinalist teams, including StudioTJOA, received $50,000 each for their efforts. The winning solutions demonstrated the potential to reduce energy loss through windows in a cost-effective and scalable way.
Now entering Phase 2, StudioTJOA and the other semifinalists will build prototypes of their designs. These prototypes will undergo rigorous testing, and participants will seek partnerships with building owners and operators for pilot projects. In Phase 3, the ultimate goal is to commercialize the products and implement them in real-world settings, with a focus on underserved and low-income communities.
The Thermalswitch system is particularly well-aligned with DOE’s Affordable Home Energy Shot™ initiative, which aims to cut the upfront cost of energy-efficient home upgrades by at least 50% while reducing energy bills by 20% within the next decade. By retrofitting windows with secondary glazing systems, solutions like Thermalswitch can significantly enhance occupant comfort, reduce energy usage, and lower utility costs in high-rise residential and commercial buildings.
StudioTJOA’s success underscores the impact of UTA’s CAPPA program in fostering innovative and socially impactful design practices. The college has expressed pride in the accomplishments of its alumni and plans to share the Wordens’ achievements widely within the UTA community. As the competition progresses, the Wordens are actively seeking partnerships for Phase 2 pilot projects and encourage interested parties to connect with their team.
For CAPPA alumni, students, and faculty, this achievement serves as a shining example of the transformative power of design in addressing global challenges. StudioTJOA’s recognition in this national competition highlights not only the talent of UTA graduates but also their commitment to advancing sustainability and equity through innovation.