Team: Florida International University
Faculty: Engineering: Dr. Yong X Tao, 
Faculty: Architecture: Nathaniel Belcher AIA, Jason Chandler AIA
Location: October 7-16, 2005 116 Decathlete Way, National Mall, Washington, D.C. 20004
10555 W Flagler Street, FIU College of Engineering & Computing, Miami, FL 33172
Rendering by Jordan Trachtenberg
Rendering by Jordan Trachtenberg
Rendering by Jordan Trachtenberg
Rendering by Jordan Trachtenberg
 The Florida International University US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2005 Engawa House was a tremendous team effort all around and Josh Freese was an architecture team leader from the first meeting until graduation in May 2005, but was not the project architect. Josh's fellow FIU Alumni Robert Perez AIA, the FIU Solar Concept student competition winner in fall 2003, produced the drawing sets advised by then FIU Architecture faculty Jason Chandler, AIA and Nat Belcher, AIA. The drawing sets were central to Robert's M.Arch I Professional Degree thesis project at Florida International University.

In 2005 we brought the Engawa house to Washington and won first place in the Energy Balance Competition. “Engawa” is a Japanese architectural term meaning a unity between the interior and exterior. This is exemplified by the simplicity of the plan and the glass façade, which can be opened to create a unified living space.*

In 2008 Florida International University was chosen to represent the United States in China’s Green Olympics held in Beijing. FIU’s Future House USA was designed to showcase alternative energy tactics in daily life. From an eco-conscious building method to some of the most advanced residential green technologies available today, the Future House USA maximizes energy efficiency, environmental compatibility, and sustainability.*

Drawings by Robert Perez

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