The 2025 Forge Prize

Congratulations to Ho-gyeum Kim, who won the 2025 Forge Prize for the Growing Rowhouses concept!

A design concept that turns unused space in dense urban neighborhoods into new communities has taken the top award in the American Institute of Steel Construction’s 2025 Forge Prize.

Architect Ho-gyeum Kim of CZS tapped into the potential for rear yards of single-family homes to meet New York’s housing demands. A modular system based on the average rowhouse lot width could bring duplex units with semi-private outdoor areas. Kim partnered with Ralph Barone of Barone Steel in Brooklyn, N.Y. to optimize the design.

“It shows how structural steel is critical to unlocking buildable space in dense urban settings within New York and further afield,” said juror Matthew Marani, special sections editor for Architectural Record.

The final presentations from the 2025 Forge Prize finalists were streamed live on YouTube on March 18 and are available for viewing on AISC's YouTube channel.

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2025 Forge Prize Winner: Growing Rowhouses

Credit for all images: Ho-gyeum Kim

The “Growing Rowhouses” design approaches the frequently unused and neglected rear yards of a block of traditional rowhouses as a single lot. Kim’s modular system uses an 18-ft grid in keeping with average rowhouse lot width. The height of the new rowhouses can change according to allowable zoning.

This strategy requires minimal foundations to leave the existing rowhouses untouched. That’s where structural steel came into play. Steel cables on either side of the central structural core stabilize the building’s lateral movement.

“Steel is the most viable solution to achieve the minimal touchdown in the centerline of the blocks,” Kim said. “A prefabricated, modular construction system taking full advantage of steel’s unique potential to facilitate economical, rapid erection--and steel’s unique recyclability and circular supply chain add an additional layer of sustainability while preserving the existing rowhouses.”

The new, vertical community consists of duplex units with semi-private outdoor yards. Outdoor communal spaces include a rooftop terrace and running track. Curved hollow structural sections create a cohesive look across external stairs, roof structures, and trellis extensions--a detail that also allows for mass production.

“We think it’s a robustly developed proposal with a timely architectural premise and a clear idea about how and why steel will be used to support the concept,” Marani said. “It has a well-considered implementation strategy, including coordination with zoning and planning constraints, market demands, and erection efficiencies. It also fits neatly into new approaches to zoning within the Department of City Planning, specifically the larger City of Yes policies that are being rolled out.”

The Growing Rowhouses concept was one of three visionary designs that made it to the final round of the 2025 Forge Prize, in which the designers presented their refined concepts to the jury in a YouTube livestream that is now available as a recording.

Find high-resolution photos of all the winning project.

2025 Forge Prize Finalists: Runners-Up

Image credit: Ahmed Ali

Transforming Galvanized Sheetmetal Waste Streams into a Modular Living Wall Planter System

The University of Texas A&M’s Ahmed Ali proposed “Transforming Galvanized Sheetmetal Waste Streams into a Modular Living Wall Planter System,” which involves folding and assembling steel elements that would normally be cleaned and recycled. His steel fabricator partner is Tony Baffone of MSI Fab, LLC in Newark, Del.

Pedestrian Bridge of Echo Lake

Kaikang Shen submitted the proposal, “Pedestrian Bridge of Echo Lake,” a short-span bridge that encourages visitors to the park to engage with the water in new ways. Shen’s partners are Phil Schlosser and Barry Gossler of Schlosser Steel in Hatfield, Pa.

Credit: Kaikang Shen

Congratulations to the 2025 Forge Prize winners and runners-up!

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