Hannah Puerta-Carlson collaborated with Gabrielle Knauf and classmate Audrey Delia on “Grotta Sosta,” which reimagines a former mining site as a park designed for rest, reflection and renewal.
Architecture Students Named to Future100 List in Metropolis Magazine
Gabrielle Knauf ’26 and Hannah Puerta-Carlson ’26—both fifth-year architecture degree students in the School of Architecture—have been selected for , an elite group of architecture and interior design students from the United States and Canada.
Launched in 2021, the award recognizes the top 100 graduating students in North America who, as rising leaders, are defining and reimagining the practice of architecture and interior design. Knauf and Puerta-Carlson are two of only 25 undergraduate architecture students to receive the honor, selected based on the creativity, rigor, skill and professionalism exhibited by their portfolios and nomination entries.
This year’s cohort features an exceptional group of emerging designers who demonstrate a shared commitment to purposeful, research-driven design. Through experimentation, critical thinking and bold creativity, their projects thoughtfully engage community, culture, inclusivity and sustainability with care and conviction, according to Metropolis magazine.
Gabrielle Knauf
Բܴ’s demonstrates her innate and intuitive design ability through the use of model-making, hand drawing and digital workflow.
In “YYarehouse,” a project led by instructor Il Hwan Kim, Knauf and her classmate Julia LaRow ’26 explore how to reuse large structural concrete elements from demolished buildings instead of discarding them. Rather than treating buildings as disposable, the project proposes a circular-economy approach, where load-bearing components like double-T slabs and columns are salvaged and repurposed, either in similar roles or reconfigured into new structural systems.
Using concrete components sourced from two nearby buildings slated for demolition, the design experiments with transforming these elements to create a new hybrid structure. The building itself functions as a warehouse and makerspace for material reuse, reinforcing its mission. Architecturally, the project highlights reused materials by making them visible and expressive—from the structural system to the façade. It also integrates sustainable features like rainwater collection and radiant heating.
Overall, “YYarehouse” demonstrates how thoughtful deconstruction, reuse, and design innovation can reduce construction waste while creating functional, expressive architecture.
“Gabrielle is curious and thoughtful, with a natural ability to guide others and explain complex ideas in an engaging way,” says Nimet Anwar, an assistant professor of architecture who nominated Knauf. “She explores new methods and tools with enthusiasm, and her passion and curiosity spark the same energy in those around her.”
Knauf has served as an undergraduate program associate for ten sections of a second-year design studio, supporting students through lectures, tutorials and desk critiques, as well as in a remote summer pre-college architecture course. In 2025, she received an honorable mention for her Integrated Design Studio Prize project and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester since 2022.
“I feel incredibly honored to have been nominated for this award,” says Knauf. “The application process itself was rewarding, giving me the opportunity to reflect on my five years and how much I’ve grown with the support of faculty and friends. Being nominated alongside such talented peers, especially Hannah, is particularly meaningful—we’ve collaborated on projects through both work and studio, and ending this chapter together feels extra special. Being named a Future100 winner makes all the hard work feel worthwhile, and I’m excited to begin my professional career with the support of the Metropolis network.”
After graduation, Knauf plans to work in a full-time position as an architectural designer while working toward licensure.
Hannah Puerta-Carlson
ʳܱٲ-䲹Dz’s demonstrates her intuitive sense of design coupled with clear, purposeful and mature visual communication and creativity.
During her study abroad experience in Florence, Puerta-Carlson collaborated with Knauf and classmate Audrey Delia ’26 on “Grotta Sosta,” which reimagines a former mining site as a park designed for rest, reflection and renewal.
Acknowledging the site’s intense history of extraction, the project defines “rest” as a cycle of protection, recovery and emergence for both visitors and the landscape. Through subtle, non-invasive interventions—such as framing views, filling spaces and creating stepped transitions—the design gently shapes how people experience the site. These strategies separate areas of activity from spaces of calm, guiding visitors through different stages of rest. The park includes flexible, seasonal programs like sitting, swimming, fishing and play, allowing both people and the environment to periodically pause and recover.
Ultimately, “Grotta Sosta” transforms a once-extractive landscape into a serene, regenerative space that supports both human and ecological rest.
“Hannah has excellent ideas, and she can convey them through the architectural and design language,” says Omar Ali, an assistant professor of architecture who nominated Puerta-Carlson. “Her interdisciplinary approach, her ability to translate this into design application, paired with her dedication, position her as a promising leader in the field.”
Puerta-Carlson belongs to Renée Crown University Honors Program and has served on the school’s student mentor squad. She is a recipient of the 1870 Scholarship, Invest in Success Scholarship and the Orange Distinction Award, as well as the Syracuse Abroad Academic Excellence Award (2024). In summer 2025, her project “Evolving an Urban Ecology” was selected for the prestigious national honor of inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
“Being selected for the Metropolis Future 100 is an incredible honor,” says Puerta-Carlson. “When my professors encouraged me to apply, I was deeply touched by their confidence in me, and being chosen has only strengthened my gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had at . Learning from and designing alongside such inspiring professors and classmates has been truly formative. This recognition makes me even more excited to step into a broader professional network and carry those experiences with me as I begin my career.”
After graduation, Puerta-Carlson hopes to secure a full-time position at an architecture firm—ideally in New York City—where she can begin completing her Architectural Experience Program (AXP) hours toward licensure. After several years of professional experience, she plans to return to academia to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture or urbanism.
As part of the Future100 honor, Knauf and ʳܱٲ-䲹Dz’s work has been shared with a global network of architecture and design leaders, offering meaningful exposure to top firms and influential professionals across the industry. Their profiles also appear in a dedicated online feature at and in the magazine’s January/February/March issue.
The full Future100 class of 2026 digital showcase is .
