The Design Futures Exchange has been a more-than three-year partnership in the architectural education of students at Arizona State University (ASU) in the U.S., and An-Najah National University (NNU) in the West Bank. The project has been supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of State and managed by The Aspen Institute. Arkio has been integral to the architectural design studios that we have been running in the Spring semesters, in which ASU and NNU students have been designing kindergartens for a refugee camp community in Nablus. In April of 2026, the International Union of Architects (UIA) recognized our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program with a formal Commendation in their announcement of the Laureates for the triennial UIA Award for Innovation in Architectural Education. “Guided by the principles of the UNESCO–UIA Charter for Architectural Education, the Award highlights the critical role of architectural education in shaping future professionals capable of contributing to sustainable and inclusive built environments.” In addition to learning Arkio and designing in VR, the Center of Building Innovation at ASU has credentialed more than 1,250 students in intercultural knowledge and competence for their engagement and efforts to work with, and learn from, their peers in this exchange.
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Thanks for sharing @Philip_Horton!
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This is fantastic! Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition from the UIA 
It’s inspiring to see how the Design Futures Exchange has connected students across cultures while using immersive technology to support meaningful architectural design work. Reaching more than 1,250 students is an incredible achievement, and we’re proud that Arkio has been part of that journey 
Thank you for sharing your story with the community!
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