KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 29, 2025

Two Kennesaw State University architecture graduates are gaining international recognition for their innovative design work, earning top honors from two prestigious competitions for a detailed drawing of the KSU Field Station greenhouses and research facilities.

Sean Spencer and Nelson Agalaba, who graduated in May from the KSU College of Architecture and Construction Management, received the Award of Distinction from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) and were named finalists in the Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation (KRob) Competition. Their work will be showcased this October at ASAI’s Architecture in Perspective exhibition in Tokyo, marking the university’s growing presence in global architectural illustration.

The recognition is the latest milestone in KSU’s rising reputation for architectural excellence. This marks the second consecutive year the university has been represented in the KRob competition.

The award-winning drawing, created in assistant professor Trace Gainey’s focus studio last fall, reimagines the KSU Field Station as a multi-use research and educational space that blends into the surrounding landscape. The project was inspired by the site’s environmental history, including research on agricultural yields, local bat populations, and bird habitats.

“We wanted something more than a standard greenhouse,” Spencer said. “The design integrates into the landscape rather than sitting on top of it, making it feel like a natural part of the site’s ecology.”

Agalaba emphasized that the layered drawing tells the story of how people interact with the site over time.

“It’s not just a technical illustration, it’s storytelling,” he said. “Every layer, from researchers working inside the greenhouse to cars passing on nearby highways, adds to that narrative.”

The piece combines hand-drawn sketches, watercolor, and charcoal with digital tools such as Rhino, Revit, Photoshop, and D5, creating a collage-like final product that spans nearly 7 feet.

“The level of experimentation and detail is what I think set us apart,” Spencer said.

Both graduates credit Kennesaw State’s architecture program for preparing them to compete on an international stage.

“The diversity of perspectives at KSU, both among students and professors, pushed us to question what architecture could be,” Agalaba said. “It helped us develop our own design voices.”

Hazem Rashed-Ali, dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management, praised Spencer and Agalaba for their accomplishments.

“Sean and Nelson represent the creativity, dedication, and global vision we strive to foster in our students,” Rashed-Ali said. “Their success highlights the exceptional quality of our architecture program and the impact KSU graduates are making on the world stage.”

Since graduating, both alumni have started professional careers while continuing to explore creative design. Spencer is working on an experimental project at Perkins & Will architecture firm, while Agalaba, now with the Preston Partnership, is helping develop multiple mixed-use projects in the Atlanta area and continues to refine his architectural drawings through competitions.

“It’s exciting and humbling to have our work earn this recognition,” Spencer said. “It’s a reminder that architecture is as much about storytelling as it is about design.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photo provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.