Indian American student Adithi Garood has won the first annual Future of Architecture Scholarship instituted by Projio, a digital marketing agency for architects and building professionals, for her ability to connect architectural vision with digital storytelling.
Garood is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Environmental Building Design at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design. She was selected from a pool of applicants across the U.S. who were tasked with exploring the theme of “Storytelling Through Digital Presence,” according to a media release from the Port Washington, New York-based firm.
The scholarship was designed to support tech-forward students who bridge the gap between physical design and digital representation. Applicants were required to submit a written essay and a visual presentation detailing a strategy for presenting architectural work online, with a focus on experience, layout, and SEO.
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“We were incredibly impressed by Adithi’s ability to connect her design vision across both written and visual formats,” said Victoria Silecchia, CMO of Omnizant. “Her submission demonstrated how digital platforms can help people truly understand and connect with architectural projects they may never experience firsthand. Adithi highlighted how this kind of storytelling is especially powerful for sustainable and net-zero design, where broader understanding can drive meaningful, widespread impact.”
Projio stated it launched this annual scholarship to empower the next generation of architectural visionaries who blend aesthetics with modern technology. By highlighting the importance of a digital presence, Projio aims to help future architects effectively communicate their value in an increasingly online world.
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Garood is from Bangalore and has professional experience working with architecture practices in India prior to beginning her graduate studies in the United States. She previously worked as a junior architect with Arun Nalapat Architects in Bangalore and has also completed internships and freelance assignments in India. She holds a bachelor of architecture degree from RV College of Architecture, Bangalore.
“The incredibly niche program of merging sustainability along with building analysis and human centric design led me to the EBD program” at Penn, she says. “I found that it was a perfect blend between technicality and creative design freedom, where merging the two gave innovative ideas of how buildings could be shaped soon.”
Garood sees herself working at a firm that focuses on high-performance building design, while also exploring new ideas in materials, circular economy, and large-scale energy solutions that can shape the future of architecture