We’d like to shine a proud spotlight on a bright star in our office here at ORR Design. Lowai Ghaly is a key member of our design team and brings fresh energy, technology skills and an eye for the big picture. Lowai’s commitment to excellence and community outside our office was recently honored by the American Institute of Architects with a Student Leadership Award for his thesis project while a student at the San Francisco Academy of Art University. He and his student team were recognized for their leadership and talent in the design, fabrication and organization of an innovative approach to homeless families in the community called “the Stay Over Program.
The award, presented by the American Institute of Architects San Francisco chapter, recognizes student work that demonstrates leadership, innovation, and community impact.
The Stay Over Program focuses on the comprehensive design of a multi-functional space for unsheltered families and students within an existing stay-over program at Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8 in San Francisco. The primary goal was to foster a strong sense of community and shared ownership among both groups, while delivering essential amenities and efficient storage solutions.
Grounded in principles of micro-intervention and co-creation, the project involved close collaboration with families and shelter staff throughout the design process. The result is a set of mobile, folding bed units that provide privacy at night and can be compactly stored during the day, preserving the shared gym space for daily school use.
In total, the team designed, fabricated, and delivered 70 folding beds, along with individual storage units for families and dedicated storage solutions for staff, enabling quick and organized daily setup. The project translates empathy and engagement into real, functional design that serves both immediate needs and long-term community resilience.
