Purr-oah’s Palace: Our Award-Winning Entry at AIA NS Barkitecture 2025

We’re thrilled to share that our team’s entry, Purr-oah’s Palace, took home top honors at the AIA Northern Section’s Barkitecture 2025 event — a paws-itively fun competition that raises funds for local animal shelters through architect-designed pet dwellings.

Inspired by the grandeur of the Temple of Dendur, our feline-friendly structure paid homage to ancient architecture with a playful twist. The name Purr-oah’s Palace is a nod to Pharaoh’s Palace, fusing ancient Egyptian elegance with modern cat luxury.

More than just a creative challenge, this project served as a meaningful team-building experience for our group. Each team member brought their unique skills to the table:

Leaha designed the palace’s regal crown, cleverly incorporating an alternating motif of a fish, a mouse, and a ball of yarn—a nod to the holy trinity of feline joy.

Nancy took the lead on the construction drawings, ensuring that every element was structurally sound and beautifully detailed.

Peyton developed the scale and proportions, translating the massive grandeur of Egyptian temples into a cat-sized sanctuary.

Layla created the 3D model, transforming sketches and ideas into a fully realized digital structure.

Colleen brought the vision to life by 3D printing the intricate 12-piece crown, with each piece requiring 11 hours to print—a true labor of love and patience (and a family project! Thanks to Colleens kids and husband for chipping in.)

The team at Brinton Brosious, assisted in constructing the base building. From there, the team collaborated to assemble and add the finishing touches, bringing Purr-oah’s Palace to life. and a HUGE shout out to Abiola from AV Luxury for lending us his van to transport the creation to the event and then to the winning bidder!!!

Thanks to the team at Brinton Brosius, for their assistance in constructing and delivering the base building for its finishing touches.

The result? A majestic, whimsical structure fit for a cat-king or queen, and more importantly, an opportunity to give back to our community and support the incredible work of local animal shelters.