Silo Nord: Priya Panse’s Eco-Hospitality Concept Earns International Acclaim

Architectural designer Priya Panse, M.Arch, has been honored with international recognition for her visionary project Silo Nord, which has received two prestigious honors: the Gold MUSE Design Award in Conceptual Design - Travel/Recreation and the New York Architectural Design Award in Innovative Architecture - Adaptive and Resilient Design for Climate Change for her innovative project, Silo Nord.

Set along the Erie Canal waterfront in Buffalo, New York, Silo Nord transforms a collection of historic grain silos into an ecologically forward hospitality and research hub-integrating an algae-powered bio-lab, an indoor forest museum, and an eco-conscious hotel.

The MUSE Awards Program celebrates and honors the world's best in design and innovation. Established by the International Awards Associate (IAA), the platform seeks to recognize and redefine global benchmarks for creative excellence in architecture and media.

Meanwhile, the NY Architectural Design Awards provide a global stage for outstanding architectural works by leading architects, visionary designers, and emerging talents, celebrating designs that elevate sustainability, functionality, and form.

Panse reflected on the origins and intentions behind her award-winning concept in an exclusive conversation.

Q: What inspired you to develop the Silo Nord concept?
Panse: The silos along the Erie Canal have such a powerful industrial presence, they're monumental relics of the past. I was inspired by the idea of bridging this industrial legacy with a regenerative future. Silo Nord is about repurposing what we already have to create something that educates, inspires, and sustains.

Q: How does Silo Nord embody sustainability beyond its visual design?
Panse: Sustainability is embedded in every layer of the concept. By reusing the existing concrete silos, we significantly reduce the embodied carbon that would come from demolition and new construction. The inclusion of an algae-based biofuel research lab supports renewable energy innovation, while the forest museum is designed as an immersive, educational experience in ecological awareness and biodiversity.

Q: What were the biggest design challenges you faced?
Panse: Balancing preservation with transformation was a central challenge. We needed to respect the silos' architectural integrity while introducing 21st-century systems and uses. There was also the complexity of layering multiple programs, research, hospitality, and exhibition within cylindrical structures that weren't originally built for human occupancy or comfort.

Q: How did your background in hospitality design shape this project?
Panse: My experience helped me create an emotionally resonant and environmentally meaningful guest journey. The hotel is designed not just as a place to sleep, but as an interface between guests and larger ecological systems. Visitors become part of a living, breathing narrative that connects industrial heritage with environmental renewal.

Q: What impact do you hope Silo Nord will have on the broader community?
Panse: I hope it serves as a prototype for how communities can reclaim industrial ruins and turn them into catalysts for sustainable development. Silo Nord is about education, transformation, and storytelling. I want it to show that architecture can be both aspirational and deeply rooted in social and ecological responsibility.

Q: What do these award recognitions mean to you?
Panse: It's a tremendous honor. This award validates the importance of integrating sustainability and storytelling in design. It affirms that projects like Silo Nord-which may still be conceptual but are deeply grounded in real-world possibilities have the power to influence the future of architecture and environmental stewardship.
Panse's recognition by the MUSE and NY Architectural Design Awards underscores her leadership in pioneering architecture that is both visionary and environmentally grounded. Silo Nord stands as a powerful example of how adaptive reuse and thoughtful design can breathe new life into historical structures, redefining them as hubs of innovation, sustainability, and community engagement.