Four architectural student competitions addressing climate change, housing, health, and innovation in construction

U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon: 2021 Design Challenge
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, Oct 20, 2020
Submission Deadline: Friday, Apr 16, 2021

The annual Solar Decathlon Design Challenge spans one or two academic semesters and inspires student teams to design residential or commercial building solutions that are evaluated for how well they meet the nation’s demand for energy-efficient, innovative, cost-effective, and resilient buildings that respond to targeted community needs. Winning teams blend design excellence and smart energy production with innovation, market potential, and building efficiency.

2021 HUD Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition
Registration Deadline: Monday, Nov 2, 2020
Submission Deadline: Monday, Jan 25, 2021

HUD PD&R invites teams from accredited educational institutions in the United States to participate in its Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. Teams must be comprised of students enrolled in a graduate degree program. [...] The need for quality, affordable housing has never been greater. At its best, housing can help strengthen the social and physical fabric of communities and neighborhoods. It is the hope of HUD and PD&R that by initiating and funding this competition, a new generation will advance the design and production of livable and sustainable housing for low- and moderate-income people through research and innovation.

2021 AIA COTE Top Ten for Students
Register/Submit Deadline: Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021

The AIA COTE Top Ten for Students Competition is sponsored by The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE), in partnership with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA). Each year, the competition recognizes ten exceptional student design studio projects that integrate health, sustainability, and equity, evaluated following the same categories of the AIA COTE Top Ten Award for built work, and the AIA Framework for Design Excellence (now adopted as the basis of professional practice and awards across the AIA).

2020-2021 ACSA/AISC Steel Design Student Competition
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, Apr 7, 2021
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, Jun 2, 2021

Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the program is intended to challenge undergraduate and graduate students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. Steel must be used as the primary structural material and contain at least one space that requires long-span steel structure, with special emphasis placed on innovation in steel design.

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