Registration Deadline: April 3, 2026

2026 Concrete Masonry Competition

Welcome Center

Schedule

April 8, 2026

Registration Deadline

June 3, 2026

Submission Deadline

Summer 2026

Jury Convenes

Fall 2026

Winners Announced

Program

Reimagining the Welcome Center of Tomorrow

Overall programming of the welcome center is up to the student and/or faculty sponsor. It should include a variety indicated below and allow space for different types of public uses. Consider universal design and the different types of individuals who would use the welcome center. Students should also consider sustainability and reducing environmental impacts in their design.

The following is a list of programmatic spaces that needs be included in the welcome center. Solutions should observe the given spaces and sizes within a range of plus or minus ten percent.

Building Public Spaces

Lobby / Reception	300 sq. ft.
Exhibit / Information Area	500 sq. ft.
ADA Public Restrooms	1,000 sq. ft.
Rest and Relaxation Zone critical area of refuge in emergency	1,000 sq. ft.
Children Play Area	500 sq. ft.
Café or Restaurant Outlet minimum of 1 and up to 5	1,000 sq. ft.
Dining Area critical area of refuge in emergency	2,000 sq. ft.

Building Support Spaces

Emergency Aid Facility	200 sq. ft.
Offices	300 sq. ft.
Storage	200 sq. ft.
Mechanical (HVAC, electrical)	150 sq. ft.
Janitor Closet	100 sq. ft.
Staff Restrooms	100 sq. ft.

Building Totals

Building Net Area	7,350 sq. ft.
Circulation & Services (20%)	1,470 sq. ft.
BUILDING GROSS AREA	8,820 sq. ft.

Outdoor Spaces

Playground
Pet Relief Area
Parking with EV Charging

Site

The site for the competition is the choice of the student and/or faculty sponsor. Submissions will be required to explain the site selection, strategy, and access graphically or otherwise.

CONSTRUCTION TYPE

The primary structural system must be concrete masonry. This can be architectural block, single-wythe concrete masonry or multi-wythe, with the backup being CMU. Participants are encouraged to consider innovative ways to use concrete masonry products in interior, exterior, and landscape applications. Outdoor spaces can include concrete masonry (such as screen or privacy walls) as well as other dry-cast concrete products, such as concrete pavers and segmental retaining wall units.

Concrete Masonry Units (CMU)

CMU are manufactured using dry-cast concrete on high-speed manufacturing equipment. Dry-cast concrete differs from other types of concrete in that it is initially mixed to a very stiff consistency. This consistency facilitates production through manufacturing equipment. This equipment utilizes compaction and vibration to form the units, and a curing process to accelerate hardening.

There are several American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications that cover concrete masonry products. The primary one is ASTM C90, Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units.

Additional Concrete Products

The manufacturing process for CMU is also used to make a variety of other types of products, including segmental retaining wall (SRW) and concrete paving units. These are primarily used in hardscape applications (residentially, commercially, and more).