Competitions

ACSA has a long precedence in creating and providing competitions for students and faculty. ACSA competitions are national and international in scope, offering unique opportunities to investigate, develop, and challenge systematic approaches to design. Entries are critiqued and judged by a jury of experts with diverse backgrounds. Competitions also assist instructors with developing a range of design challenges for use in their courses.

2026 Student Design Competitions

Check-out the New Opportunities for 2025-2026!

Stay Tuned for Additional Competitions Coming Soon

2026 Student Competitions

2026 Design for Aging Competition

Registration Deadline: April 8, 2026

The aim of this competition is to inspire innovative design solutions that foster...

2026 Steel Competition

Registration Deadline: April 8, 2026

The student competition explores a variety of design issues related to the use of...

Past Competitions

2025 Steel Competition

In Jury Process

2025 COTE Competition

In Jury Process

2025 Concrete Masonry Competition

In Jury Process

2025 Design for Freedom Competition

In Jury Process

Exhibit Charrette

Charrette Information

2024 Timber Competition

Winners Announced

2024 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2024 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2023 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2023 Concrete Masonry Competition

Winners Announced

2023 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2022 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2022 Habitat Competition

Winners Announced

2022 Timber Competition

Winners Announced

2022 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2021 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2021 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2020 Housing Competition

Winners Announced

2020 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2020 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2019 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2019 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2019 Concrete Competition

Winners Announced

2019 Housing Competition

Winners Announced

2019 Timber Competition

Winners Announced

2018 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2018 Healthy Places Comp.

Winners Announced

2018 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2017 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2017 Housing Competition

Winners Announced

2017 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2016 Steel Competition

Winners Announced

2016 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

2015 COTE Competition

Winners Announced

Other Opportunities

View other competition for participation by architectural educators and students

We are pleased to announce the 2026 Steel and Design for Aging competitions. Read below to learn more! ⬇️⁠
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🩰 2026 Steel Competition 🩰⁠
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Sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (@AISC), this competition will challenge students to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. Category I invites students to design a Community Dance Center in an area of their choice. Category II offers students the opportunity to select other building types, using steel as the primary material.⁠
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🏫 2026 Design for Aging Competition 🏫⁠
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Created in partnership with the AIA Design for Aging (DFA) Knowledge Community, this competition aims to inspire innovative design solutions that foster meaningful⁠ intergenerational connections and prioritize the well-being of older adults. Students are⁠ encouraged to propose a design solution that supports interactions among older adults,⁠ students, and others within campus-based and community settings.⁠
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Visit the #LinkInBio to browse the new opportunities and stay tuned for additional exciting competitions to be announced soon.⁠
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#ACSA #StudentCompetition #ArchitectureStudent #Steel #Intergenerational #Community #DesignSolutions #AISC #DFA #DesignForAging

June 6th is National Higher Education Day! 🎓⁠
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Today, we celebrate the students, faculty, staff, and institutions who make higher education possible.⁠
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It is ACSA’s core vision to empower faculty and schools to educate increasingly diverse students, expand disciplinary impacts, and create knowledge for the advancement of architecture. The continuation and advancement of architectural pedagogy and research is a cornerstone of that vision. ⁠
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Thank you to everyone contributing to the advancement of higher education — your work builds futures! ⁠
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#NationalHigherEducationDay #HigherEducation #ACSA #ArchitectureEducation

Meet the 2025 Concrete Masonry Competition Jury! 🔥⁠
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Created in partnership with the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA), this competition will challenge students to explore a variety of design issues related to masonry construction on a Fire Station with an emphasis on local civic engagement.⁠
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This summer, the esteemed juries will meet to assess submissions and select winners. The jury includes:⁠
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Marcus Shaffer (@m_w_five, @autonomous_builders_collective) - Pennsylvania State University Annicia Streete (@astreete_k) - Louisiana State University (@lsusoa)⁠
Mark Wilhelms - Best Block Companies (@midwestblock)⁠
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Tomorrow, June 4, is the final submission deadline for students entering the competition. Visit the #LinkInBio to learn more about the jurors and submit today!⁠
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#ACSA #CMHA #StudentCompetition #CivicEngagement #FireStation #Jury #SubmissionDeadline #SubmitToday #Masonry #Construction @cmhafans

Meet the 2025 Steel Competition Jurors! ⁠
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Steel has a natural beauty that can be exposed to emphasize grace, slenderness, and strength in space and form, as well as in building envelopes to enhance environmental performance and aesthetic character. This competition encourages students to explore the many functional and aesthetic uses of steel as a building material and structural system. ⁠
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The esteemed jurors include: ⁠
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Category I: Library+ Jury⁠
Daniel Brown (@danbrown73) - Savannah College of Art and Design (@scadarch)⁠
Cathleen Jacinto - School of the Art Institute of Chicago (@saicpics)⁠
Camille Sherrod - Kean University (@keanarch)⁠
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Category II: Open Jury⁠
Robert Clarke (@robert.alexander.clarke) - Cal Poly Pomona (@cpp_arc)⁠
Awilda Rodriguez - University of Oklahoma (@gibbssooner)⁠
Jade Yang (@jadeyjadeyang) - Kennesaw State University (@ksucacm)⁠
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‼️ REMINDER: Student competition submissions are due this upcoming Wednesday, June 4. Visit the #LinkInBio to learn more about the jurors and submit today!⁠
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#ACSA #ACSACompetition #StudentCompetition #Steel #AISC #JuryAnnouncement #SubmitToday #SteelDesign #DesignSolutions

Looking for a way to celebrate the Class of 2025? Submit your students’ work to be featured in the 2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase!⁠
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Every summer, @StudyArchitecture publishes an open call for ACSA Member School faculty across the world to submit their students’ most impressive work. The Student Showcase is a great opportunity to highlight design projects, capstones, and thesis work that exemplifies excellence in architectural education. Submissions can highlight a variety of topics, ranging from infrastructure to sustainability. ⁠
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By sharing a glimpse of what architecture students can create with an audience of current and prospective students, Study Architecture hopes to inspire the next generation of architects and designers. ⁠
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Visit the #LinkInBio to submit student work before July 1.⁠
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#StudyArchitecture #2025StudyArchitectureStudentShowcase #StudentShowcase #ArchitectureSchool #ArchitectureStudent #Design #Portfolio

The 2025 Design for Freedom Competition, created in partnership with Grace Farms (@dffmovement @gracefarmsct), intends to challenge students to explore how architectural material research and design can eliminate forced labor in the building materials supply chain.⁠
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The competition juries are comprised of architecture educators and practitioners who offer a vast range of experience and expertise. These distinguished jurors will assess submissions based on their documentation of materials and processes used in the architectural design that disrupts the forced-labor supply chain, approaches to measuring material transparency to uncover material processes produced by forced labor, and other criteria. ⁠
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Meet the Jurors⁠
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Category I: Design Project Jury⁠
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Kai-Uwe Bergmann (@kaiuwebergmann) - BIG (@big_builds)⁠
Nina Cooke John (@ninacookejohn) - Studio Cooke John Architecture + Design (@studiocookejohn)⁠
Michael J. Crosbie (@_michael.j.crosbie_) - University of Hartford (@uhart.arch)⁠
Julia Gamolina (@julia.gamolina) - Madame Architect (@madamearchitect)⁠
Chris Sharples - SHoP Architects (@shoparchitects)⁠
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Category II: Material Research Jury⁠
Farida Abu-Bakare (@faridaabubakare) - WXY Studio (@wxystudio)⁠
Ina Dajci (@inadajcireal) - Yale University (@yalearchitecture)⁠
Alan Ricks (@alanricks) - MASS Design Group (@massdesigngroup_⁠
Antonio Torres Skillicorn - Stanford University (@stanfordarchitecture)⁠
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The jurors will convene in Summer 2025 to select winning projects and honorable mentions. ⁠
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📣The deadline to submit student work for consideration is June 4! ⁠
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Visit the #LinkInBio to learn more about the jurors and submit today!⁠
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#ACSA #ACSACompetition #StudentCompetition #DesignForFreedom #Jury #MaterialResearch #Design #EliminateForcedLabor #SupplyChain #JuryAnnouncement #SubmitToday

The 2025 Intersections Research Conference: AI DESIGN PRACTICES invites contributions, papers, case studies, projects, and posters centered on topics including:⁠
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💻 Computational Creativity,⁠
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💻 New Pedagogical Models, ⁠
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💻 The Ethics of Machine Learning⁠
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💻 Emergent Tools for Addressing Complex Environmental and Resiliency Challenges⁠
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💻 New Modes of Interdisciplinary Practice⁠
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💻 The Evolving Workflows Across Project Phases,⁠
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💻 … And More!⁠
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ACSA welcomes innovative approaches at all scopes, from individual studies to large-scale systems. Submissions are due by June 11, 2025. Visit the #LinkInBio to submit today! ⁠
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#ACSA #ACSAConference #Intersections #AI #AIDesign #Architecture #SubmitToday #CFP #CaseStudy #Technology @witarchitecturedesign

Meet the 2025 COTE Top Ten for Students Competition Juries! ⁠
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Category I: Foundation Level Jury⁠
Gail S. Brager - University of California, Berkeley (@ucberkeleyarch)⁠
Robert R. Lowe III - Anne Arundel Community College (@aacc_ach)⁠
Jessica April Ward - Prairie View A&M University (@soapvamu) | Founder & Principal, IDEA Climate Justice Studio⁠
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Category II: Upper Level Jury⁠
Heather Holdridge - Lake Flato Architects (@lakeflato)⁠
Carey Nagle - BNIM (@bnimarchitects)⁠
Matthew Ngango - Liollio Architecture (@liollioarchitecture)⁠
Susan C. Piedmont-Palladino - Virginia Tech (@vtarchschool)⁠
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The esteemed jurors will convene to evaluate student projects that integrate health, sustainability, and equity, and assess them based on the ten principles of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.⁠
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Please submit student work for consideration ahead of the June 4 deadline. Visit the #LinkInBio to learn more about the juries and submit today!⁠
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#ACSA #AIA #COTE #StudentCompetition #Sustainability #Design #Jury #FrameworkForDesignExcellence #Health #Equity #DesignStudio @aianational

ACSA and the ACSA Research & Scholarship Committee, in partnership with The OpEd Project (@theopedproject), are pleased to announce the 2025 Cohort for the Academy for Public Scholarship on the Built Environment: HOUSING EQUITY.⁠
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This cohort brings together twelve architecture faculty whose scholarship addresses housing equity and seeks to influence the policies and narratives shaping the built environment. They will participate in The OpEd Project’s virtual “Write to Change the World” workshops, connecting participants with diverse identities, voices, and ideas. Cohort members will also join a series of training modules led by experts on issues of housing equity and public scholarship, including members of the AIA Housing & Community Development Knowledge Community and allied organizations working toward housing equity.⁠
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The 2025 cohort for the Academy for the Public Scholarship on the Built Environment: HOUSING EQUITY includes:⁠
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Jeffrey Carney, University of Florida (@ufdcp)⁠
Francesco Cianfarani, University of Oklahoma (@ou_gibbs)⁠
Sascha Delz (@coop_urbanism), University of Southern California (@uscarchitecture)⁠
Wes Hiatt (@whiatt), Lehigh University (@lehigh_aad)⁠
Jeffrey Kruth, Miami University (@miamioharchid)⁠
Karen Kubey (@karenkubey), University of Toronto (@uoftdaniels)⁠
Asma Mehan (@asma_mehan), Texas Tech University (@ttuhcoa)⁠
Rashida Ng (@rashida.ng), University of Pennsylvania (@weitzman_arch)⁠
Edward Palka, Columbia University (@columbiagsapp)⁠
Mackenzie Stagg, Auburn University (@au_cadc)⁠
Helen Stopps, Toronto Metropolitan University (@dastorontomet)⁠
Stathis Yeros (@stathisgyeros), University of New Mexico (@unmsaap)⁠
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Please visit the #LinkInBio to read the full press release.⁠
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#ACSA #TheOpEDProject #AIA #Housing #Faculty #Cohort #BuiltEnvironment #HousingEquity #PublicScholarship #PressRelease #Announcement #2025Cohort

Join ACSA, NCARB (@ncarb), and CCCAP (@cccarch) for next week's 2025 Convening on Architectural Education and Competencies for Licensure. ⁠
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Day One (May 29) will include an engaging panel discussion where speakers will present transfer practices at the associate, bachelor's, and master's degree levels and invite participants to share their respective experiences. ⁠
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Panelists will share portfolio requirements and admission standards between degree levels, and provide examples of portfolios sharing various levels of student success.⁠
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Speakers:⁠
Jackie Niemiec, Drexel University (@drexelwestphal)⁠
Marc Yeber, El Camino College (@elcaminoedu)⁠
June Williamson (@williamson_june), City College of New York (@spitzerschool_ccny)⁠
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Visit the #LinkInBio to sign up today! ⁠
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#ACSA #NCARB #CCCAP #CommunityCollege #Articulation #Architecture #HigherEducation #Virtual #Conference #ArchitectureProgram

Founded in 1912 by 10 charter members, ACSA is an international association of architecture schools preparing future architects, designers, and change agents. Our membership includes all of the accredited professional degree programs in the United States and Canada, as well as international schools and 2- and 4-year programs. Together ACSA schools represent some 7,000 faculty educating more than 40,000 students.

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