Fentress Global Challenge 2024

Despite a multitude of technological advances including video conferencing and drones, the proliferation of airports worldwide continues to be spurred on by global commerce and an unrelenting demand for travel.

While the airport terminal—conceived a century ago—is a relatively new architectural typology, it has since its inception held equal importance with quintessential civic buildings: city halls, courthouses, libraries, museums, and theaters.  Yet, airports are uniquely complex and they are more than just high volume transportation hubs.  Increasingly, airports are also workplaces, centers of commerce, recreational outlets, and cultural resources. 

Fentress Global Challenge (FGC) is an annual international student design competition.  Since its inception in 2011, thousands of entries from over 75 countries have competed for top honors.  FGC represents an extraordinary exploration into the future of architecture, and in so doing, continues to advance the pursuit of innovative design in public architecture.  

ELIGIBILITY

FGC is open to graduate and undergraduate students currently pursuing architecture or engineering degrees in an accredited university program, as well as recent graduates (within the last four years) with a degree in architecture or engineering. Current students must provide proof of active enrollment status: a scanned copy of their student ID and current course schedule. Recent graduates must provide a scanned copy of their diploma. 

Participants in the Fentress Global Challenge are allowed to go solo or team up with a maximum of three team members. In the case of team submissions, awards will be split between team members. Participants are encouraged to choose the collaboration format that best aligns with their vision and design goals.

GUIDELINES

FGC participants are challenged to envision a terminal building for the year 2100. Concepts must:

I.      Create a new airport terminal concept.  Entrants are encouraged to utilize forecasts for population, environmental conditions, modes of travel, and potential destinations in the creation of their concept.     

II.     Employ Fentress’ Touchstone 2: Use Context to Create Identity. “Context is more than an intellectual consideration of the history or physical appearance of a neighborhood, city, or state, and it’s more than the way new will live with old. Context draws on the senses, the sights, smells and memories that define a place and make it unique. Context grows from community, and people respond to it.” For more on Fentress’ Eight Touchstones of Design: https://fentressarchitects.com/design-philosophy. 

III.    Improve upon at least one primary factor influencing airport terminal building design in 2100.  Entrants are encouraged to make projections about the factors that will most influence airport architecture in the future.  Examples of factors include mobility, urbanization, globalization, technology, flexibility, security, project feasibility, and passenger experience. 

IV.   Achieve sustainability and resiliency.  Sustainable design is the creation of places that are environmentally responsible, healthy, equitable, and profitable. Resilient designs are capable of adapting to changing conditions and maintain or regain functionality in the face of natural and manmade disasters. 

V.     Choose one of two site selection options:

Option 1: Establish the new terminal at an existing airport that requires expansion. Participants have the flexibility to select any airport of their choice, such as:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)

• St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

• Beijing Capital International (PEK)

• Los Angeles International (LAX)

• Dubai International (DXB)

• Tokyo International (Haneda) (HND)

• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)

• London Heathrow (LHR)

• Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)

• Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

• Dallas/Forth Worth International (DFW)

• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)

• Incheon International (ICN)

Option 2: Site the new terminal at a location of your choice where an airport does not yet exist. Participants should consider sites where an airport could serve as a catalyst for economic and social development.                                                                                                                  

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Use clear, concise language to convey ideas, key points, and design solutions. Photographs, diagrams, renderings, animations, collages or other visualizations are encouraged to help explain the concept, respecting the guidelines previously described. Please label drawings. 

CREATIVE APPROACH / PRESENTATION

The design approach is innovative and inspiring. Both the concept and design solution are presented through unique and compelling graphics. 

RESPONSE TO SITE

The design honors the physical attributes of the site’s context and culture. The overall design strategy matches the global and local demographic requirements of the location. Again, use context to create identity. 

SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCY

The design minimizes negative impacts to the wellbeing of humans and the natural environment. The overall design strategy also responds to vulnerabilities including natural and manmade disasters. 

FUNCTIONALITY

The planning and building organization is clear and appropriate. The design solution contains a defined and well- articulated structural, technical, and constructible rationale. 

INNOVATION / TECHNOLOGY 

Innovation in the terminal’s design should align with future perspectives in aviation and technology. The design should incorporate forward-looking innovations that improve the entire passenger experience, including efficiency, comfort, safety, health/wellbeing, sustainability, value, and entertainment/amenities.

AWARDS

1ST PLACE                                                US$10,000

2ND PLACE                                              US$3,000

3RD PLACE                                               US$2,000

2 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS              US$1,000

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Competition Announcement:                 November, 2023

Design Submission Deadline:                 October 1, 2024

Shortlist Announcement:                         November 1, 2024

Winners Announcement:                         December 1, 2024

More details at fentressglobalchallenge.com