New architecture and design competitions: Warming Huts, NOMA Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards, AIA COTE Top Ten for Students, and Portland Waterfront Park Design

Bustler's curated picks of new architecture and design competitions this week feature four calls seeking proposals for warming hut art installations in Winnipeg, exceptional student design studio projects integrating health, sustainability, and equity, standout work by NOMA members that demonstrates meaningful contributions to the built environment, and visions for the transformation of Portland's Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

For the complete directory of newly listed competitions, click here.

Portland Waterfront Park Design Competition: Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Registration/Submission Deadline: Thursday, July 30, 2026

"The Portland Waterfront Park Design Competition is an open, two-stage competition to transform Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon. At stage two, shortlisted teams will create concept designs for the 30-acre Park with a focus on the Bowl area. The project focuses on one of Portland’s most iconic public spaces and is expected to reaffirm Portland’s identity as a river city. One of the most consequential civic projects for Portland this decade, it will activate the river’s edge and foster a ‘toes in the water’ human connection as well as create new and inspiring views to the Park and the Willamette River."

2026 NOMA Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards
Registration/Submission Deadline: Monday, August 3, 2026

"The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) is accepting submissions for the 2026 Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards. Presented each year, the awards recognize the work of NOMA members whose projects demonstrate thoughtful design and meaningful contributions to the built environment. Named in honor of Phil Freelon, the program celebrates design excellence while recognizing projects that serve communities and strengthen the profession."

Warming Huts Competition: Arts + Architecture Competition on Ice
Registration/Submission Deadline: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

"This call for entries is open to all architects, students of architecture, landscape architects, interior designers, artists and industrial designers who have a proven portfolio of design work. The huts or installations are placed along the Nestaweya River Trail at The Forks in Winnipeg, Manitoba. [...] Teams are encouraged to engage the effects of solar radiation, wind chill, and the constantly shifting landscape of the snow-covered river."

2027 AIA COTE Top Ten for Students Competition
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 7, 2027
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, June 2, 2027

"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)."

Would you like to contribute competitions, award programs, or calls for submissions that aren't listed on Bustler yet? Send them directly to our team to review. We may include them in our next roundup.