New architecture and design competitions: Solar Decathlon, Steel Design Student Competition, Lilly Reich Grant for Equality in Architecture, and Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge

This edition of Bustler's curated picks of noteworthy architecture and design competitions features four calls seeking research proposals that highlight contributions to architecture that have been overlooked, innovative designs implementing single-stair housing in mid-rise buildings in Denver, concepts for high-performance, low-carbon buildings that address real-world issues, and exceptional student-driven design proposals where steel is the primary structural material.

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

Lilly Reich Grant for equality in architecture
Registration/Submission Deadline: Monday, September 2, 2024

"The Fundació Mies van der Rohe announces the 4th Lilly Reich Grant for equality in architecture with the aim of generating research and debate on modern and contemporary architecture in relation to concepts that are fundamental today such as identity, social inclusion and all aspects of sustainability, Researchers who, individually or in groups, present a proposal in accordance with the rules focused on the study, dissemination and visibility of contributions to architecture that have been unduly relegated or forgotten, made by professionals who have received discriminatory treatment due to their personal conditions can apply to the Lilly Reich Grant for equality in architecture."

U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon: 2025 Design Challenge
Registration/Submission Deadline: Wednesday, October 23, 2024

"Registration is now open for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2025 Design Challenge! In this challenge, interdisciplinary collegiate teams will create efficient, resilient, and sustainable buildings that meet community needs as part of DOE’s longest-running student competition. Each year, Design Challenge teams compete to create high-performance, low-carbon building designs that address real-world issues such as existing building retrofits, community impacts, affordability, and resilience."

Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, December 12, 2024
Submission Deadline: Thursday, January 23, 2025

"The Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge calls on architects, designers, and urban planners from around the world to reimagine the potential of PAB housing in the U.S. Participants are tasked with designing mid-rise buildings, up to six stories high, on underutilized lots in Denver. These designs should not only comply with the existing zoning and urban planning goals of Denver but also propose innovative solutions to overcome the regulatory barriers that currently hinder the implementation of single stair housing."

2025 Steel Design Student Competition
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

"The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is pleased to announce the 25th Annual Steel Design Student Competition for the 2024-2025 academic year. Administered by the 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."

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.