Deadline Approaching for 2026 Architecture at Zero Competition

The deadline is approaching for the American Institute of Architects, California (AIA CA) Architecture at Zero competition, a design competition for decarbonization, equity and resilience that is open to students and professionals worldwide.

Architecture at Zero serves to engage the fields of architecture, design, engineering and planning in the pursuit of sustainable design while also considering the impacts of equity and resilience.

The 2026 competition challenge is an ideas competition to design a year-round educational and cultural venue, La Plaza, that will transform into a resiliency asset during regional emergencies, serving as an Emergency Operations Center that offers critical support for first responders and multi-agency emergency operations.

The vision for this project, designed for an Antelope Valley, California site, is bold: it invites designers to envision more than just a single-use structure. Rather, it is an opportunity to design a space with dual purpose as well as a profound impact.

Award recipients will be chosen from competition submissions by a panel of international experts and awarded $25,000 in total prizes.

The competition deadline is June 1, 2026. To learn more, visit www.architectureatzero.com.

This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by SCE, SoCal Gas and PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.