The AIAS supports and sponsors design competitions to contribute to the education of all students. Competitions present unique opportunities to investigate and utilize building materials and design techniques from different perspectives or those that the student might not be familiar with already. Furthermore, participants compete among students from a broad range of programs and are evaluated by diverse juries of experts. Competitions can also assist instructors with developing a repertoire of design challenges to use in studio courses.

Since the 1970’s, the sponsors have included, AARP, American Institute of Steel Construction, American Life Insurance Co., American Plastics Council, Apple, Cadkey, Copper Development Association, International Corrugated Packaging Foundation, International Masonry Institute, Graphisoft, GE, Jeld-Wen, Kawneer, Lego, McDonald’s, Modular Building Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, National Science Foundation, National Roofing Contractors Association, Sheet Metal Workers, Trespa, US Information Agency, and The Vinyl Institute.

AARP has defined a Livable Community to be "one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options. Together these facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life." Phase One of the three year Creating Community Competition, "Planning" asks students to investigate how a mixed-use, multi-generational community can not only fit within a city but how it can improve the lives of all people that live, work and play in the surrounding area. While open to any student, the competition is designed for advanced young designers.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  May 12, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.aias.org/aarp/

The purpose of the competition is to produce an image that draws attention to the value of pedestrian oriented design in cities, and that illustrates how a culture of walking can enhance economic, social, and ecological sustainability. Urban sprawl has made many of us increasingly dependant on automobiles for everyday travel. As a result many people do not identify themselves as pedestrians. Fostering a robust culture of walking will make daily life in the city healthier, richer, and more enjoyable. Creating spaces for sustainable and active modes of transportation on city streets is essential, through streets, public spaces, and environments that promote walking, cycling, and transit. The focus of this competition is “how to foster a public realm which promotes walking and thus leads to a more sustainable city environment.”

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Apr 20, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  http://www.torontosocietyofarchitects.ca/?q=node/94

Design a LEED Platinum home and change a life. USGBC’s Natural Talent Design Competition, presented by Salvation Army’s EnviRenew Initiative, challenges students and emerging professionals to design a small, affordable, green home for elderly occupants in New Orleans. Two teams of students and two teams of emerging professionals will be selected as national finalists, and will travel to New Orleans and Greenbuild 2010 in Chicago.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  May 31, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=257

**This Competition is now closed. Check the Web site after March 22, 2010 to see the winning designs**
The design competition challenges students to investigate an existing skilled nursing facility and develop an original set of designs for renovation and new construction to meet today’s use of nursing facilities while improving on aspects of living conditions and work environment. The developed program includes a set of drawings, general programmatic constraints and recommended space requirements for redeveloping a real life case study located in Florida. Sponsored by S.A.G.E. and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the program challenges students to learn about skilled nursing home design, specifically the challenges of breaking from the model of staff-centric operating philosophies to resident-directed care. Total prize money is $7225.00 with $2500.00 and a trip to San Diego for First place!

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Mar 05, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.aias.org/sage

The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) of the National Park Service, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia and The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announce the 2010 Charles E. Peterson Prize, which annually recognizes the best set of measured drawings prepared to HABS standards and donated to HABS by students. The prize honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA, founder of the HABS program, and is intended to increase awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic buildings throughout the United States while adding to the permanent HABS collection of measured drawings at the Library of Congress. To date, more than 2,000 students from 68 colleges and universities have participated by completing more than 500 entries and almost 5,000 sheets of measured drawings. The students have worked alone and in groups, in required courses, electives, independent study and summer institutes. They have been, for the most part, architecture students in addition to architectural history, interior design, and American studies majors.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Jun 30, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.nps.gov/history/hdp/jobs/peterson.htm

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is pleased to announce the tenth annual steel design student competition for the 2009-2010 academic year. Administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the program is intended to challenge students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction.

CATEGORY I:
RE-LIGARE INSTITUTE: RECONNECTING MIND AND BODY:
(re-ligare: re “again” + ligare “to connect”) challenges architecture students to design a public urban center dedicated to reconnecting people with their authentic selves, others, and nature. This new institution aims at stopping the enslaving cycles of unchecked production and consumption dominating our lives, by turning the attention and practice to “being” in its entirety and in all its rich dimensionalities. The project will encourage students to consider ethic, aesthetic, and critical issues facing contemporary civilization, vis-à-vis novel programmatic, technological, environmental, spatial, and phenomenological issues. Steel construction offers students great benefits in this endeavor, as it is ideal for multi-story buildings, quick delivery and assembly in congested urban environments, covering long spans without sacrificing flexibility and aesthetic lightness.

CATEGORY II
OPEN:
with limited restrictions. This open submission design option will permit the greatest amount of flexibility.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  May 19, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.acsa-arch.org/competitions/09-10%20Comp/10AISCWebsite/index.html

The International Union of Architects announces the launch of an international competition that will invite architecture students from around the world to create imagemodels of examples of significant architectural creativity realised during the 20th century. This competition is an opportunity for the architects of tomorrow to enrich the web index www.archi.fr/UIA with their own expression of an architectural realisation from the last century, using today's design tools. The image models to be designed for this competition need to be based on digital photographs created using Autodesk® ImageModeler® and Autodesk® Stitcher® Unlimited software. This software will be made available by Autodesk® to the competitors for use free of charge for the duration of the competition. All phases of the competition will be conducted on-line.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Apr 26, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.3d20th.archi.fr/presentation.php

**Winning Designs Announced and Files are Posted for Review**
Sponsored by Kawneer and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), this competition challenges students to learn about building materials, specifically architectural aluminum building products and systems in the design of a secure and sustainable municipal courthouse. While open to any student, the competition is designed for advanced students. Total prize money is $7,225, including $2,500 for the first place winning design.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Dec 04, 2009
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.aias.org/kawneer

**Winning Designs Announced and Files are Posted for Review**
Sponsored by Trespa International and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the program challenges students to learn about building materials, specifically architectural wall panels and systems in the design of an engaging and sustainable City Entertainment Center. The competition is open to any design student in North America. Total prize money is $7,675, including $2,500 for the first place winning design.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Dec 04, 2009
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.aias.org/trespa

**Winning Designs Announced and Files are Posted for Review**
Sponsored by The Vinyl Institute and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the program challenges students to learn about building materials, specifically vinyl building products and systems in the design of an efficient and creative boathouse for the Bohemian Flats Park in Minneapolis, MN. The competition is designed for architecture and design students of all levels. Total prize money is $7,675, including $2,500 for the first place winning design.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Dec 04, 2009
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.aias.org/vinyl

**Winning Designs Announced and Files are Posted for Review** Sponsored by the Modular Building Institute and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the program challenges students to learn about modular building techniques and systems in the design of a modern and sustainable Miami Beach hotel. The competition is designed for North American design students of all ages. Total prize money is $7,225, including $2,500 for the first place winning design.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Feb 01, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.aias.org/modularbuilding

This competition poses a unique challenge – design an intergenerational project that includes housing for frail elders and is an integral part of an urban community. It will provide students an opportunity to learn about a project type that is part of a burgeoning market and in need of innovation. The AIA Design for Aging committee is seeking ideas in response to the following questions: • How can locating intergenerational spaces in a senior community enhance seniors’ experience? • What are innovative ways of incorporating “Small Houses” into an urban community? • How does the location and program enable seniors stay connected with the greater community?

ENTRY DEADLINE:  May 01, 2011
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  www.aias.org/competitions/NewUrbanModels.pdf

The Young Architects Forum (YAF) of Atlanta is pleased to announce the 2010 competition entitled 10Up. We’re calling on young designers to step up to the 10Up challenge! Each year Modern Atlanta (MA) celebrates architecture and design with a week-long celebration around Atlanta. This year the executive directors and founders of MA have asked the Young Architects Forum of Atlanta to create a competition for a temporary outdoor installation which will act as a beacon and marker for the week of events. The structure is to be installed and operational during the MA events, currently planned for June 1-6, 2010. The project is not only to accentuate the series of events organized by MA, but will also be an event of its own celebrating young talents showing their work to the public. Please take the time to explore the website and sign up today for an opportunity to get your design built!

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Apr 15, 2010
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  http://www.10up.yafatlanta.org/10up_Competition_-_Welcome_from_YAF_Atlanta!.html