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.

*Competition has been extended until August 16, 2010*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:  Aug 16, 2010
WEB SITE:  www.aias.org/aarp/

Sponsored by Kawneer and administered by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the 5th Annual Design Competition challenges students to learn about building materials, specifically architectural aluminum building products and daylighting systems in the design of an elementary school. The competition is open to all students ranging from high school through graduate school. Total prize money is $7,225, including $2,500 for the first place winning design.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Nov 29, 2010
WEB SITE:  www.aias.org/kawneer

**Winners were announced on June 10, 2010. Please visit the link to see the winning designs.** In an effort to inspire students through a real-world situation, AIAS and Autodesk are challenging them to create designs for small single-room schools that can be constructed across Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with limited materials and minimal construction experience. Using the Autodesk building information modeling (BIM) portfolio, specifically Autodesk® Revit® Architecture software and Autodesk® Ecotect® Analysis software, students are invited to submit their innovative and sustainable designs for review from peers and juried professionals. Visit the Autodesk Education Community to review the rules, contest description, and download the materials/site family.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Jun 04, 2010
WEB SITE:  autodesk.com/aiasdesign

Design Against the Elements is a global architectural design competition meant to find a solution to the problems presented by climate change. Spurred by the devastation wreaked in the Philippines by tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana) and driven by a powerhouse multidisciplinary group of organizations from the private, institutional, and government sectors, the project aims to draw together the most innovative minds in the fields of architecture, design, and urban planning to develop sustainable and disaster-resistant housing for communities in tropical urban settings.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Oct 05, 2010
WEB SITE:  designagainsttheelements.org/home.htm

The BrickStainable Design Competition seeks integrative design solutions that promote the use of clay brick to achieve sustainability goals. The competition explores the potential of brick construction in the creation of energy efficient building and challenges designers to maximize the physical characteristics of brick. The competition was created by Potomac Valley Brick in 2009.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Dec 15, 2010
WEB SITE:  www.BrickStainable.com

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
WEB SITE:  www.aias.org/competitions/NewUrbanModels.pdf

"Architecture that Works" is the theme of 2011 Mock Firms International Skyscraper Challenge which seeks to focus student-design groups on issues involving improving the urban work environment through innovative uses of space, structure and sociology. The desired outcome is the creation of "hyper-vertical communities of commerce" which inspires in form and "works" in function for both internal and external people populations. The Mock Firms model aims to help facilitate the formation and function of simulated architectural design firms by collegiate students. This year's aim is to conceive, coordinate, construct and commercialize a commercial tall building project for Stockholm, Sweden which will be conversationally judged by top industry design professionals against a field of peers from around the world.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Jan 15, 2011
WEB SITE:  www.mockfirms.org

Theatres are the most complex buildings that we design and construct. Theatres are three dimensional puzzles weaving together, building systems, complex theatre equipment, ridge functional requirements, special acoustical needs and a strong architectural character. All of these conditions must merge within narrow parameters to create a successful performance venue. Too often the requirements and technological needs of creating theatre are lost in the building’s design process. Either the architect is not aware of them or the users are not involved in the design process. Open communication between the theatre users and theatre designers is critical. The goal of this competition is to bring together future theatre professionals and theatre designers to develop an understanding of the complexity of issues needed to design their “Ideal Theatre”.

ENTRY DEADLINE:  Dec 22, 2010
WEB SITE:  www.usitt.org/StudentArchitecture.aspx