Design and Build: Soundscapes in Structure

illustrarch Editoral Team5 March 20261 Mins read2

Design and Build: Soundscapes in Structure

Submission: April 26, 2026

Registration: February 1, 2026

Language: English

Prize: $10,000

Type: Open international design competition

Fee: No entry fee

The Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA), located in Greenwood Village, Colorado, is inviting collegiate students, teams, and classes from across the United States to submit conceptual design proposals for its 7th annual Design and Build Competition. Open to students in art, architecture, landscape architecture, design, and related creative disciplines, this year’s competition centers on the theme “Soundscapes in Structure” — a challenge to envision a cutting-edge amphitheater bandshell that balances exceptional acoustics with a striking visual presence. Submissions are being accepted now through April 26, 2026, and there is no entry fee to participate.

Awards

1st Place: $10,000
2nd Place: $7,500
3rd Place: $5,000
Honorable Mention: $1,500

For collaborative entries, prize money will be divided equally among all team members.

Jury Panel

Robin Ault – Senior Principal and Design Director, Fentress Studios (a Populous Company)
John Birkey – Principal and Partner, Norris Design
Cynthia Madden Leitner – President and Co-Founder, Museum of Outdoor Arts

The full design brief and competition details are available on the official competition website.

Key Dates

September 24, 2025 – Competition announced; design brief published
October 23, 2025 – Competition opens; team pre-registration and juror announcements
February 1, 2026 – Pre-registration deadline
April 26, 2026 – Final submission deadline (11:59 PM MST)
May 2026 – Finalists selected and invited to prepare video presentations
June 2026 – Finalist videos due; jury review begins
July 2026 – Winners announced

Note: Pre-registration is optional, but encouraged. It allows organizers to share resources and updates with interested participants throughout the process.

Eligibility The competition is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at any U.S. college or university, as well as recent graduates within one year of their graduation date. Eligible fields of study include art, architecture, landscape architecture, design, engineering, and comparable programs. Both individual and team submissions are welcome, and instructors are encouraged to incorporate the competition into their coursework — collaborative entries are especially valued.

Please note that previous competition winners and recent Design and Build Summer Internship participants must wait one year before competing again. Cash prizes may only be claimed by U.S. citizens; however, international students currently enrolled in — or recently graduated from — a U.S. institution are welcome to participate.