BuildingsNEXT Student Design Competition
An annual collegiate competition where interdisciplinary teams design high-performance buildings that address real-world issues such as existing building retrofits, affordability, and resilience. Teams will collaborate on the design project over a period of an American academic year. It culminates in April at the BuildingsNEXT Team Showcase in Colorado, USA.
Formerly known as the Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. Under the US Department of Energy
The ten main criteria for our designs
Architecture
Practical and aesthetic qualities of the design rewarding creative and innovative solutions
Grid-Interactivity
Ability to adapt to dynamic grid edge and minimize operational carbon.
Engineering
How well the design integrates mechanical and electrical systems into the building
Life-cycle
Ability to minimize operational carbon for entire building life cycle, via materials, construction and more
Community
How building supports and aligns with priorities of local community and occupants.
Envelope
The envelope design strategies, like air tightness, thermal performance and durability.
Presentation
How well the final report and presentation communicates the final design
Health
Buildings capability to safeguard occupant health and quality of life, through systems and design.
Efficiency
The whole building operational efficiency from modelling of active and passive systems.
Market
The design’s financial feasibility and depth of research into target market
