eVolo Magazine invites architects, students, engineers, designers, and artists worldwide to participate in the 2025 Skyscraper Competition. Since its inception in 2006, this annual event is recognized as one of the most prestigious awards for high-rise architecture. It seeks innovative ideas that redefine skyscraper design through new technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations. The competition also explores themes like globalization, flexibility, adaptability, and the digital revolution. It examines the relationships between skyscrapers and the natural environment, communities, and urban contexts.

Participants are encouraged to address advances in technology and sustainable systems, while proposing new urban and architectural methods to tackle economic, social, and cultural challenges of contemporary cities. These include resource scarcity, infrastructure limitations, population growth, pollution, economic inequality, and uncontrolled urban sprawl.

The competition investigates the balance between public and private space and the roles of individuals and collectives in creating dynamic, adaptive vertical communities. It also responds to new habitat explorations grounded in a dynamic equilibrium between humans and nature, proposing adaptive designs capable of intelligent growth and self-regulation.

No restrictions are placed on site, program, or size, granting maximum creative freedom. The competition raises critical questions: What defines a skyscraper in the 21st century? What are the historical, contextual, social, urban, and environmental responsibilities of these mega-structures?

eVolo Magazine is dedicated to inspiring designers globally, fostering an architectural discourse centered on economic, environmental, intellectual, and perceptual responsibility. This discourse aims to reshape contemporary skyscraper understanding, its urban impact, and contributions to improving quality of life.


Registration

Architects, students, engineers, and designers, especially multidisciplinary teams, are invited to participate.

  • Registration deadline: November 18, 2025
  • Early registration fee: $95 USD (until July 15, 2025)
  • Late registration fee: $135 USD (July 16 to November 18, 2025)
  • One registration equals one project; multiple entries allowed but require separate registrations
  • No team size limit; individual entries accepted
  • Registration number provided within 24 hours upon approval, to be included on submission boards
  • For multi-person teams, list all names on submission; no need to email separately during registration

Schedule

DateEvent
March 24, 2025Competition announcement and registration opens
July 15, 2025Early registration deadline
November 18, 2025Late registration deadline
December 9, 2025Project submission deadline (23:59 EST, UTC-5)
February 24, 2026Winners announced

Submission Requirements

  • Digital submission only; no hard copies needed
  • Submit by December 9, 2025 (23:59 EST, UTC-5) via email: skyscraper2025@evolo.us
  • Submission must include:
    • Two horizontal JPG boards (24″ x 48″, 150 dpi, RGB) with project plans, sections, perspectives, and relevant info. Participation number on top right corner. File names: [registration number]-1.jpg and [registration number]-2.jpg
    • Project statement DOC file (max 600 words), named [registration number]-statement.doc
    • Entrant info DOC file (name, profession, address, email), named [registration number]-info.doc
  • Package all files in a ZIP folder named with the registration number (e.g., 0101.zip)
  • For files over 20MB, use file-sharing services like WeTransfer or Google Drive

Jury

  • Nici Long – Co-Founder, Cave Urban
  • Davide Macullo – Director, Davide Macullo Architects
  • Juan Pablo Pinto – Co-Founder, Cave Urban
  • Wenyuan Peng – Director, Yuan Architects
  • Leonid Slonimskiy – Director, Kosmos Architects

Regulations

  • Anonymous competition: only registration number identifies entries
  • Official language: English
  • Registration fee is non-refundable
  • Jury contact is prohibited
  • eVolo reserves the right to modify the schedule
  • Participants retain copyright; eVolo can publish all submissions
  • Disqualification for rule violations
  • Participation implies acceptance of all regulations

Awards

PlacePrize
1st Place$5,000 USD
2nd Place$2,000 USD
3rd Place$1,000 USD

Winners, honorable mentions, and selected projects will be published in eVolo’s forthcoming book and featured in international print and digital media such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Huffington Post.


Previous Coverage

Past winners have appeared in a variety of international architecture and design publications including ABC Magazine (Czech Republic), About:Blank Magazine (Portugal), Architect Builder (India), Azure (Canada), Bauwelt (Germany), Blueprint (UK), BusinessWeek (USA), L’Arca (Italy), The New York Times (USA), Wired (USA/Italy), and many others.


FAQ

  • Who can participate?
    Open to all, including students and professionals worldwide.
  • Can multiple entries be submitted?
    Yes, but each must be registered separately.
  • Are printed boards accepted?
    No, all submissions must be digital.
  • Is there a minimum or maximum height for the skyscraper?
    No height restrictions.
  • Are there program or site requirements?
    None; participants have full freedom to define program, site, and concept.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

From an editorial perspective, the 2025 Skyscraper Competition continues to challenge participants to rethink vertical architecture in response to pressing urban and environmental issues. The open-ended brief promotes innovative approaches integrating technology and sustainability, yet the competition could provide more transparency on evaluation criteria related to social impact and ecological performance. The inclusion of cash prizes alongside international publication fosters visibility and professional growth, appealing especially to multidisciplinary teams exploring digital and adaptive design strategies. This competition stands as a valuable platform for architectural discourse on the future of urban mega-structures.

For anyone looking for a reliable and up-to-date architectural resource, ArchUp offers fresh content covering projects, design, and competitions.


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