ACSA 2026 Timber Competition
Competition Brief
The ACSA 2026 Timber Competition asks architecture students to create an original timber building design which needs to fulfill three requirements: it must meet sustainability goals, and it must show structural design transparency, and it must exhibit environmental operational effectiveness. The project requires wood to function as the main building component while the team must evaluate energy consumption and material usage throughout the project’s entire life cycle while maintaining visual appeal. The competition challenges students to discover innovative approaches for using timber as both building material and storytelling element through their design work which demonstrates their understanding of environmental effects and timber’s modern architectural applications.
Intent
The Timber Competition intends to require students to study wood as both a design element and structural material. The competition requires participants to develop their spatial design through timber which creates environmental benefits and brings design elements together.
Purpose
The competition aims to connect architectural education with current sustainable building practices and innovative material research. The program enables students to implement their timber technology knowledge in design work while creating an integrated framework which combines structural elements with performance features and aesthetic components.
Requirements
The competition is open to students enrolled in architecture programs at institutions that are members of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), including international member schools. Students may participate individually or in teams of up to three. The project submissions must use work from the period between 2025 and 2026 to create a design that shows how timber will be used throughout the entire project. Academic faculty must sponsor each submission. The competition does not impose limits on building type or program, but it expects clear engagement with timber’s structural and environmental potentials.
Jury
The expert jury evaluates submissions according to their effectiveness in achieving sustainability and their ability to show structural clarity and their knowledge of materials and their design excellence. The jury uses its professional expertise to make decisions that evaluate environmental performance and spatial organization and conceptual coherence as a combined assessment.
- Member of ACSA Timber Advisory Panel
- Architect with experience in timber design
- Environmental performance specialist
- Academic with work in material research
- Industry professional in sustainable construction
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Competition Entry | Free |
Rewards
| Reward | Description |
|---|---|
| Top Winners | Recognition and certificates for leading designs |
| Publication | Selected projects featured in ACSA publications |
| Event Display | Winning entries displayed at an academic event |
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Deadline | April 8, 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | June 3, 2026 |
| Jury Review | Summer 2026 |
| Winners Announced | Fall 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture oversees the ACSA 2026 Timber Competition as an academic organization which lacks complete transparency about its jury members since their personal histories remain undisclosed. The competition operates as an academic design competition which assesses material research and teaching methods instead of evaluating professional design work. The design requirements have a limited scope which leads to rewards that only provide recognition and publication. The competition provides participants with portfolio development opportunities which enable academic assessment because it functions as an educational program instead of a professional commissioning pathway.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The ACSA 2026 Timber Competition invites students to consider wood as a central architectural element that contributes to environmental goals and spatial clarity. The competition supports current industrial needs through its focus on sustainable material usage, but details about the awards and jury members remain undisclosed at this point. The competition maintains its academic focus because it provides recognition and publication opportunities, but it does not ensure any construction work. Students who participate in the program will gain knowledge about timber design and sustainable practices, but their biggest advantage comes from their ability to combine material thinking with conceptual understanding.
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