Gertrude Lempp Kerbis Memorial Design Competition 2026

Competition Brief

The Gertrude Lempp Kerbis Memorial Design Competition 2026 is an international architectural competition that seeks to promote and explore through practice, discussions and researches the possible and new critical design thinking. The competition, which is held in memory of architect Gertrude Lempp Kerbis, offers a platform for architects and designers whose works present the rarely recognized traits of intellectual worldliness, social concern and above all very clear to the public, conventional architecture.

Intent

The competition sees itself as a means to stimulate the establishment of a new architectural practice that is based on exploratory design thinking. As a result, the role of architecture will change not only as a culture but also as a social and intellectual discipline. Participants are welcome to submit proposals with the attitude of doing research, engaging in critical inquiry, and demonstrating conceptual depth.

Purpose

One of the main objectives of the competition is to safeguard and enlarge the heritage of Gertrude Lempp Kerbis by supporting the architectural projects that will become a part of the dialogue of the day. The competition wants to be a place where both emerging and established voices invite the public to partake in the discussion.

Requirements

The participants have to present a design or research proposal in detail that complies with the guidelines of the competition. The submissions should be such that the project’s intent, conceptual framework and connection to architectural discourse are all clearly communicated. All materials should be final and submitted during the specified submission period.

Jury

The international jury comprising renowned architects, engineers, and design professionals will assess the competition. The submissions will be evaluated according to their intellectual power, originality, vision coherence, and impact on architectural theory.

1. Roula Alakiotou, FAIA
   Founder and Principal, Roula Associates Architects
2. Bill Baker, PE, SE, NAE, FREng
   Structural Engineering Consulting Partner, SOM
3. Carol Ross Barney, FAIA
   Founder and Design Principal, Ross Barney Architects
   Recipient of the 2023 AIA Gold Medal
4. Zurich Esposito, Hon. AIA
   Non-profit Consultant
   Commissioner, City of Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals (2019–2024)
5. Jackie Koo, AIA, IIDA, NOMA
   Founder and Principal, KOO
6. Grace Kuklinski Rappe, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
   Managing Principal and Vice President, HDR

Jury Chair: Grace Kuklinski Rappe, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

Important Dates

✦ ArchUp Competition Review

The Gertrude Lempp Kerbis Memorial Design Competition 2026 is a professional architectural competition organized by a foundation that is directly associated with the legacy of Gertrude Lempp Kerbis. The competition is held with a great deal of transparency, especially by the publication of a clearly delineated and highly experienced jury composed of professionals from architecture, civil engineering, and civic practice. The competition is being marketed as an academic and professional design and research competition rather than a promotional initiative, spotlighting critical questioning and architectural discourse. The competition does not offer large cash prizes or chances for implementation as its main elements, so it acts mostly as a portfolio-building and intellectual platform. The peer evaluation and recognition are where the value lies, with a jury whose expertise underpins the rigorous critical assessment rather than the market-driven outcomes.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Gertrude Lempp Kerbis Memorial Design Competition 2026 asserts itself as a competition of research in which architects are the main players searching for answers rather than being judged according to the traditional yardstick of quantity. Through the presence of the jury consisting of powerhouses in the areas of architecture, engineering, and civic practice the competition provides a framework of evaluation that can be described as stringent. Its structured submission phases, emphasis on critical contribution, and discussions that may take place during the competition, make it especially attractive for architects looking to attract attention to their work as cultural and intellectual practice.

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