Steel Design Student Competition 2025

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) announces the 25th Annual Steel Design Student Competition for the 2024-2025 academic year. Sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and administered by the ACSA, this competition challenges undergraduate and graduate students, individually or in teams, to explore innovative design solutions using steel as the primary structural material. The competition emphasizes the incorporation of long-span steel structures and encourages creative approaches to steel design and construction.

Opportunities for Participants

The competition offers two categories, each focusing on unique design challenges:

• Category I: Library+
  Students will design a library in a community of their choice, proposing designs that integrate the library as a pivotal element of the civic fabric.
• Category II: Open
  Students have the freedom to select a site and building program, using steel as the primary structural material. Any building type other than a library is permitted in this category.

Awards and Recognition

The competition jury will convene in Summer 2025 to evaluate submissions and award prizes totaling $20,000. The distribution is as follows:

• Category I: Library+
  • First Prize: $4,000 (Student), $1,500 (Faculty)
  • Second Prize: $2,000 (Student), $1,000 (Faculty)
  • Third Prize: $1,000 (Student), $500 (Faculty)
• Category II: Open
  • First Prize: $4,000 (Student), $1,500 (Faculty)
  • Second Prize: $2,000 (Student), $1,000 (Faculty)
  • Third Prize: $1,000 (Student), $500 (Faculty)

Honorable mentions may also be awarded at the jury’s discretion. Winning projects will be showcased at the 2026 ACSA Annual Meeting and the 2026 AIA National Convention, with inclusion in a summary publication.

Eligibility

The competition is open to students and teams from ACSA Full and Candidate Member Schools and ACSA Affiliate Member Schools in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Entrants must work under the guidance of a faculty sponsor. Teams may include up to five members, and submissions should primarily stem from design studio or related coursework.

Competition Details