URBAN AIR MOBILITY TERMINAL OF NEW YORK
URBAN AIR MOBILITY TERMINAL OF NEW YORK is an international ideas competition for students and young architects, exploring the adaptation of waterfront aviation infrastructure for electric vertical flight and public use.
Site discrepancy: the official introduction names Newport Helistop in Jersey City, while the brief and site section name Downtown Manhattan Heliport / Downtown Skyport. These are different sites. Confirm the competition boundary and current brief with the organizer before paying or developing a proposal.
Competition brief
| Organizer | Design Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Industry partner | BETA Technologies; reference aircraft and operational input |
| Site | Newport Helistop, Jersey City, in the introduction; Downtown Manhattan Heliport / Downtown Skyport in the brief. Official clarification needed. |
| Competition type | International adaptive-reuse ideas competition |
| Eligibility | Students and young architects worldwide; individual or team of up to five, with at least one member aged 18–40 |
| Language | English |
Program and deliverables
| Program | Passenger terminal, check-in and security, waiting and boarding, public exhibition, operations and safety spaces, charging and servicing, flight deck and waterfront public areas |
|---|---|
| Cover image | One 1920 × 1080 px JPG, without text |
| Project panels | Two vertical A1 JPG panels, maximum 10 MB each |
| Statement | 300–500 words in DOC or DOCX format, in English |
| Anonymity | Names and organizational references must not appear in submitted graphics |
| AI graphics | Generative graphics are prohibited in final boards; a tools-and-methods note is required |
Fees, dates and prizes
| Entry fee | USD 79 standard; USD 99 late; USD 119 final week, per entry |
|---|---|
| Fee periods | Standard: through 13 December 2026 or first 60 teams; late: 14 December 2026–17 January 2027 or first 50 teams; final week: 18–24 January 2027 |
| Registration deadline | 25 January 2027, 07:59 UTC (24 January, 23:59 Pacific Time, following the general FAQ) |
| Submission deadline | 1 February 2027, 04:59 UTC (31 January, 23:59 Eastern Time); see timing discrepancy below |
| Total prize fund | USD 10,000; allocation may be redistributed, subject to stated minimum awards |
| Stated minima | Grand prize USD 4,000; second USD 700; third USD 300; community choice USD 1,500 |
| Results | 28 February 2027 |
The published timeline states 11:59 PM Eastern Time for submission, while the FAQ gives a generic 11:59 PM Pacific Time cutoff. The status tool follows the dated timeline; entrants should obtain written confirmation from the organizer because the two zones differ by three hours.
Jury
| Karen YunJin Seong | Architecture educator and licensed architect; academic and public-interest design experience |
|---|---|
| Kristoffer Tjerrild Lund | Architect with experience at Cobe and major international practices |
| Michael den Otter | Architect with public, cultural and circular-design experience |
| Simon McKenzie | Architect and educator with large-project and design-studio experience |
| Song He | Design director experienced in public, cultural and mixed-use work |
| Tyler Seeholzer | BETA Technologies training-program manager; operational aviation perspective |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The brief is strongest where it treats emerging aviation as a public-infrastructure and adaptive-reuse problem rather than a freestanding technology showcase. Requiring teams to coordinate secure airside movement, emergency access, public space, charging and waterfront resilience creates a relevant architectural test.
Design Unlimited is the organizer and BETA Technologies is identified as an industry partner, not the public owner of the pier or a commissioning authority. The page does not promise construction. Participants retain copyright, while the organizer reserves publication permissions. The non-refundable fee, variable distribution of part of the prize fund, time-zone conflict and a submission portal described as forthcoming are material points to confirm before paying.
Related competitions — editorial selection
For further transport and urban-infrastructure briefs, see SOS Istanbul 2026: Harem Bus Station and Re:Paris Prize.
Time remaining for registration
This countdown follows the mandatory registration deadline: 25 January 2027, 07:59 UTC (24 January, 23:59 Pacific Time). Submission is separate: 1 February 2027, 04:59 UTC, following the timeline’s Eastern Time. The general FAQ instead refers to Pacific Time; confirm that conflict and submit early.
Official brief and application
Review the official brief and terms, and the registration and submission dates in the information table above, before entering.
