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Design and Build 2026 Competition
Soundscapes in Structure

Design Brief Download

Pre-Registeration Opens 10-23-25

Submission Portal

Eligibility

The DB Competition is open to any undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled in any U.S. university (recent graduates are eligible to enter for up to one year from competition open date, post graduation). Students should be studying in the field of art, architecture, landscape architecture, design, engineering, and/or other similar programs. Entries can be submitted by individuals or teams. Additionally, instructors may choose to implement the competition into their curriculum. Collaborative designs are highly desired. Previous year’s competition winners and recent DB Summer Internship participants must observe a one-year waiting period before entering future competitions. Students must be US citizens in order to claim cash prizes, however this does not preclude non-US citizen students from participating, so long as the student is enrolled in a US college or within one year post-graduation from a US college. *

Competition Abstract

The Museum of Outdoor Arts (“MOA”), based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, announces its 7th Annual National Design and Build Competition, inviting undergraduate students, graduate students and interdisciplinary teams in art, architecture, landscape architecture, design, and related disciplines to submit conceptual design proposals. This year’s theme, “Soundscapes in Structure,” challenges participants to design a state-of-the-art amphitheater bandshell that merges acoustic excellence with bold visual identity. This competition represents the next evolution in MOA’s annual Design and Build Competition and challenges entrants to explore the intersection of architectural innovation and geometric harmony within the context of a live performance space.

Entrants must respond to the site’s unique conditions, designing for a wetland retention area within MOA’s sculpture park, Marjorie Park, that requires innovative structural solutions, while ensuring the amphitheater does not obstruct surrounding public sight lines. Proposals may incorporate principles of architecture, landscape design, and sculpture, as well as programmatic features such as lighting, projection, or other sensory enhancements. Designs must prioritize unique aesthetics, sustainability, accessibility, and feasibility within a project budget of $500,000 U.S.D. Submissions should include conceptual drawings, narratives, and a physical scale model. Winning proposals will be recognized with cash prizes and archived by MOA, contributing to an ongoing dialogue about how architecture can act as both instrument and landmark in public cultural life.

The design brief with full competition details is now available!

Prize Structure
1st place– $10,000
2nd place– $7,500
3rd place– $5,000
Honorable Mention-  $1,500

In addition to the above prizes, winning entries will be featured on the Competition archive website.

*Prizes will be split evenly amongst all members of collaborative team entries.

Schedule & Important Dates

-September 24, 2025- Competition Announcement & Design Brief Published
-October 23, 2025- Competition Opens. Team Pre-Registration Opens. Jurors Announced.
-February 1, 2026- Team Pre-Registration Closes
-April 26, 2026- Competition Closes (11:59pm MST, GMT-7)
-May 2026- Finalist proposals selected. Finalists invited to create Video Presentations
-June 2026- Finalist Video Presentations due. Jury deliberations.
-July 2026- Winning Entries Announced!

Jury Panel

Full Jury Profiles

This year’s panelists are:

• Robin Ault: Senior principal and design director at Fentress Studios – a Populous Company
• John Birkey:Principal and Partner with Norris Design
• Cynthia Madden Leitner: President and Co-Founder of the Museum of Outdoor Arts

Submission Portal

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*Eligibility & Tax Compliance Notice

Receipt of  cash Award is limited to individuals who are United States citizens. Because the Award constitutes taxable income under U.S. federal law, recipients must be able to comply with IRS reporting and withholding requirements (including completion of Form W-9 and the issuance of Form 1099-MISC, if applicable). Extending eligibility to non-U.S. persons would create additional withholding, reporting, and tax compliance obligations under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable Treasury Regulations, which this Award program is not structured to administer. By applying for or accepting the Award, the recipient affirms that they are a U.S. citizen and acknowledges that the value of the Award may be reportable as taxable income.