CMHA, The NCMA Foundation and The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) are collaborating again for the 2026 Concrete Masonry Design Student Competition. This year, the competition will challenge students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related masonry construction on a Welcome Center with an emphasis on rethinking the future of travel and how these facilities function.
Reimagining the Welcome Center of Tomorrow!
Step into the future of travel—where architecture meets innovation. This design competition challenges students to envision a next-generation Welcome Center, crafted primarily from concrete masonry products. Far from ordinary rest stops, these centers are gateways to new experiences, offering a place of arrival, pause, and possibility.
Students will transform this essential welcome center into a dynamic landmark and multifunctional hub. The future Welcome Center must weave together a tapestry of uses: a beacon for visitor information, a culinary stopover with one or more restaurant outlets, a communal dining space, zones for rest and relaxation, child-friendly play areas, accessible restrooms, a pet relief station, emergency aid facilities, and critically, areas of refuge. It must be universally accessible, resilient in the face of change, and forward-thinking in its design.
Students should consider how we move, rest, connect, and explore. Rethink what it means to welcome travelers. Can a Welcome Center inspire curiosity, create comfort, and celebrate place—all at once? We think so!
Registration Deadline: April 8, 2026
Submission Deadline: June 3, 2026
Jury Convenes: Summer 2026
Winners Announced: Fall 2026
A total of $20,000 USD in cash prizes will be distributed:
First Place: $8,000 (Student(s)), $3,000 (Faculty Sponsor(s))
Second Place: $4,000 (Student(s)), $2,000 (Faculty Sponsor(s))
Third Place: $2,000 (Student(s)), $1,000 (Faculty Sponsor(s))
Honorable mentions may also be awarded at the jury’s discretion.
Eligibility
The competition is open to students and/or student teams from ACSA Full and Candidate Member Schools, as well as ACSA Affiliate Member Schools from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Faculty sponsors are responsible for registering their students by April 8, 2026. Final submissions must be uploaded by June 3, 2026. Detailed registration and submission guidelines are available on the ACSA website.
Learn more about the competition and register today!