View a gallery of the 2021 project entries here.
Discover the field of sustainable design while imagining the future of the built world! High school students work in teams to design and construct a sustainable building model in competition for cash prizes of up to $500. Students collaborate to research, design, and present their model to a panel of professionals from design fields including architecture and engineering. The 16th annual Sustainable Design Challenge brought to you by SCARCE and DuPage County Stormwater Management.
The 2022 challenge will be conducted as a hybrid. Schools and students will have the option to participate in person or virtually. For full details, download the info packet below.
The Challenge
Who: Up to 10 teams of students from each high school that serves DuPage County students
Goal: Design and construct a model of a sustainable building in a bid for cash prizes.
Cost: Participation is free.
Important dates:
- February 4th – Team registration opens
- March 16th at 3:30-4:30 Sustainability in Action Virtual Meet-up for – An opportunity for every participant register here
- March 25th – Team Registration deadline
- April 5th – Sustainable Design Challenge at the DuPage County Administration Building
- 9:00AM-11:00AM
- April 5th – Virtual Project submissions due (link provided after registration)
- Week of April 25th – Winners notified
- May – Winners announced during the DuPage County Stormwater Committee meeting.
View applicable Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Sustainable Design in Practice on April 5th
It is a day of sharing and learning for for these high school students! Student teams showcase their finished models and present designs to judges and the public at the DuPage County complex. Participants then have the opportunity to see DuPage County’s environmental initiatives throughout the county’s campus including car charging stations, green roof, reflective roof and a restored wetland.
Students who choose to participate virtually, will submit projects online by 5:00pm April 5th. Projects must include a recorded video presentation highlighting their building’s features along with photos of the model, a visual aid, and a project write-up.
Learning Opportunities for all
A live virtual meet-up and supplemental video content will be provided by SCARCE in collaboration with DuPage County and our business sponsors. These videos will offer information on sustainable buildings and infrastructure in DuPage County as well as information on careers in sustainable design fields such as architecture and engineering.
Sustainability in Action Virtual Meet-Up – Wednesday, March 16th 3:30pm
The live meet-up offers participants the opportunity to tour a recently completed local green facility led by the architects that created the design. Following the tour, we’ll learn about careers in sustainable design straight from local professionals in the fields of architecture, design and engineering. This is a great opportunity to gain insight and inspiration for Sustainable Design Challenge projects as well as future internship and career opportunities.
Open to DuPage County high school students, teachers, and school administrators. All students participating in the Sustainable Design Challenge are strongly encouraged to participate.
Project Gallery
Following the event, projects will be available for viewing by the general public on scarce.org.
Sponsorship opportunities available – learn more.
The Sustainable Design Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to inspire and engage the next generation of design professionals while promoting environmental awareness and education. Contact jean@sarce.org for more information.
Thank you to our 2022 business sponsors!
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