The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) is now accepting submissions for the CTBUH 2023-24 Mass Timber Student Design Competition—culminating with the five winners officially announced at the CTBUH 2025 Americas Conference in March 2025.

The goal of the competition, which is open to all students who are currently enrolled at U.S. and Canada-based institutes, is to shed new light on the meaning and value of tall buildings in modern society. This competition focuses on the use of mass timber in multi-story buildings through the lens of affordable housing that emphasizes rapid development. The only stipulation is that the building should be multi-storied (i.e., not a pavilion or single space), and be designed to maximize the use and expression of mass timber while taking into consideration the 2021 IBC building code and current standards. It is also suggested that participants consider prefabricated components or volumetric modular approach to highlight the benefit of utilizing mass timber for rapid development.

Participants should engage with the exploration and resolution of the synergistic relationship between a tall building and its urban setting; how that tall building can be inspired by the cultural, physical, and environmental aspects of its site; how the program of the building is influenced by the micro and macro site/urban conditions; and how the building responds to global issues. Proposals should show evidence of a clear understanding of how considerations of structure, environment, servicing, etc. are as vital to the success of a tall building as the form, materials, aesthetics, etc.

Submission Deadline

Participants must register and submit their project at the submission portal no later than Sunday, 15 December 2024 (11:59 PM Central Time). Questions may be directed to [email protected].

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Jury

The competition consists of two juries. The first-round jury will narrow the submissions down to 25 semi-finalists. The second-round jury will then select the five finalists from the semi-finalists and determine the five winners and placements. The members of the second-round jury will consist of prominent experts involved in Mass Timber initiatives within the CTBUH and Think Wood network.

Submission Requirements/Criteria/Procedures

Full details of the CTBUH 2023-24 Mass Timber Student Design Competition, including submission requirements, criteria, procedures, etc. can be found in the Competition Brief.