Norwich University Architecture + Design Competition

Norwich University is proud to announce the 2023

Architecture Design Competition:

INDOOR/OUTDOOR Learning Spaces 

Architecture is about solving problems for people through the composition of light, space, and material.  It is about embracing the way space can be sculpted to improve how we live.

Many standards of normalcy have changed considerably over the last several years, especially with regarding to how we gather for teaching and learning.  While outdoor learning spaces are not a wholly new idea, they have become even more important in light of our appreciation of fresh air and biophilic design principles.  With this design competition we are seeking your thoughtful solutions to making effective, thoughtful, and functional indoor/outdoor spaces for learning.

Competing students and teams will submit an innovative and unique design for an indoor/outdoor classroom no later than December 10, 2023.  

The Norwich University School of Architecture + Art, faculty is available to provide advice and guidance to registered competitors during the competition. 

Eligibility: Open to all U.S. high school students. Only U. S. Citizens can receive scholarships. Students may register and compete either as individuals or as teams.

First Prize: $4,000 scholarship to Norwich University
Second Prize: $2,000 scholarship to Norwich University
Third Prize: $1,000 scholarship to Norwich University

Must be a U.S. citizen to qualify.  Norwich scholarships and awards are not transferable to other institutions. These are also non-renewable awards, so the scholarship is for the first year of study only. This scholarship may be combined with some, but not all, other Norwich scholarship offers. Find more information on this and other Norwich scholarships here. 

If competing as a team (up to 4 team members), all members of the team will receive the same scholarship award based on their final placement.

Design Parameters:
A successful indoor/outdoor classroom should be an effective place to foster learning, thinking, sharing, and experimentation.  By moving a class outdoors, consider that you are doing more than shifting activity from indoors to outdoors.  A major change in the shell and surroundings creates new opportunities for interacting with a space.  How many ways does learning outdoors change what you can do in a class?  What is easier?  What may be more challenging? Students and teachers might use an Indoor/Outdoor Classroom as a treehouse, a space for innovation, a space for guided play, or a space for quiet contemplation. 

Size: The Classroom should be no bigger than 20' wide x20' deep x20' tall or no bigger than a 400sf footprint x 20’ tall. There should be an ‘interior’ component and an ‘exterior’ component.  There must be a strong and innovative connection between inside and outside.

Site: The site is your choice, but the outdoor classroom should be specific to the grounds of a school in your town.

Include: 

• Space for at least 9 students and at least 1 teacher

• Some shelter from rain and/or snow

• Some shelter from the wind

• At least three specific portals or view to the scenery

• A place where at least 9 students can sit at one time

Submission Requirements:

A) At least 4 critical views of your design

Provide at least 4 illustrations of your design.  Your submission can include drawings, sketches, photographs of a physical model and/or renderings of a digital model.  You can work by hand, with digital design software, or a combination.  We are most interested in the quality of your ideas and the way you use the tools at your disposal.  A thoughtful sketch can communicate as much as a digital model.
 

B) A narrative description of your Indoor/Outdoor Classroom.  (No more than 500 words.)
 

All material must be submitted in a single pdf format.

Competitors will receive a link to submit their entry along with contact information for the Norwich University School of Architecture + Art for questions or guidance.

Questions?  Please contact Tolya Stonorov, Associate Director of Architecture + Art,  tstonoro@norwich.edu 
 

Ready to compete?  Fill out the registration form below.