Entrant Requirements

The competition is open to everyone and anyone who wishes to enter.

Student Category - Currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or equivalent degree program.

Professional Category - Full-time, professional

*If an entrant meets both the requirements of the student and professional category they can enter the category of their choice.

  1. An entrant may be an individual or a team, but teams may not exceed (4) members.

  2. One ADU design per Entrant entry. However, an entrant may submit an unlimited number of entries.

  3. AIA Arizona and AIA Phoenix Metro staff, members of the Competition Committee, and members of the Competition Jury are not able to participate.

ADU Design Requirements

  1. The ADU Design must be no larger than 1000 SF.

  2. The ADU must be an Attached or Detached unit

  3. At minimum, the ADU must include the following elements:

    • Kitchen (containing food storage, food preparation space, sink with running water & electric cooktop)

    • Bathroom (containing a toilet, sink & shower or tub)

    • Sleeping area(s)

    • Separate means of ingress and egress

  4. Site Adaptability Strategy: Show how the ADU can be oriented in different directions for different site constraints. i.e. In certain orientations these windows may be located in different locations.

  5. Feasibility and Constructability: How practical and achievable is the design concept, considering construction methods, material availability, and technological feasibility?

  6. Cost Estimates: Part of the intention of the ADU Design Competition is to catalyze innovative ways to build ADUs that a broad range of households can afford to rent. We encourage applicants to think and design creatively to reduce the total estimated construction costs of their ADU proposals.

  7. Sustainable Strategy: Outline the sustainable features of your design, including energy-efficient systems, renewable energy integration, waste management solutions, and strategies for minimizing environmental impact.

Submittal Requirements

  1. Entrants must submit their digital competition submittals as either: One (1) 36” x 48” horizontal (or landscape) pdf; or Two (2) 24” x 36“ vertical (or portrait) pdfs to be used freely to express a distinct physical design concept and visual narrative. All information regarding the competition entry must be included on the competition board(s) for consideration. Information to be included on the submittal includes:  

    · Narrative: Provide a clear and simple narrative describing the design and the entrant’s approach to how the prompt was addressed. The response must not exceed 500 words and must be integrated into the board(s). Text must be legible at full resolution of the board. 

    · Provide Floor Plan Drawing(s), Exterior/Interior Elevations, Building Sections, and 3D Visualizations. 

  2. The competition submittal must be delivered digitally (PDF or JPEG) at no less than 20 MG and 150 dpi by the submission deadline listed in the Competition Schedule. Boards may be physically printed and displayed.  Entrants must submit their competition entry no later than 11:59 PM on the day of the Submission Deadline via email to diana@aia-arizona.org. The submission may be made as an attachment to the email or through a file transfer link.