2026 MBMA Architecture Student Design Competition: The Sixth Annual Event to Explore Metal Building Solutions
Public Library/Community Knowledge Hub
Challenge
Your community has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for a public library. The RFP includes an approximately 40,000-square-foot building and outdoor community landscape spaces. You have been asked to develop an innovative design using a metal building system to meet the needs of the community.
The library will include a main lobby, café, bookstore, public art niche, great reading hall, quiet reading room, reading nooks, collection and reference zones, children discovery library, story time room, craft room, play zone, family lounge, teen commons, art gallery and local history collection rooms, curation and preservation labs, innovative learning studios, gathering and performance areas, staff-focused offices and rooms, and more. The site will invite community members in while featuring parking, a children’s story garden, outdoor reading/reflection room, art and sculpture walk, plus more to explore.
Quick Introduction to Metal Building Systems
Your success in this competition is highly dependent on your understanding of this form of construction and how to be creative with metal buildings.
Before proceeding, take five minutes to watch this video and subscribe to watch other videos on MBMA’s YouTube page.
An Introduction to Metal Building Systems
The Resources page is where you will find information to help you research and learn about metal building systems. After you learn about metal buildings, we are anxious to see your architectural passion and creativity applied to your design competition submittal.
At some point, you will want to visit the Education and Technical pages at mbma.com to discover more about metal buildings. Beyond those pages, this platform offers an extensive library of downloadable resources, press releases, articles, and association updates designed to educate and inspire.
Follow MBMA on socials, like LinkedIn, to network with professionals dedicated to the metal building industry.
Faculty Message
We encourage faculty to incorporate the competition into your design studio or other appropriate curriculum. We are eager to help you—so please reach out to us. We offer a presentation from the program developer and contest judge for insight on the competition and judging process. MBMA also conducts an annual Architectural Faculty Workshop to discover how easy it is to introduce metal buildings into your curriculum.
Be sure to check out our Architectural Significance in Metal Buildings Educational Series of project folios. These case studies are designed to introduce students to various topics in the “Relevance for Students” section of each folio.
Eligibility
All participants must be full-time registered students at a North American college/university. Entries will be accepted for individuals as well as teams. Teams are limited to a maximum of five students. All student/team entrants are required to work under the direction of a faculty sponsor through either a design, technology, structure or construction class. There are graduate and undergraduate divisions. No entry fee is required.
Competition Schedule
Registration Opens: July 15, 2026
Submissions Due: Jan. 11, 2027
Awards Announced: March 23, 2027
Prize/Awards
More than $30,000 in awards will be made to students and faculty advisors. For student team entries, the award will be divided and distributed equally to each member of the registered team. Both the graduate and undergraduate divisions will be awarded three prizes to the student and faculty advisor as follows:
