John Stewardson Memorial Fellowship in Architecture

Important dates:

• Wednesday, March 26, 2025: RSVP Due for Design Charrette - Registration Deadline.
• Saturday, March 29, 2025: Mandatory Design Charrette at Center for Design Philadelphia [1218 Arch St. Philadelphia]. Philadelphia -residents/students are required in-person; online links will be provided for statewide and out of state competitors. (During the charrette, questions will be resolved. Please email your questions to [email protected] by March 22, 2025.)
• Monday, April 14, 2025: Final date to submit entries. Projects should be delivered before 11:59 PM EST. [Submissions will be accepted digitally]
• Early June 2025: Notifications of award.
• Late August 2025: Results announced.
• Wednesday, October 1, 2025: Design Philadelphia Festival kicks off hosting the Missing Middle Housing exhibit featuring competition winners.

*This is an idea-only competition and has no affiliation with the development of the project area related to the competition.

The Community Design Collaborative, in partnership with the John Stewardson Memorial Fellowship in Architecture, is thrilled to announce its inaugural Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design Competition! Recognizing the pivotal role ADUs play in diversifying housing options and enhancing affordability, this competition aims to ignite innovative design solutions that foster equitable and sustainable communities. We invite eligible students and architects to showcase their creativity and contribute to addressing Philadelphia's housing challenges.

The competition aims to:

• Raise Awareness
• Encourage Innovation
• Showcase Skills
• Inspire the Public
• Encourage Critical Examination of ADU Regulations

This initiative seeks to foster sustainable, affordable, and accessible housing solutions for all residents. It is made possible through the generous support of AARP, helping to make Philadelphia a vibrant and inclusive city for people of all ages.

This competition will offer $5000 in prizes, awarding five projects.

The ADU Design Competition is a key component of Finding Philadelphia’s Missing Middle, a broader initiative dedicated to addressing the city’s housing gap by exploring innovative, human-scaled housing solutions. This project seeks to identify and promote strategies that increase the availability of affordable, diverse housing types—such as ADUs—to better serve Philadelphia’s changing demographics and housing needs. By integrating ADUs into the fabric of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, Finding Philadelphia’s Missing Middle aims to create more inclusive, adaptable, and resilient communities.

Through this competition, AIA Philadelphia, the Community Design Collaborative, and the John Stewardson Memorial Fellowship in Architecture invite designers to contribute to this vision by reimagining how ADUs can help bridge the gap in the city’s housing market. The competition not only encourages fresh, creative approaches to ADU design but also plays a crucial role in advancing conversations around zoning, policy, and equitable development.

By participating in this competition, you will work towards:

• Addressing Housing Affordability – By designing cost-effective and practical housing solutions, participants contribute to addressing the housing crisis in cities.
• Promoting Equity – ADUs help create accessible housing options for low- and moderate-income individuals, ensuring that more people have access to well-designed living spaces.
• Sustainability – The competition encourages environmentally conscious designs, reducing the carbon footprint of housing developments.
• Community Building – The solutions developed can strengthen neighborhoods, ensuring affordable housing integrates seamlessly into urban environments without stigma.

Ultimately, participation in the ADU competition goes beyond just design—it’s about reshaping cities for the better, ensuring everyone has access to high-quality, affordable housing.