The competition is now full.  Sixty students entered representing these universities:
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Columbus State Community College
Cornell University
Delgado Community College
Everglades University
Lake Washington Technical College
Philadelphia University
University of Arkansas
University of Hartford
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Woodbury University

This year’s design competition will be for the birds - literally, and will focus on sustainable design and place. It will also continue a strong grassroots tradition within CSI to support you in your professional and scholastic growth toward your chosen professions in the design and construction industry. You are the future of the profession, and it is part of CSI’s mission to make sure you achieve your goals. Teams are participating for the:

• Teamwork Experience: The design industry is all about teamwork, not the individual, to create the building. In keeping with this, you will be working in teams of two to three people to create your project.
• National Recognition: Thousands of Architects, Specifiers and other Construction Professionals attend the CSI Convention every year. This is a chance to connect with people. You may want to include take-away sheets with your contact information that attendees can take with them. You never know, you may receive a call about a summer internship - or more.
• Contribution to Your Community: Part of being an Architect is working within your community, which means understanding it at many levels, including ecological. This project gives you a chance to focus on the ecological community, and deepen that connection to the human community.
• Understanding of Sustainable Design: More on that in subsequent pages.
• CSI Membership: The top three teams will receive a student membership to CSI National, which includes receiving the monthly periodical Specifier, as well as listing on the CSI National website. This gives you access to the membership database as well, a perfect way to start networking!
• CASH Prizes: The top five teams will receive cash prizes, as follows:
  • First Place:  $800.0
  • Second Place: $650.00
  • Third Place: $500.00
  • Peoples Choice: The two remaining teams will each receive $150.00
• Participation Gifts: All participating students will receive a token gift commemorating their participation in the CONSTRUCT2010 Student Design Competition.

If you guessed this year's project is a bird house, you'd be correct.  This year's competition project is indeed designing a bird house, designed for the species of your choice, local to the area in which you are attending university.  We have chosen this unique project for several reasons, and especially because it focuses on knowing your client, sustainability and place. We also hope to promote critical research and evaluation skills, necessary for any successful sustainable building project.

Birds are instinctive, and this determines what they look for in a home, whether already existing or built from the branch up, as well as what features will be necessary. Thus, a birdhouse should adequately address location preference, size, bird nesting habits, raising and protection of young, protection from elements and predators, perching habits, feeding habits, to name just a few parameters you will need to know and understand. In addition, birds are by nature environmental designers and builders. They use readily available materials, often salvaged, and undoubtedly take into consideration durability and efficient use of materials. After all, if the nest fails, guess who has to rebuild it.

There may also be opportunities to consider other functions the house could serve for the bird species, beyond just housing. Take this into consideration in your design, as well as determine whether or not it is appropriate to the species of choice. It could end up being a pricey and ill-used add-on. Birds may be interested in style as well, so feel free to incorporate stylistic attributes into the birdhouse design as well. In short, know your client – each bird species is unique in what it looks for in a home, just as we are when we shop for or build a home.

It is our hope too that your birdhouses will be installed somewhere on your campus, or elsewhere in the local community, for the enjoyment of all – and especially of course, the birds!

View the Competition Basics

 The competition is now full!