Notwithstanding the extraordinary challenges, disruptions, school shutdowns and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, CIRT was very pleased to see the number and quality of the entries submitted for the 2021 CIRT National Design & Construction Competition. In its fifteenth year as a collaborative program with ACE Mentor Program of America and the Chicago Architecture Center, the competition attracted 27 entries from 17 Affiliates/Chapters. The difficult process to narrow the submissions to just three, called upon the preliminary judges to both consider the entries on their own AND also in comparison to the other entries. After being compared side-by-side, only three garnered the coveted right to go onto the final presentation stage to vie for the top prize of $5,000. This year’s Worthy FINALISTS, none of which have EVER BEFORE been named to the presentation phase of the competition, are as follows:  

• ACE Mentor Program of Southern Nevada/Las Vegas, Maverick Design Team for their Manufacturing Center/Zone entry;
• ACE Mentor Program of Greater Milwaukee for their Retrofit a School entry; and
• ACE Mentor Program of West Michigan for their Homeless Shelter entry.

Seven other teams were recognized as either First Runner-Up ($1,000 prize) or Second Runner-Up ($500 prize) in each of the three different design challenges or options:

Manufacturing Center/Zone Challenge (out of 5 entries): 1^st Runner-Up: ACE Mentor of Greater Washington Metro Area/McKinley Tech Team;  2nd Runner-Up: ACE of Northeast Florida/Creekside H.S. Team;

Retrofit a School Challenge (out of 6 entries): 1^st Runner-Up: ACE Mentor of Greater NY/Team 15;  2nd Runner-Up: ACE Mentor of Greater Omaha;

Homeless Shelter Challenge (out of 16 entries): 1^st Runner-Up: ACE Mentor of Southern Nevada/Las Vegas, Desert Design Team; with tie* for 2nd Runner-Up between: ACE Mentor Program of Greater NY/The Hive Team and ACE Mentor Program of Hawaii/Team Trace.

[*NOTE: After receiving identical initial composite scores from the judges, the Hive Team and Team Trace were more intensely debated and compared to determine if only one should be selected for the 2^nd Runner-Up spot. However, after careful consideration it was agreed that both were WORTHY of recognition, the only difference being – one entry had a stronger “How” (technical elements) and the other a stronger “Why” (responsive elements) to address the challenge].

CIRT is looking forward to a spirited and exciting NATIONAL PRESENTATION ROUND (among the THREE Worthy Finalists teams) during the CIRT Spring Conference in DC, on June 7, 2021. [NOTE: The presentation round will be streamed LIVE for viewing by any interested parties at DESIGN COMPETITION | Cirt Spring (cirt2021spring.com)