The Edmund N. Bacon Urban Design Competition is one of the most prestigious international student competitions in urban design. Organized by DesignPhiladelphia in honor of renowned urban planner Edmund N. Bacon, the competition encourages the next generation of designers to propose bold, forward-looking, and community-centered ideas for real urban spaces.
According to Gallery Online, each year the competition focuses on a real urban site in Philadelphia. In the current edition, the focus is the former USciences University building in West Philadelphia, a historic and influential location offering a unique opportunity for urban renewal.
Participants are invited to submit creative, sustainable, and human-centered designs that integrate with the surrounding urban context, address social, economic, and environmental community needs, and present an innovative, forward-looking vision for the site.
Eligibility
- Open internationally to all university students in any discipline and at any level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) enrolled in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026.
- Submissions may be individual or team-based.
Accepted Disciplines
- Architecture
- Urban Design
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Landscape Architecture
- Interdisciplinary fields related to cities and communities
Submission Requirements
Presentation Board:
- Format: PDF, 80 × 40 in (203 × 101.5 cm), web-optimized (~10 MB).
- Preserve Layers option must be off; full-color designs allowed.
- Project title: minimum 1.5 in (4 cm) font.
- Include a key image showing the main vision of the project.
- Include renders, diagrams, maps, and plans explaining planning strategies, urban connections, public services, community interactions, public space, and land-use strategies.
- Additional graphics and descriptive text may be included (min. height 0.5 cm).
Slideshow:
- Format: PowerPoint (.PPT or .PPTX), 9 slides, widescreen (9:16).
- Slide 1: Project title and key image as background.
- Slides 2–9: Main content from the presentation board.
- Each slide: one main image or diagram, plus short text or up to three readable bullet points.
- Include 20-second speaker notes per slide; no animations or auto-timing.
Submission Process:
- Submit online via Submittable.
- File names: no spaces, starting with capital letters (e.g., OurVisionForPhilly.pdf, OurVisionForPhilly.pptx).
- Team changes allowed until final submission; complete team info must be entered in the online form.
Registration Fee
- $25 per submission
Prizes
- First Prize: $5,000 (USD) to the winning team or individual
- Additional non-monetary awards or commendations may be given to other outstanding entries
- Selected projects will be featured at the award ceremony and displayed in exhibitions or related media
- Participation in the awards ceremony provides valuable exposure and networking opportunities
- Outstanding professional urban designers will also be recognized
Deadline
- January 30, 2026 (10 Bahman 1404)
For more information, visit the official competition website.
