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Design Challenge | Solar Decathlon
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field--type-string field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="title usa-sr-only">Subtitle</div> <div class="field__item">2025</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="usa-breadcrumbs"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row"> <div> <div id="block-uswds-custom-breadcrumbs--3" class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="usa-breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="usa-sr-only">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol class="usa-breadcrumb__list"> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item"> <a href="/" class="usa-breadcrumb__link"><span>Home</span></a> </li> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item"> <a href="/about" class="usa-breadcrumb__link"><span>About</span></a> </li> <li class="usa-breadcrumb__list-item"> <span>Design Challenge</span> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <main class="main-content usa-layout-docs usa-section padding-top-1 tablet:padding-top-4" role="main" id="main-content"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row "> </div> <div class="grid-row grid-gap" id="content"> <div class="usa-layout-docs__sidenav desktop:grid-col-3 layout-sidebar-first"> <ul class="usa-sidenav"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item first"> <a href="/about" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6517">About</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item expanded dropdown active active-trail"> <a href="/about/design/2025" class="link usa-current is-active" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7602" aria-current="page">Participate in the Design Challenge</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item first"> <a href="/must-reads-design-challenge" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8395">Must Reads—2025 Design Challenge</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item last"> <a href="/2025-design-challenge-teams" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8399">Teams</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about/mentors" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6538">Mentor and Technical Advisor Programs</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about/sponsors" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6508">Sponsors</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about/affiliates" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6536">Affiliates</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/about/faculty-and-alumni-awards" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6528">Faculty and Alumni Awards</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item last"> <a href="/about/contacts" class="link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6511">Contact</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid-col-fill"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="usa-layout-docs__main desktop:grid-col-fill"> <div id="block-uswds-custom-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <article class="node--view-mode-full node--type-page"> <div> <span><h1>Design Challenge</h1></span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="iframe-hero"> <iframe class="responsive-iframe" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wATB99cqT9A?si=ZAtP9fzosYof-9tM" title="YouTube video player"></iframe></div> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-4"> <div class="grid-col-auto tablet:grid-col-fill"> <p style="margin-top:10px;"><em><strong>Registration is closed for the 2025 Design Challenge, which will take place from October 2024 to April 2025.</strong></em></p> <p>Questions about the competition? <strong>Contact us at </strong><a href="mailto:SDDesign@nrel.gov"><strong>SDDesign@nrel.gov</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p> </div> <div class="grid-col-auto tablet:grid-col-5"> <h2>Quick Links</h2> <hr class="margin-bottom-2"> <ul> <li><a href="/sites/default/files/2025/assets/pdfs/design-challenge-rules-2025.pdf">2025 Design Challenge Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/sites/default/files/2025/assets/pdfs/doe-sd-2025_challenge_flyer.pdf">2025 Design Challenge Flyer</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpaQQZJdigo&feature=youtu.be">Kickoff Webinar Recording</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <h2>What is the Design Challenge?</h2> <p>The<strong> Design Challenge</strong> is an annual collegiate competition where interdisciplinary teams create sustainable, high-performance building designs that address real-world issues such as <strong>existing building retrofits, community impacts, affordability</strong>, and<strong> resilience.</strong></p> <p>Teams collaborate on a residential or commercial design project for one or two academic semesters, with the competition culminating each April at the Solar Decathlon Competition Event.</p> <div class="image-hero"><img class="img-responsive" src="/sites/default/files/2025/assets/images/PT7_09186-Crop.jpg" alt="Photo of several students looking at a architectural model."></div> <p>The Competition Event provides an opportunity for teams to present their designs to expert jurors, network and build connections with industry professionals, and share ideas with other Decathletes from around the world.</p> <p>Winning teams are recognized with awards on an international stage and winning design projects are shared through Solar Decathlon and U.S. Department of Energy channels.</p> <p>2025 marks the 12<sup>th</sup> edition of the Design Challenge, which has helped create a global community of current and future professionals dedicated to tackling the most complex problems in the built environment.</p> <div class="image-hero"><img class="img-responsive" src="/sites/default/files/2025/assets/images/53694049766_abbc997178_k.jpg" alt="Photo of a group of students at a past solar decathlon event."></div> <h2>Why compete in the Design Challenge?</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Collegiate institutions </strong>are recognized as leaders who are producing career-ready professionals with real-world skills. </li> <li><strong>Students</strong> develop market-ready design skills, form lasting connections with leading industry professionals, and join the growing global network of Solar Decathlete alumni.</li> <li><strong>Faculty</strong> prepare students to implement creative solutions in the buildings industry and build connections with other faculty members and collegiate programs from around the world.</li> <li><strong>Industry partners and </strong><a href="/about-sponsors"><strong>sponsors</strong></a> gain international recognition and access to the best and brightest talent for their organization.</li> <li><strong>Alumni </strong>maintain strong connections to a global professional network and gain leadership skills through mentoring opportunities with current student teams.</li> </ul> <h2>Important Dates for the 2025 Design Challenge</h2> <ul> <li><strong>July 2024:</strong> Registration opens, <a href="/sites/default/files/2025/assets/pdfs/design-challenge-rules-2025.pdf">2025 Design Challenge Rules</a> released.</li> <li><strong>September 10, 2024:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpaQQZJdigo&feature=youtu.be">Kickoff webinar</a></li> <li><strong>October 23, 2024:</strong> Team Registration deadline</li> <li><strong>February 2025:</strong> Virtual Semifinal Competition Event</li> <li><strong>April 25-27, 2025:</strong> Final Competition Event with in-person and virtual options; hosted at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="usa-footer usa-footer--slim" role="contentinfo"> <div class="usa-footer__primary-section"> <div class="usa-footer__primary-content"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap"> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container footer-nav"> <div class="grid-row"> 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