Washington, DC — On Sunday, September 28, local architecture students from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area convened at the National Building Museum for the annual Interschool Design Competition. Each year, this event is organized by the three Washington, DC, area chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA)—AIA Northern Virginia, AIA Potomac Valley, and AIA DC. The competition has been a celebrated tradition for over two decades, fostering creativity and collaboration among emerging architects.
During this year’s competition, students focused on approaching accessibility and socialization through design. Students were challenged to preserve the historical significance of the Pennsylvania Avenue neighborhood in Washington, DC, while reflecting on current culture and society to reimagine an active, welcoming, and accessible space. Over the course of a week, students worked in teams to develop innovative solutions to this real-world challenge, with guidance from mentors within the architecture and design industry.
Each team featured representatives from several DC-area accredited architecture programs, including the Catholic University of America, Howard University, Morgan State University, the University of Maryland, the University of the District of Columbia, and Washington Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) – Virginia Tech.
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) proudly sponsors the competition as part of its ongoing mission to support architecture students and raise awareness about the pathway to licensure. Through this competition, students earned credit toward the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®), a key component on the path to licensure, and received a free NCARB Record for a year. By sponsoring the Interschool Student Design Competition, NCARB aims to connect with local students and architecture schools to promote innovation within the architectural field.
As the competition grows each year, NCARB and AIANOVA are committed to nurturing future generations of architects and providing platforms for their growth and success. Winners of the 2025 Interschool Design Competition will be announced later this week, with prizes awarded to the top teams for their innovative and thoughtful designs.