Presented by Buildner in partnership with AIA Rochester as part of its annual Designers Unleashed initiative, together with Community Design Rochester and Future Reality Services, the competition explores how architecture can contribute to the transformation of Rochester’s riverfront into a contemporary public landscape centered around gathering, culture, and everyday urban life. Located along the Genesee River gorge in western New York State, the project site sits within one of the city’s most historically significant industrial and natural landscapes — a place where waterfalls, infrastructure, public space, and industrial heritage converge.

Participants are asked to design a contemporary riverfront market together with the surrounding public space at the Smokestack Portal site — one of the future entry points into High Falls State Park. The proposal should function as both an active public destination and a gateway into the future park system while responding carefully to the site’s topography, industrial identity, and relationship to the Genesee River gorge.

The competition welcomes participants of all backgrounds—no professional qualifications required.

Prizes:

• 1st place: 5,000 EUR
• 2nd place: 2,500 EUR
• 3rd place: 1,000 EUR
• Student award: 1,000 EUR
• Sustainability award: 500 EUR
• 6 honorable mentions

Registration deadline is 10 December 2026. Deadline for project submission is 18 January 2027.

There is a fee to enter the competition. The prices vary depending on whether the applicant is a student or not, which of the three deadlines they apply for (29 July, 7 October or 10 December 2026) and whether the payment will be made in one go or in three installments.