The perFORM 2015 Building Design Competition challenges emerging architectural professionals to fuse high performance building with high design.





WHAT: This year’s competition calls for architectural students and interns to design a net zero energy, mixed-use, multifamily building in the heart of Portland, Oregon. Group and individual entries will be judged based on the criteria of resourcefulness, replicability, and beauty. Adaptability (future proofing) and the project’s triple bottom line will also be considered. The perFORM jury will distribute $6,000 in cash awards, and award winners will receive publication online and in print, as well as public display of their boards in Portland and Seattle.





WHY: Demonstrate that high performance building and high design are inherently complementary and that by fusing the two we can create buildings of unsurpassed beauty and efficiency. Show that net zero energy use is practical for larger, multistory buildings. Support emerging architects in their development as designers of high performance buildings.





WHO: Architectural students (at NAAB or CACB accredited schools) and architectural interns based in the US and Canada. Both group and individual entries are welcome and will be judged by a jury consisting of practicing architects, design educators, and builders. Professor Peter Keyes of the University of Oregon Department of Architecture will be serving as the perFORM 2015 advisor.





WHERE: The design site is a new parcel in Portland, Oregon created by the removal of a portion of NE Sandy Boulevard as part of the coupling of E Burnside Street and NE Couch Street. The site, bounded by NE Couch on the north, E Burnside on the south, and 14th Avenue on the east, provides the opportunity to make a strong visual statement, especially from the Northeast along the Sandy Boulevard corridor. Zoning is EXdj with a maximum floor to area ratio of 4 to 1.





WHEN: Registration (free) is open now. Guidelines are now available and competition resources (energy verification tool, pro forma, board templates, etc.) will be available soon. Entry submissions are due on June 19, 2015 at 11:59pm (Pacific).