Despite a multitude of technological advances including video conferencing and drones, the proliferation of airports worldwide continues to be spurred on by global commerce and an unrelenting demand for travel.
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While the airport terminal—conceived a century ago—is a relatively new architectural typology, they have hold equal importance with quintessential civic buildings: city halls, courthouses, libraries, museums, and theaters. Yet, airports are uniquely complex and are more than simply high-volume transportation hubs. Increasingly, airports are also workplaces, centers of commerce, recreational outlets, and cultural resources.
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Fentress Global Challenge (FGC) is an international student design competition. Since its inception in 2011, entries from more than 160 countries have competed for top honors. FGC represents an extraordinary exploration into the future of architecture and transportation, and in so doing, continues to advance the pursuit of innovative design.
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ELIGIBILITY
FGC is open to graduate and undergraduate students currently pursuing architecture or engineering degrees in an accredited university program, as well as recent graduates (within the last four years) with a degree in architecture or engineering. Current students must provide proof of active enrollment status: a scanned copy of their student ID and current course schedule. Recent graduates must provide a scanned copy of their diploma.
Participants in the FGC are allowed to go solo or team with a maximum of three team members. In the case of team submissions, awards will be split between team members. Participants are encouraged to choose the collaboration format that best aligns with their vision and design goals.
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GUIDELINES
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I. Participants are challenged to envision an airport in the year 2100 and create a new terminal building concept. Participants are encouraged to utilize forecasts for population, environmental conditions, modes of travel, potential destinations, and other data to develop their design. Concepts must:
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Improve at least one primary factor influencing airport terminal building design. Entrants are encouraged to make projections about the factors that will most influence airport architecture in the future. Examples include mobility, urbanization, globalization, technology, flexibility, security, project feasibility, and passenger experience.
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Achieve sustainability and resiliency. Sustainable design is the creation of places that are environmentally responsible, healthy, equitable, and profitable. Resilient design can adapt to changing conditions, as well as maintain or regain functionality in the face of natural and humanmade disasters.
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Employ Fentress Architects’ second Touchstone of Design – Use Context to Create Identity: “Context is more than an intellectual consideration of the history or physical appearance of a neighborhood, city, or state, and it’s more than the way new will live with old. Context draws on the senses, the sights, smells and memories that define a place and make it unique. Context grows from community, and people respond to it.” More information about Fentress Architects’ Eight Touchstones of Design is available here: https://fentressarchitects.com/design-philosophy.​
II. Participants must choose one of two site options:​
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Option 1: Establish the new terminal at an existing airport that requires expansion. Participants
have the flexibility to select any airport of their choice. Examples include:​
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
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St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
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Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
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Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
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Dubai International Airport (DXB)
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Tokyo-Haneda International Airport (HND)
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Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
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London Heathrow (LHR)
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Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
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Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
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Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
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Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
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Incheon International Airport (ICN)
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Option 2: Site the new terminal at a location of your choice where an airport does not yet exist.
Participants should consider sites where an airport could serve as a catalyst for economic and
social development.
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III. Participants must use clear, concise language to convey ideas, key points, and design solutions. Photographs, diagrams, renderings, animations, collages or other visualizations are encouraged to help explain the concept. Please label all graphics.
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IV. Plagiarism and cheating will result in disqualification.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Creative Approach and Presentation
The design approach is innovative and inspiring. Both the concept and design solution are presented through unique and compelling graphics.
Response to Site
The design honors the physical attributes of the site’s context and culture. The overall design strategy matches the global and local demographic requirements of the location. Again, use context to create identity.
Sustainability and Resiliency
The design minimizes negative impacts to the wellbeing of humans and the natural environment. The overall design strategy also addresses vulnerabilities related to natural and humanmade disasters.
Functionality
The planning for building organization and operations is clearly expressed and appropriate. The design solution is well-defined and well-articulated through the structural, technical, and constructible rationale.
Innovation and Technology
The design envisions the advancement of aviation and technology with innovations that improve building performance and passenger experience, such as efficiency, safety, comfort, health and wellbeing, sustainability and resiliency, amenities and entertainment, cost savings, and more.
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AWARDS
1st Place US $10,000
2nd Place US $3,000
3rd Place US $2,000
Two (2) People's Choice Awards US $1,000
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COMPETITION SCHEDULE​
Competition Announcement November 2023
Design Submission Deadline October 1, 2024
Shortlist Announcement November 2024
Winners Announcement December 2024
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SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Participants must register and upload competition materials to their profile page at www.fentressglobalchallenge.com no later than October 1, 2024 (23:00 GMT).
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Mandatory Formatting:
• Official language is English
• Official system of measurements is United States customary units
• File must be saved as a PDF and named as follows:
“2024_team name_design concept name.pdf”
• File must contain no more than: Eight (8) single-sided, 11-inch x 17-inch,
landscape-format pages
• File size must not exceed 100MB
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Mandatory Content:
• Title of design concept
• Description of design concept (400-700-word maximum)
• Profile of entrant (individual or team)
• Supporting images to include diagrams, plans, sections, and/or perspectives
• In a separate PDF, current students must provide a scanned copy of their student ID and current course schedule. Recent graduates must provide a scanned copy of their diploma.
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JURY
FGC entries will be judged in two stages. A first-round jury will establish a shortlist of design concepts, from which a final jury of distinguished experts will select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Award Winners. Members of the final jury will be announced in October, and may include airport directors, futurists, behavioralists, sustainability and resiliency experts, airport architects, and Fentress Fellows.
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All shortlisted entries will also be eligible for the People’s Choice Award, which will be judged on Fentress Architects’ Facebook page. The two submissions receiving the most “likes” will win a prize of US$1,000 each.
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RULES AND REGULATIONS
Acceptance of Terms and Conditions
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By participating in Fentress Global Challenge (FGC), participants agree to abide by all guidelines, requirements, rules and regulations related to the competition. Participants are encouraged to carefully review these to ensure compliance with all FGC terms and conditions.
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Entry Submission: No changes are permitted to an entry after submission, except with explicit approval from Fentress Architects.
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Intellectual Property: Participants affirm that all materials submitted are their original work and do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party. Fentress Architects is not liable for any infringement, and participants indemnify Fentress Architects against third-party claims. Plagiarism and cheating will result in disqualification.
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Usage Rights: Participants grant Fentress Architects and competition sponsors non-exclusive reproduction rights for advertising, promotion, exhibition, print publication, and internet purposes related to the competition. Fentress Architects is not responsible for unauthorized use by third parties.
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Media Approval: All published and online media, related to the FGC must be reviewed and approved by Fentress Architects.
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Prize Terms: Winners may not transfer, assign, or substitute prizes.
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Personal Data Processing: Entrants acknowledge that personal data may be processed, shared, and used for contest-related purposes. Participants can access, review, rectify, or cancel personal data by contacting Fentress Architects.
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Validation and Disqualification: Fentress Architects has the right to verify the validity and originality of entries and entrants, disqualifying any entry not in accordance with the rules. Failure to enforce rights at any stage does not waive those rights.
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Rule Changes: FGC rules and regulations are subject to change without notice.
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Contest Integrity: If the contest is disrupted due to factors beyond Fentress Architects' control, including computer viruses, tampering, or technical failures, Fentress Architects may disqualify individuals tampering with the process or modify, cancel, terminate, or suspend the contest.
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Online Voting: In order to maintain fair competition, the use of click farms on the People's Choice Awards voting platforms is strictly prohibited.
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Legal Jurisdiction: Any claims related to participation in the competition must be brought in Denver, Colorado, USA, and will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado. The contest is void where prohibited. ​
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