Competition

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Goal: Create a housing design that incorporates Key Concepts (chiefly multigenerational living and universal design) and is place-based in a Northwest Illinois (NWIL) municipality

Details: See Competition Brief below for specifics, including deliverables.  We expect that winning designs will:

• • Choose a specific municipal location in NWIL for the design to be deployed.

  • Incorporate multi-generational living, universal design, and other Key Concepts (see About).

  • Encourage community building - both in the physical environment and through interpersonal relationships.

  • Highlight interventions at different scales (house, block, and neighborhood).

• Balance individual and community needs.

• Provide concept-level illustrations (floor plan(s), site plan, elevations, etc.) and a design narrative.

Participants: Design professionals and students (including architects, engineers, and builders) based in the United States are eligible to apply. Those with a documented link to NWIL, which consists of Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties, are especially encouraged to submit.  Documented link means evidence of family history, residence, education, or work - past or present - in one of BHRC's six counties.  A simple statement describing such link can be considered a  valid form of evidence. Two $5,000 prizes will be reserved for submitters with a documented link to NWIL.

Prizes: A judging panel will award up to five prizes, each worth $5,000. Another $5,000 prize will be awarded through a public competition.  Winning designs will be showcased throughout the region at NWIL civic/cultural institutions in 2026 and online with contact information for the designer.  Above and beyond this competition, BHRC may enter into a contractual agreement and business relationship with any number of winners to formalize plans and work with local communities to implement housing designs.  NWIL-connected participants that are not awarded a prize but meet minimum competition requirements (as defined in the brief) will receive a $250 stipend (limit 10 stipends).*

*As of December 4, 2025, prize details have been revised to include more participants and maximize the distribution of award funding available.  See Results for more.

Flyer: Download the latest promotional flyer here.

KEY DATES

• First date to enter: August 11, 2025

• Last date to submit questions: October 10, 2025

• Last date to enter: October 17, 2025

• Public voting opens: October 27, 2025

• Public voting closes: November 28, 2025

• All winners announced: December 5, 2025

FAQs

Submit competition questions to info@blackhawkhills.com.  BHRC will answer any questions submitted by October 10, 2025.  Responses will be posted here as questions are received.

COMPETITION BRIEF

Those interested in competing should read the following in full as well as use the Resources page to familiarize themselves with universal design.

SUBMISSION FORM

Closed.