2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom

Architecture For Humanity promotes open source architecture and provides professional design services to communities and non-profits to help build a sustainable future. They’ve announced their 2009 Open Architecture Challenge, and this year’s assignment is to design a better classroom. Anyone is eligible to participate in this competition to help imagine better learning spaces – you don’t even have to be an architect to get involved.

They explain:

We are inviting you, the designer, to work with students and teachers to design the classroom of the future for a school of your choosing. Your design should address the unique challenges your school faces in trying to provide smart, safe and sustainable learning spaces. Students and teachers, here’s your chance to tell the world what you need to make your classroom more effective. Architects and designers, you’ll work one-on-one with students to translate those needs into better classroom design.

* Share your design expertise and inspire school students to re-imagine their classroom
* Help students learn about the built environment using a companion design curriculum
* Become an advocate for better classroom design in your community

Jurors currently includes Dave Eggers, Michelle Kaufmann, Hilary Cottam, Kigge Hvid and others. More will be added over the course of the registration period.

If your design wins, your school will receive up to $50,000 in funding for classroom construction and upgrading. You will receive a grant of $5,000 to help them do it.

For more information and to enter head over to The Open Architecture Network.