The New York High Falls Riverfront
Buildner
📌About the Event
The New York High Falls Riverfront Market Competition 2026 is an international architecture and urban design challenge inviting participants to design a contemporary public market at the Smokestack Portal in Rochester, New York. The site forms part of the proposed High Falls State Park and overlooks the Genesee River gorge. Participants must create a vibrant civic destination that also functions as a welcoming gateway to the future park while respecting the area’s dramatic topography, industrial heritage and riverfront setting.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Competition type: International architecture ideas competition
- Theme: Designing a new riverfront market and surrounding public spaces in Rochester, New York
- Project location: Smokestack Portal, future High Falls State Park, Rochester, New York, USA
- Mode of conduct: Completely online
- Submission language: English
- Brief availability: English, French, Italian and Spanish
- Main design task:
- Participants must propose a contemporary riverfront market that
- Serves as an active public and community destination.
- Creates an identifiable entrance to the future High Falls State Park.
- Responds to the Genesee River gorge and the site’s changing elevations.
- Recognises the historic smokestack and Rochester’s industrial heritage.
- Integrates architecture, landscape and public space.
- Participants must propose a contemporary riverfront market that
📅 Important Dates
- Registration commenced: May 24, 2026
- Early-bird registration deadline: July 29, 2026
- Advanced registration period: July 30 to October 7, 2026
- Last-minute registration period: October 8 to December 10, 2026
- Final registration deadline: December 10, 2026
- Competition Q&A deadline: December 16, 2026
- Project submission deadline: January 18, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. London time
- Announcement of winners: March 9, 2027
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibility:
- The competition is open to participants from all countries.
- Architects, artists, designers, students, professionals, companies and other creative individuals may participate.
- No professional architecture licence or formal qualification is required.
- Indian students and professionals are eligible to register.
- Participants must register and pay the applicable fee before the registration deadline.
- After payment, participants receive a Unique Identification Code, which must be validated through their Buildner account.
- Entries must be prepared and submitted in English.
- Participants retain ownership and authorship of their work.
- Buildner receives permission to publish and promote submitted projects through its website, publications, social media, exhibitions and marketing channels.
- Entries are evaluated anonymously; the registration category or professional status of participants is not revealed during judging.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Total prize fund: US$10,000
- First Prize: US$5,000
- Second Prize: US$2,500
- Third Prize: US$1,000
- Student Award: US$1,000
- Sustainability Award: US$500
- Honourable Mentions: Six