New York High Falls Riverfront Market
Registration:
10.12.2026
Submission:
18.01.2027
Prize pool:
$10,000
Competition Brief & Overview
The competition invites architects, designers, and creative thinkers to imagine a new civic destination within Rochester's evolving High Falls State Park. Located along the dramatic Genesee River gorge in western New York State, the site sits within one of the city's most historically significant industrial and natural landscapes. Participants are asked to design a contemporary riverfront market together with the surrounding public space at the Smokestack Portal site—one of the future entry points into High Falls State Park. The proposal should function as both an active public destination and a gateway into the future park system. Designs must respond carefully to the site's dramatic topography, industrial identity, and relationship to the Genesee River gorge. The site occupies a prominent riverfront location within the future High Falls State Park along the edge of the Genesee River gorge. The historic industrial smokestack landmark remains one of the defining visual elements of the site and serves as a reminder of Rochester's industrial relationship with the riverfront. The competition explores how architecture can contribute to the transformation of Rochester's riverfront into a contemporary public landscape centered around gathering, culture, and everyday urban life.
Eligibility & Target Participants
open to all
Submission Guidelines & Full Rules
Participation Type:
paid; registration fees apply with different rates for students and professionals; special student rates available for group registrations (3+ registrations from one university/school); specific fee amounts not disclosed in the text
Total Prize Fund:
Total prize fund of 10,000 USD distributed as follows: 1st Place - 5,000 USD, 2nd Place - 2,500 USD, 3rd Place - 1,000 USD, Student Award - 1,000 USD, Sustainability Award - 500 USD, and 6 Honorable Mentions. Winners will automatically be included in the annual Buildner Medal Award 2027 final (by invitation only) with a 50,000 EUR prize fund (1st place 25,000 EUR, 2nd place 15,000 EUR, 3rd place 5,000 EUR, Student award 5,000 EUR). Winners will be featured on ArchDaily and receive extensive publicity through Buildner's network of over 2 million audience members, including website publication, social media exposure, newsletter campaigns, interviews, and movie submissions.