Existing Conditions’ Second Innovation Challenge for Architecture & Design Related Students

The Innovation Challenge opened for entries in February of 2024 and is free to students. This is the second year for the challenge, which includes internship and career opportunities, and a real-world visit to a “high profile” site with the Existing Conditions team. What does a “high profile site” mean to Existing Conditions? Well, they’ve provided accurate as-built information for sites like the New York Stock Exchange, Harvard University, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others.

To enter the challenge, students are asked to draft a comprehensive architectural illustration that encapsulates their in-depth analysis and understanding of a real-world project, based on the 3D point cloud and Revit model supplied by Existing Conditions. A brief explanation (150 words or less) describing the rationale behind their analysis and the visual’s story, and a video narrative of three to five minutes must also accompany their submission. The submission deadline is October 11, 2024, at 5PM EDT.

“We are excited to announce the 2024 Existing Conditions Innovation Challenge, a unique opportunity that beckons the next wave of architects, designers, and digital documentation experts to showcase their analytical prowess, visual creativity, and innovative thinking on a global platform,” said Jared Curtis, Existing Conditions’ President.

He continued, “This challenge is not just a competition; it’s a platform for aspiring talents to interpret, analyze, and transform real-world projects using our advanced reality capture tools as a jumping-off point. It’s an invitation to rethink the boundaries of architectural representation and urban design thinking through the lens of digital innovation and to project their unique visions into tangible, impactful narratives.”

The impact of participating in, and winning, the Innovation Challenge in 2023 was a watershed moment for the inaugural challenge champion, Nicolas Mateus.

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“There was definitely a before and after with the Existing Conditions Innovation Challenge, said Mateus. “More than producing a new and exciting project for my portfolio, winning the challenge opened up a lot of doors for me and was an absolute impulse for my career as a future architect.” You can read Mateus’ entire interview with Existing Conditions, here.

2023’s Challenge used the Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts as the real-world project.

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The jury for the Existing Conditions Innovation Challenge, year two, is composed of several well-known designers. Tami Hughes of DBVW Architects, Michael Samra of studio TROIKA, Graham Clegg of STUDIOS Architecture, and members of the Existing Conditions team, where there is a deep bench of architectural, engineering, and construction talent, will be reviewing and critiquing the entries. “We look forward to seeing the unique visions and interpretations of our real-world project brought to life,” says the challenge’s press release.

The Breakdown: Important Information

Registration opened February 26, 2024, at 9AM, EST

Registration closes October 11, 2024, at 5PM, EDT

Juried Voting occurs October 14-30, 2024

Finalists will be announced on October 25, 2024, via social media

Awards Ceremony will be held Friday, November 15, 2024 (time & location TBD)

Entries must include the architectural illustration, 150-word or less explanation, and three to five minute video.

About Existing Conditions

Existing Conditions, a GPRS company, offers reliable as-built drawings and accurate existing condition surveys for the AEC community. With 27 years of experience and expertise, we are trusted to provide accurate information for building renovation or capital projects. Our services include architectural floor plans, virtual tours, 3D laser scanning, and drone surveys. We have worked on some of the most historic and high-profile projects in the United States, providing a mutual point of departure for building projects. Empower your team with situational awareness and accurate data to make smart decisions. Trust the experts at Existing Conditions for your building project nee

One of the many reasons GPRS is excited to welcome Boston-based Existing Conditions to the team is their exceptional commitment to fostering innovation in the architecture design, engineering, and construction industries. Representative of that commitment is their creation of the Existing Conditions Innovation Challenge, open to students studying architecture design, planning, and related disciplines.