Three design competitions are inviting designers, architects, and other industry professionals to submit their work.
From housing research and innovation to residential and commercial projects and ideas for the future of Ontario’s streets, the CMHC Housing Research Awards, NanaWall’s NanaAwards 2026, and the OAA’s SHIFT2027 Challenge invite participants to showcase their innovative projects and design ideas.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has launched a new round of the annual Housing Research Awards competition. This year’s theme for the President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research is “Modernizing Canada’s Housing Industry.”
The Housing Research Awards recognize Canadian housing research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities that are impactful and innovative. The initiative aims to help build and sustain Canada’s culture of research-based housing knowledge across key fields, including the social sciences, humanities, health sciences, building sciences and beyond. They also recognize outstanding housing research and provide monetary awards to help project teams conduct further research, knowledge mobilization, and outreach activities. CMHC administers this program on behalf of the Government of Canada, as part of the National Housing Strategy (NHS).
Three awards are provided annually, which include the CMHC President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research: Modernizing Canada’s Housing Industry for $25,000, Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence for $12,500, and the Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action for $12,500. Award recipients are selected using a set of criteria to identify projects with the greatest potential to produce the data and insights needed by decision-makers to improve housing affordability and better address the needs of Canadians.
The Housing Research Awards application portal is now open. More information about the types of projects that may be submitted is available online. Applicants have until September 29, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. EST to submit their proposals. Winners will be selected later this year.
NanaAwards 2026 Project and Design Competition
NanaWall has opened submissions for the NanaAwards 2026 Project and Design Competition, an annual contest that celebrates the creativity and achievements of the NanaWall community of architects, interior designers, builders, contractors, homeowners, and business owners and their residential and commercial projects featuring NanaWall products.
Entrants are invited to showcase their use of NanaWall systems by submitting project stories, design inspiration, photography, and videos. The contest features a two-round evaluation process: a curated panel of NanaWall judges will first review all entries and select a shortlist of nominees across residential and commercial categories. The shortlist will then be opened to public voting to determine the winners in each category. Categories include but are not limited to Best Residential Design, Best Commercial, Best Remodel, Best Hospitality, and Best ADU.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the Gold and Silver category winners. Winning projects will also be featured on the NanaWall website and social media channels, amplifying their reach and prestige among NanaWall’s community of homeowners, builders, and design professionals.
Submissions will be open until September 10, 2026. Public voting will open in mid-October and close in early November, and winners will be announced in early December.
OAA SHIFT2027 ChallengeThe Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has announced the theme of the forthcoming SHIFT2027 Challenge: The Streets. The challenge aims to explore how streets can be adaptable to meet the needs of today while considering the needs of future generations and what it means to design for a “truly great street.”
The challenge asks OAA architects, licensed technologists, interns, students, and retired members to explore how they can develop sustainable solutions that address various aspects of the theme. This year’s edition invites participants to envision Ontario streets that are inclusive, versatile, sustainable, safe, welcoming, and enjoyable places to be for everyone, including the most vulnerable members of the community.
A jury of experts, which will be announced soon, will review submissions to determine which proposals to spotlight and then feature in podcasts, a hard-copy publication, and in-person events. Submissions will open this fall, with a January 2027 deadline. For more information, click here.
