Landscape architecture students primed to join the 2025 ArchEngBuild Challenge

Hannah Fillmore of BRANZ and Ralf Kessell of Concrete NZ are fizzing at the prospect of seeing at least five lucky third-year landscape architecture students brought into the mix for the 2025 ArchEngBuild Challenge.

The concept for the challenge as a way to span professions emerged as ArchEng in 2011 – initially under the auspices of the Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (now Concrete NZ) with the original intent of creating a vehicle to get young engineers and architects working together while they were still studying at university.

The addition of the ‘Build’ aspect and leadership from BRANZ marked an expansion of its material focus beyond concrete, and with the inclusion of landscape architecture students for the first time this year its reputation for evolving its kaupapa continues to go from strength to strength.

This video from 2019 gives a flavour of what the challenge encompasses:

"The challenge this year will bring together 40 students who will be organised into 10 design teams of four people for a 72-hour long, immersive sprint challenge in Auckland across three days in the first week of July (1-3 July)," says Hannah.

To begin with students will hear from industry experts about current trends and relevant topics, followed by a site visit, frequently related to housing, and the issuing of the detailed challenge brief. The 10 teams then have until day three to work on and submit their design responses.

These are then judged, with the big carrot of the announcement of the winning team - who receive a $12,000 prize to share between them - at a celebration event that evening. The prize-giving will also be attended by sponsors, supporters and industry leaders.

Hannah and Ralf have observed that ArchEngBuild’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing the diverse needs of the building and construction industry is a one-of-a-kind initiative both in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.

At past challenges students have valued what is commonly their first chance to meet, work and join forces across other disciplines than their own.

Ralf: "It is exciting to see how the challenge adapts to include more fields and perspectives, ensuring it remains relevant and impactful. ArchEngBuild has become an event where friendships are forged amongst peers who are likely to be future colleagues. Everyone buys into this and are super enthused about taking part".

Angela Hunter, COO at the NZ Institute of Landscape Architects, is especially excited to see this opportunity being opened up for landscape architecture students.

"Landscape architects are known for working in highly multidisciplinary environments, collaborating with planners, engineers, ecologists, and other professionals to create sustainable and resilient spaces.

"This opportunity allows students to develop those essential collaborative skills, preparing them for the complexities of real-world projects. It puts them into a position where they can showcase their creative and innovative thinking, as well as applying the teamwork that being a landscape architecture practitioner is all about. These are the the skills needed to tackle significant industry challenges".

To quote Concrete NZ chief executive Rob Gaimster (from 2016): "By strengthening the bonds between disciplines and supporting a collaborative working relationship today, the better the built environment outcomes will be tomorrow".

The nomination process for the ArchEngBuild Challenge, which allows for either self-nomination or for lecturers or tutors to nominate students, runs until ANZAC Day on 25 April. Nominations can be made here.


Students, Competition, BRANZ, Concrete NZStephen Olsen