MGMC
Michael G. Meyers High School Design Competition and Mentorship Program
The Michael G. Meyers Design & Scholarship Competition is an annual event sponsored by Architecture Center Houston Foundation, AIA Houston, and local architecture firms and affliates. This is an idea competition with an emphasis on creative problem solving and graphic presentation.
This year, MGMC will be in-person, and is open to all Houston area high school students. Students may work as individuals or in groups.
This is an ideas competition with an emphasis on creative problem solving and graphic presentation. To guide students through the design process, the MGMC Committee will host a series of events to help students learn basic architectural drawing skills, understand the competition requirements and meet their client.
1. At the Student and Teacher Workshop students will get a unique opportunity to interact and learn from the architects and designers currently practicing in the Houston area. And, the 2025 project will be annouced!
2. During the Project Site Tour, they will visit the site to get familiar with the neighborhoods surrounding the project competition site. The Site Tour allows them to understand how to incorporate their design into the surrounding environment, and to see the area from another perspective.
3. At the Interim Review students will get valuable feedback from professionals.
4. The Final Award Ceremony is for students, teachers and parents to celebrate and recognize the competition winners. Scholarships will be presented by the ArCH Board President.
The competition takes place from January-May 2025, on three Saturdays throughout the year. This year’s challenge will be announced at the Student and Teacher Workshop in January.
In the past students have been asked to design a variety of dynamic and challenging projects, including an education center with a focus on sustainable efforts and practices, a multi-purpose building for Houston’s Third Ward, a soccer stadium, a museum, and others.
All Houston area high school students are eligible to participate regardless of class affiliation or age.Teachers and Counselors are encouraged to promote this scholarship competition.
Sponsors
clays for college presenting sponsor
MGMC Silver Sponsor
Schedule & Registration
IMPORTANT 2025 DATES:
Student & Teacher Workshop
Saturday, January 18
9am-1pm
Architecture Center Houston
902 Commerce St, 77002
Register for the workshop here.
Project Site Tour
Saturday, February TBD
10:00 am
Location: TBD
Interim Project Review
Saturday, April 5
10am-Noon
Architecture Center Houston,
902 Commerce St, 77002
Projects Due
Projects can dropped off starting Thursday, May 8 from 9:00am-5pm
The deadline is Friday, May 9, 5:30pm (late projects will be accepted on Saturday, May 10, 10am-noon)
Architecture Center Houston
902 Commerce St, 77002
All students MUST fill out Student Label Form and attach to the back of their project.
Awards Ceremony
Thursday, May 15
6:00pm
Architecture Center Houston,
902 Commerce St, 77002
Silos of Innovaiton
What is S.T.E.A.M?
“STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.”
The critical thinking abilities learned through interactive and process-based education are an important set of skills needed to become an Architect. As a subject, Architecture encompasses all aspects of STEAM in many ways, a few examples being environmental and physical sciences, adaptation of 21st century technologies, building engineering, human-based design, and algorithmic parameters.
While you will use your knowledge of STEAM in this year’s Architectural Competition Project design, your building’s main program will be based off 1 (one) of the letters from the Acronym STEAM. Use this topic as inspiration for the type of Education Lab you would want to be available to you and your interests. Curtail the use of support spaces to your Main Topic Anchor.
Possibilities for this Lab include (but are not limited to) a Studio Art center, Science & Research lab, Robotics fabrication, VR Learning zone, Digital Media hub, or any other hobby or interest related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, or Math. This 25,000 square-foot building can be on 1 of the 3 sites, next to the Silos in Memorial City. Your building and site elements must fit within the boundary of your chosen site, including parking. Parking is limited to 10 – 15 spaces, 4 of which need to be ADA accessible. Consider how the site is accessed from the road and the presence your building gives viewers as they begin to approach the site. The characteristics of your building design will impact how it is viewed from the site, so carefully consider how to organize site elements around your building to ensure a comfortable outdoor environment for visitors.
Be sure to consider the context of the surrounding neighborhood, including local aesthetics, culture, and landmarks in your design. Don’t forget that this is first and foremost an ideas competition. Be creative!
The Michael G. Meyers Design & Scholarship Competition is an annual event sponsored by Architecture Center Houston Foundation, AIA Houston, and local architectural firms and affiliates. This is an ideas competition with an emphasis on creative problem solving and graphic presentation.
All Houston area high school students are eligible to participate regardless of class affiliation or age. Entrants are requested to enter only once per year as a member of a team or as an individual. Teachers and Counselors are encouraged to promote this scholarship competition.
The 2024 MGMC Program and Description Guidelines can be seen here.
The 2024 MGMC Site Plan PDF and DWG Files can be downloaded here.
