Submissions are now being accepted for the WA Starter Home Plan’s Townhouse Design Competition.
The competition seeks to find new ways to expedite and increase the production of affordable starter homes for Washington residents. The competition is open to architects, building designers, students, manufacturers, and construction companies. A blind juried panel of architects, engineers, local jurisdiction planning officials, and housing professionals will judge the entries. Of the entries, 10 floor plans will be selected for potential development.
Housing plans will be judged on several factors such as livability, efficiency and cost-consciousness, site adaptability, design variation, modular-friendly design, and design innovation, according to a release.
The competition is a part of WA Starter Home Plan’s effort to build more affordable housing and is funded by state legislature passed in 2024 and completed through Civic Commons via a contract with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
The deadline to submit is May 22. For those with questions regarding the competition, a virtual Q&A session will be held from 10-11 a.m. on March 25. Register here.