ULI Competition

Rendering of a modern urban park surrounded by futuristic buildings with rooftop gardens and large windows. People walk and gather in the open green space, while cars drive past on a nearby street. Birds fly in a partly cloudy sky.
URBAN LAND INSTITUTE

The Urban Land Institute's Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition is an annual graduate-level competition intended to provide an interdisciplinary learning experience for business and design students. Student teams work on large-scale sites with complex challenges that need innovative solutions reflecting responsible land use. Each team is required to work in a multifaceted way, incorporating design, planning, market potential, and feasibility into their development strategies.

Each year the School of Architecture participates in the Urban Land Institute's Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition. Participation in the national competition, along with an internal competition at UT Austin, is funded through a generous gift from the Cogburn Family Foundation.

Each year, students from across the School of Architecture's disciplines, from architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, community and regional planning, and the McCombs School of Business have taken part in the competition. UT Austin student teams have performed exceedingly well in the national competition, with two national winners, as well as many finalists and honorable mentions. 

The Urban Design Program at the School of Architecture also offers a ULI studio. The studio works in teams, taking on the same project that is the subject of the competition. The teams will continue to work after the initial ten-day competition to develop the group projects.

  • Instagram Post
    Highlighting some of the exceptional student work from the 2025-2026 academic year. ✨ <br>
    @utsoa

    Highlighting some of the exceptional student work from the 2025-2026 academic year. ✨

  • Instagram Post
    On display: Looks and Books<br>
    @utsoa

    On display: Looks and Books

  • Instagram Post
    On November 9, acclaimed interior designer Little Wing Lee (@studio.and.projects) presents “Micro to Macro: Interior Design and Architecture” <br>
    @utsoa

    On November 9, acclaimed interior designer Little Wing Lee (@studio.and.projects) presents “Micro to Macro: Interior Design and Architecture”

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    "I want students to leave my classroom better able to connect ideas about housing, planning, and community development to the choices that shape people’s lives.” <br>
    @utsoa

    "I want students to leave my classroom better able to connect ideas about housing, planning, and community development to the choices that shape people’s lives.”

  • Instagram Post
    On November 2, Founding Principal of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects (@teneyckla), Christine Ten Eyck, presents “TEN Things.” <br>
    @utsoa

    On November 2, Founding Principal of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects (@teneyckla), Christine Ten Eyck, presents “TEN Things.”

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    A legacy that continues to shape what comes next.<br>
    @utsoa

    A legacy that continues to shape what comes next.

  • Instagram Post
    Don't Get Too Attached<br>▫️ by Ria Bravo (@riabravodesign) <br>.<br>.<br>.
    @utsoa

    Don't Get Too Attached
    ▫️ by Ria Bravo (@riabravodesign)
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  • Instagram Post
    In the inaugural volume of The Plot, we looked at how Josh Conrad, Ph.D., mapped the digital and physical stacks of the John S. Chase Architecture and Planning Library.
    @utsoa

    In the inaugural volume of The Plot, we looked at how Josh Conrad, Ph.D., mapped the digital and physical stacks of the John S. Chase Architecture and Planning Library.

  • Instagram Post
    On October 26, acclaimed architect Michael Maltzan (@michaelmaltzanarchitecture) presents his lecture, “Scales of the City.” <br>
    @utsoa

    On October 26, acclaimed architect Michael Maltzan (@michaelmaltzanarchitecture) presents his lecture, “Scales of the City.”