Emerge Canterbury, with the support of APL is teaming up with Climate Action Campus Ōtautahi to give Graduate Members, Students, and early career designers the chance to come up with a concept for an outdoor teaching pavilion for use by the campus to teach local youth about the natural environment and sustainability. The winning concept will be developed and used for the construction of a pavilion later this year.

Submissions for this competition will be judged by Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects President Huia Reriti and Institute Fellow Bernadette Muir at a prize giving held at the Sir Miles Warren Gallery. Multiple prizes are up for grabs including a $250 Prezzy Card for both the runner-up and the student award, and a grand prize of $1,000 for the winning concept in addition to your concept being brought to life and used to support local tamariki. All short-listed concepts will also have your designs featured in The Bulletin.

Entry requirements:

• Entrants must be working in, or studying architecture, in Christchurch.
• Up to 10 years of experience in the industry.
• Enter as an individual or as part of a team of two. Student/Graduate combos encouraged!

The deadline for the competition is the 10 April 2026. 

To participate, please follow the link below and fill out the contact information form. This will give you access to the briefing document and site information. 

Enter here.

A huge thank you to Climate Action Campus for giving us this opportunity, and to APL for helping to make it happen.

For more information please email emergecanterbury@nzia.co.nz