Housing Innovation Challenge
The Initiative
The Housing Innovation Challenge is a catalyst for transformation in the design and construction industry - an unprecedented opportunity to test bold ideas, showcase new methods, and deliver real housing solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina. The City of Charlotte, in partnership with Meritage Homes and the Housing Innovation Alliance (HIA), proudly announces the launch of this two-year design-build competition, leveraging a range of metro-area sites as platforms for innovation and proof points of Charlotte’s commitment to advancing housing at scale.
As a full-scale demonstration within the Housing Innovation Alliance ecosystem, the Challenge is more than a showcase - it is a proving ground where concept-car ideas for housing move from vision to reality. Beyond architecture, it pushes into the manufacturing and logistics of housing, testing system-built solutions and prefabricated components such as MEPs, foundations, and modular interfaces.
Anchored by a two-year sequence of national conversations and activations - including the Housing Innovation Summit, Pitchfest, Innovation in Action tours, and the Meritage Charity Build - the Challenge pushes the industry to identify what is critical, not just “nice to have,” balancing thoughtful design, performance, and resilience with real-world measures like efficiency and total cost of ownership. Together, these efforts create a living laboratory where daring ideas shape the future of housing innovation nationwide.
Charlotte Context
Charlotte reflects the challenges facing many fast-growing U.S. cities: escalating housing costs, land scarcity, and widening inequities. In response, the Housing Innovation Challenge will ground its proposals in the City’s priorities - delivering attainable homes that demonstrate livability within smaller footprints and emphasize “missing middle” housing types such as duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes. These solutions will respect existing neighborhood character while making efficient use of limited land.
Prototypes will incorporate resourceful and resilient strategies, leverage prefabricated components to reduce construction time, and be evaluated on total cost of ownership, ensuring long-term value for households at 80% AMI, from single residents to families of four. By aligning city leadership, industry expertise, and academic talent, Charlotte positions itself as the testbed for scalable housing solutions that can serve both urban infill contexts and larger community developments - offering models that extend far beyond the city itself.
Design Objectives
Affordability & TCOH Impact – lower housing costs across acquisition, operation, and long-term ownership.
Design Excellence & Innovation – adaptable, replicable, and architecturally compelling.
Constructability & Speed – demonstrate efficient, scalable building systems.
Resilience & Operations – emphasize durability, energy performance, and reduced maintenance.
Finance & Equity Access – propose ownership, rental, and shared-equity models that expand access.
Community & Market Fit – align with Charlotte’s Housing Framework and neighborhood needs.
Communications & Storytelling – create a following through creative storytelling.
Who Can Compete
The competition is open to university, college, and vocational school teams representing architecture, engineering, construction, business and other programs. All teams must be interdisciplinary, bringing together both designers and builders to ensure a balance of vision and execution. Partnerships with industry and trade schools are strongly encouraged, providing access to materials, expertise, and skilled labor.
We believe in success through collaboration. To advance to the Build Phase, each team must secure at least one builder or manufacturer partner, with additional collaborations across the entire housing sector – such as suppliers, utilities, financial institutions, insurers, and real estate agencies.
Timeline
Phase 1: Design & Planning
● Oct 20, 2025: Announcement & registration opens
● Nov 7, 2025: Rules published
● Dec 5, 2025: Letters of Intent due
● Mar 13, 2026: Design submissions due
● Apr 17, 2026: Finalists announced
● May 20, 2026: Finalists recognized at Housing Innovation Summit
Phase 2: Build & Showcase
● May 2026: Kick-off workshop in Charlotte
● Feb 2027: Mid-way on-site workshop
● Sept–Oct 2027: On-site assembly period
● Oct 2027: Public Exhibition & Showcase