For Part 1 students, the AIA UK Charrette is a design competition like no other!

Are you a second or third year student enrolled in a RIBA-accredited Part 1 course? The Student Charrette is for you! Hosted at Gensler, it's a one-day design competition that brings together teams of Part 1 students from around the country for an entirely analogue event.

Please note: this event is open to students aged 18 and over only.

When: Saturday 7 November 2026, 9am-6pm

Where: Gensler, Thomas More Square, Thomas More St, London E1W 1YW

Cost: £5, entry fee refundable for students that attend

Description

There's no computer to fall back on, so you'll be sketching and thinking on your feet, testing your drawing and representation skills without the aid of digital tools. Your team will be mentored by a practicing architect, and the event will end with a juried design review.

The charrette is run in Central London on a weekend, and funding is available to help cover travel costs. Prizes go to the winning team and the runners-up, and the winning proposal gets published and promoted across the AIA UK's social media channels.

Please note: Photographs taken at the event may be used in AIA UK Newsletter articles and on the website.

Eligibility and Entry Requirements:

Open to students enrolled in the second or third year of a RIBA-accredited Part-1 architecture course.

Register online, in teams (max. 8 students per team) or individually, to be assigned a team on the day.

Located in Central London at the Gensler office; nearest tube station is Tower Hill.

Support is available for travel costs on request; please contact AIA UK at students@aiauk.org prior to the event.

The £5 entry fee is refundable for students that attend the event.

Present to a jury of practicing architects and academics.

Prizes for the winning team and the runners-up.

One-year complimentary student membership of the AIA UK chapter offered to all participating students.

Description supplied by the event organiser.