Join us for our 6th annual model home competition, open to all students grades K-12 in Bennington County!
Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at Hildene’s Lincoln Hall
The Model Home Competition is open to all K–12 students who live in or attend school in Bennington County, Vermont, including students from Manchester, Arlington, Shaftsbury, Bennington, Dorset, Rupert, and surrounding Southern Vermont communities. In this hands-on design contest, students create three-dimensional model homes either individually or in small teams. On competition day, participants present their work for evaluation by local professionals, including architects, interior designers, engineers, builders, and community partners.
Each year, students bring imaginative ideas to life through a wide variety of materials. Past entries have included homes built from recycled materials, cardboard, Styrofoam, Legos, wood, and even 3D pens—demonstrating the creativity, problem-solving, and craftsmanship behind every model. All participants receive recognition for their work, with top entries earning awards and prizes.
More than a design challenge, the Model Home Competition is a community-focused educational event. The contest helps raise awareness about the ongoing need for affordable housing in Bennington County and Southern Vermont, while supporting local Habitat for Humanity homebuilding programs. Through this experience, students are introduced to Habitat for Humanity’s mission and learn how thoughtful design, collaboration, and service can play a role in strengthening their communities now and in the future.
Students may enter the Model Home Competition individually or as part of a team of up to four students. Model homes may be constructed using any materials of the student’s choosing, with creativity and thoughtful design encouraged at every level.
Each entry must:
On competition day, students display their model homes and speak with judges about their design. Participants should be prepared to explain their ideas, materials, inspiration, and any special features of their home. Judges may ask questions about design choices, functionality, sustainability, or how the home reflects the values of Habitat for Humanity.
Students do not need prior building or design experience to participate. The Model Home Competition is designed to be accessible to students of all ages and skill levels, whether completed independently at home or incorporated into classroom learning.
Each year, the Model Home Competition highlights a design theme to help inspire student creativity and give returning participants a new challenge.
This year’s theme is:
Living Together: Multigenerational Design
Students are encouraged to think about how a home might support people of different ages living together — such as children, parents, and grandparents — through thoughtful layouts, shared spaces, accessibility, or adaptable design features.
Participation in the theme is optional and designs are not judged based on how closely they align with the theme. Instead, the theme serves as a creative focus and will be used to determine the Community Choice Theme Award, selected through public voting during the event.
All participants in the Model Home Competition receive recognition for their work. Select entries are honored with awards that celebrate different strengths in design, creativity, problem-solving, and overall execution.
Rather than ranking entries as first, second, and third place, awards are designed to recognize a variety of approaches and talents. Students may focus on artistic expression, sustainability, functionality, material choices, or overall concept, with multiple pathways to success.
Juried awards may include Best in Build, Artistic Creativity, Sustainability, Habitat Spirit, Resourceful Design, Best Functional Design, and Strong Concept. In addition, a Community Choice Theme Award, determined through public voting during the event, highlights designs that best reflect this year’s theme.
Awards are granted per entry, not per student. Winning entries receive formal recognition, which may be listed on student resumes, design portfolios, and college or scholarship applications. Specific award categories and prize details may vary from year to year and will be announced prior to the competition date.
Entries in the Model Home Competition are evaluated by a panel of local professionals, including architects, interior designers, engineers, builders, and community partners. Judges use a shared set of criteria to evaluate all entries.
Models are judged based on:
Judges consider each entry relative to the age, experience, and available resources of the student(s). More complex designs may demonstrate advanced planning or technical skill, while simpler designs may demonstrate strong creativity, clarity of concept, or thoughtful execution. Judges focus on how well the design reflects the student’s ideas, effort, and understanding, rather than comparing entries strictly by size or technical difficulty.
This approach allows students of all ages to compete together in a single Model Home Competition while ensuring that every entry is evaluated fairly and appropriately.
Participation in the Model Home Competition requires advance registration using the online registration form.
Every student must be registered individually, even when participating as part of a team. This is required for liability and waiver purposes. There is no cost to register, and the competition is free to attend for participants and families.
Students may work individually or in teams of up to four students. While Habitat for Humanity provides the competition space, judging, and awards, participants are responsible for supplying their own materials to construct their model homes. There are no restrictions on materials used, as long as the model meets the size guidelines.
Registered participants will receive additional event details, including setup instructions and presentation guidelines, prior to the competition date.
The Model Home Competition can be completed independently by students or incorporated into classroom learning. Teachers are welcome to adapt the project to fit their curriculum, timeline, and grade level.
This contest offers opportunities to reinforce concepts across multiple subjects, including art, math, science, social studies, and writing. Students practice problem-solving, spatial reasoning, creative expression, and communication skills while working through the design process.
Habitat for Humanity staff are available to support participating classrooms through optional classroom visits, virtual Q&A sessions, or design support conversations. Teachers who are interested in incorporating the Model Home Competition into their coursework are encouraged to reach out for additional resources and guidance.
A curriculum guide and supporting materials are available to help teachers integrate the project into lesson plans while maintaining flexibility for individual classroom needs.
On the day of the Model Home Competition, students display their model homes in a public exhibition setting. Participants are asked to be present with their models during judging and should be prepared to briefly discuss their design, materials, and inspiration with judges.
Judging takes place in person and is conducted by a panel of local professionals. Judges may ask questions and engage students in conversation about their design choices, functionality, or overall concept.
In addition to juried awards, attendees are invited to view the models and participate in community voting to determine the Community Choice Theme Award.
The Model Home Competition also features local exhibitors and community partners, creating an engaging event for students, families, and visitors. More detailed event logistics, including setup times and presentation guidelines, will be shared with registered participants prior to the event.
The following businesses/organizations were set up in Lincoln Hall during the event with informational booths, displays, and activities in 2025. 2026 Exhibitor list coming soon!
More Coming Soon…
The competition is open to all K–12 students who live in or attend school in Bennington County, Vermont.
Yes. Students may enter individually or as part of a team of up to four students. Each student must register individually, even when working on a team.
No prior experience is required. The Model Home Competition is designed to be accessible to students of all ages and skill levels.
Students may use any materials they choose, including recycled or low-cost materials, as long as the model fits within the size guidelines.
Please note that materials used may be used as a judging criterium.
Entries are evaluated by a panel of local professionals based on creativity, complexity, effort, craftsmanship, and the student’s ability to explain their design. Judges consider each entry relative to the age and experience of the student(s).
Students should be prepared to speak with judges about their model, but this is typically a conversation, not a formal presentation.
Adults may offer guidance or support, but the model should be primarily designed and built by the student(s). Judges look for evidence of independent work and effort.
Yes. Models may be taken home following the event. Some winning entries may be invited to be displayed temporarily with permission.
Teachers may request optional classroom visits, virtual Q&A sessions, or design support from Habitat for Humanity staff. Additional resources are available upon request.
While we encourage students to enter the competition year over year, no, all entries must be new designs created specifically for the current year’s competition.
No. All entries are judged using the same criteria, with consideration given to age, experience, and effort.
