Tucson Planning and Development Services

Tomorrow, our Middle Housing Design Competition officially begins.

Architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors, design-build teams, and students can each enter up to three designs. Fifteen entries will be selected, and each will earn a $1,000 award funded by AARP.

Not sure where to start? A free virtual information session takes place tomorrow, Thursday, July 9, at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom. The session will cover competition requirements and walk through the submission process. Register: tucsonpdsd.info/MHInfoSession

The submission window opens Thursday, July 9, and runs through September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. This project was funded by a grant from AARP, with support from .

Full competition details: middlehousing.tucsonaz.gov

The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services (PDSD), with support from AIA Southern Arizona has received a 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grant to launch the Middle Housing Design Competition.

Architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors, design-build teams, and students are invited to submit plans for middle housing in Tucson. Each person or firm may submit up to three entries. Submissions open July 9 and close September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

We’ll be hosting a virtual information session on Thursday, July 9, at 11 a.m. on Zoom to walk through the competition requirements and the submission process. Register here: tucsonpdsd.info/MHInfoSession

15 entries will be selected. Each receives a $1,000 award funded by AARP. Selected plans submitted as model plans will have building review fees waived, and designers will retain full ownership of their work.

Visit middlehousing.tucsonaz.gov for competition details.

This project was made possible due to the generous support of AARP.

AARP Arizona AARP Livable Communities