Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
About this story
World Architecture Festival has selected seven university teams from more than 30 submissions for its 2026 Student Charrette: Columbia University, NIRMA University’s Institute of Architecture and Planning, IUAV University of Venice, Kingston University, MIU City University Miami, Pratt Institute, and the University of Toronto. Responding to WAF 2026’s theme of Water, teams will explore buildings, programmes, regeneration, reclamation, or other proposals in which water is central to the design. Participants receive complimentary festival passes but are responsible for travel and accommodation. Following a final briefing on November 17, teams will work in designated festival spaces before giving ten-minute presentations and taking ten minutes of jury questions on November 20.
Status and timeline
Seven finalist teams have been selected. The final briefing is scheduled for November 17, 2026; teams will develop proposals November 18–19 and present to the jury on November 20 during WAF 2026.
Design highlights
Water as an architectural generator; live collaborative design; floating, regenerative, or reclamation-based proposals; compressed public critique and design development.
Important dates
· Final in person briefing · Details ↗
· Festival and live charrette · Details ↗
· Final presentations and winner selection · Details ↗
