Feedback Session Scheduled for Middle Housing Design Competition

Published on July 29, 2026

The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Southern Arizona will host an in-person design feedback session for the 2026 Middle Housing Design Competition.

DESIGN FEEDBACK SESSION

Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Time: 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Sentinel Building, 320 N. Commerce Park Loop
Session Registration: https://tucsonpdsd.info/MHDesignFeedbackSession

The session is open to anyone, whether or not they plan to enter the competition. Attendees are encouraged to bring designs and plans for review by AIA members and PDSD's building team. Snacks will be provided.

The feedback session supports the Middle Housing Design Competition, launched through a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant in partnership with AIA Southern Arizona. The competition invites architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors, design-build teams, and students to submit middle housing design plans (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, and cottage courts) that can be pre-approved and made available to Tucson homeowners. The submission window closes on Monday, September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Any individual or firm may submit up to four designs. A selection committee and public survey will determine 15 selected designs, each receiving a $1,000 award funded by AARP. Selected plans will be posted in an online library at middlehousing.tucsonaz.gov, where homeowners can browse designs and connect with designers to purchase plans and permit new housing on their site. Designs added to the library will have building review fees waived, and designers retain full ownership of their work.

For more information about middle housing and the design competition, visit middlehousing.tucsonaz.gov. You can also contact the team by email at MHDesign@tucsonaz.gov.