The New York High Falls Riverfront Market competition invites architects, designers, and creative thinkers to imagine a new civic destination within the evolving landscape of Rochester’s future High Falls State Park.
Located along the dramatic Genesee River gorge in western New York State, the project site sits within one of the city’s most historically significant industrial and natural landscapes — a place where waterfalls, infrastructure, public space, and industrial heritage converge.
Presented by Buildner in partnership with AIA Rochester as part of its annual Designers Unleashed initiative, together with Community Design Rochester and Future Reality Services, the competition explores how architecture can contribute to the transformation of Rochester’s riverfront into a contemporary public landscape centered around gathering, culture, and everyday urban life.
Participants are asked to design a contemporary riverfront market together with the surrounding public space at the Smokestack Portal site — one of the future entry points into High Falls State Park. The proposal should function as both an active public destination and a gateway into the future park system while responding carefully to the site’s dramatic topography, industrial identity, and relationship to the Genesee River gorge.
Prizes
Total prize Fund 10,000 USD
1ST PLACE 5,000 USD
2ND PLACE 2,500 USD
3RD PLACE 1,000 USD
Student award 1,000 USD
Sustainability award 500 USD
Honorable mentions 6
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Key dates
Closing date for registration 10 December 2026
Closing date for project submission 18 January 2027
Announcement of the winners 9 March 2027
Competition Q&A deadline 16 December 2026
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Registration fees
ADVANCED 30 Jul – 07 Oct | 110-120 €
LAST MINUTE 08 Oct – 10 Dec | 120-120 €
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