The New York High Falls Riverfront Market

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.

Waterfallin New York.

[Image above] High Falls is the 96-foot waterfall that gave rise to the city of Rochester and powered its industrial growth for more than a century. Today, the falls remain the defining landmark of the future High Falls State Park and the broader riverfront transformation reconnecting Rochester with the Genesee River gorge. The New York High Falls Riverfront Market competition site is located within this evolving landscape at the Smokestack Portal — one of the future gateway sites connecting the city to the park and riverfront below.

Architecture for Connection.

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.

[Image above] The New York High Falls Riverfront Market competition site is located along the edge of the Genesee River gorge within the future High Falls State Park. The image illustrates the relationship between the competition site, the historic smokestack landmark, and High Falls itself further upstream — highlighting the broader riverfront landscape and network of future public connections shaping Rochester’s evolving waterfront transformation.

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.

New Market.New Gateway.

[Images above] The New York High Falls Riverfront Market competition site occupies a prominent riverfront location within the future High Falls State Park along the edge of the Genesee River gorge. The images illustrate the existing site conditions, including the historic industrial smokestack landmark, surrounding infrastructure, adjacent public trails, and the open landscape designated for future redevelopment.

The smokestack remains one of the defining visual elements of the site and serves as a reminder of Rochester’s industrial relationship with the riverfront. Together, the site’s dramatic topography, industrial remnants, and proximity to the gorge establish the unique character and spatial conditions shaping the future transformation of the High Falls district.

Open to all.Register now.

The competition welcomes participants of all backgrounds—no professional qualifications required.

The competition is conducted in English. Download the brief for full details and guidelines.

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 x6

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

Registration fees

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