RULEBOOK & RESOURCES
COMPETITION CATEGORIES
INDUSTRY CATEGORY
- Licensed architects
- Interior designers
- Engineers
- Professional firms
- Built environment professionals
COMMUNITY CATEGORY
- Community members
- Schools
- Faith communities
- NGOs
- Students
- Veterans groups
- Educators
A duplex is not merely two units under one roof. It is an architecture of relationship.
WHY TWO CATEGORIES?
A licensed architect and a group of eighth graders both have something important to say about what a good home looks like.
PRIZES & RECOGNITION
Prize Structure Options:
Industry prize
$5,000
Community prize
$5,000
collaboration
TBD
Bonus Collaboration Prize:
Potential sponsored $5,000 award.
WHAT EVERY WINNER RECEIVES
- Public recognition
- Featured winner profile
- Inclusion in PORCH Housing Resource Library
- Certificate of recognition
- Press features
WHO CAN COLLABORATE
Schools
Charlotte County Public Schools, Charlotte Technical College, Florida SouthWestern State College, STEM clubs, robotics teams, career academies.
Faith
Communities
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda, Deep Creek Community Church, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, local outreach ministries.
Senior Organizations
PORCH Communities, Charlotte County Healthy Living Center, AARP Chapters, senior centers, retirement community associations.
ARCHITECHS & Builders
Banks Engineering, DMK Associates, local general contractors, Habitat for Humanity Charlotte County, Southwest Florida building professionals.
STUDENTS &
MENTORS
Leadership Charlotte, Junior Leadership Charlotte, Charlotte County Chamber Young Professionals, FSW students, community mentors and volunteers.
NONPROFITS &
DESIGN FIRMS
Habitat for Humanity Charlotte County, Charlotte Community Foundation and local planning and design professionals.
CHARLOTTE DESOTO
BUILDING INDUSTRY
Home builders, general contractors, architects, engineers, developers, subcontractors, and building suppliers.
NGOs & Veterans
Organizations
Habitat for Humanity, United Way, American Legion, VFW Posts, Homeless Coalition, veteran support groups.
AGING SPECIALISTS & HOUSING DEVELOPERS
PORCH Communities, senior housing providers, assisted living experts, affordable housing developers, AARP advocates.
THE INTERGENERATIONAL TEAM BONUS
Teams including at least one member age 55+ and one member age 25 or younger receive special recognition.
SUBMISSION TOOLS
- TinkerCAD
- SketchUp
- AutoCAD
- Revit
- Hand drawings
- Physical models
- Google Slides
TEAM SIZE
2–4 encouraged
NO PROFESSIONAL LICENSE REQUIRED
Ideas and empathy matter more than credentials.
AGE-FRIENDLY DESIGN CRITERIA
Universal Design
- Zero-step entry
- Wide doorways and hallways
- Lever handles
- Accessible bathrooms
- Adaptable kitchens
- Non-slip flooring
- Bright natural lighting
- Single-level living
Safety & Resilience
- Hurricane-rated windows
- Flood-resistant construction
- Secure entrances
- Exterior lighting
Sustainability & Low Maintenance
- Durable materials
- Passive cooling
- Solar-ready roof
- Low-water landscaping
Community & Connection
- Shared spaces
- Visual privacy
- Informal mutual care
- Neighborhood compatibility
JUDGING CRITERIA & SCORING
- Age-Friendly & Universal Design — 30%
- Intergenerational Design Thinking — 25%
- Livability & Functionality — 20%
- Florida Context & Resilience — 15%
- Design Quality & Presentation — 10%
A NOTE FROM THE JUDGES
“We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for genuine empathy.”
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All entries submitted through the PORCH competition portal.
REQUIRED
- Site Plan
- Floor Plans
- Exterior Elevation or 3D View
- Design Narrative (500–800 words)
- Team Information
OPTIONAL
- Intergenerational Process Note
- Collaboration Statement
ACCEPTED FORMATS
- TinkerCAD
- Sketch
- UpImages
Max File Size
25MB
WHAT WE DO NOT REQUIRE
- Structural calculations
- Permit-ready drawings
- Expensive software
- Prior competition experience