Future City High School Launches New “Fire Resilient Future” Challenge
The Future City High School program recently hosted an informational session outlining exciting updates for the upcoming competition season. Designed for students in grades 9–12, the program challenges teams to imagine and design cities 100 years into the future while solving real-world sustainability problems through engineering, urban planning, architecture, and teamwork.
A Competition Built for Every Student
One of the strongest themes throughout the session was inclusivity. Organizers emphasized that Future City High School is not just for aspiring engineers. Students interested in writing, public speaking, design, research, leadership, and project management all have meaningful roles to play.
Participants from previous seasons described the competition as “holistic” and “life-changing,” highlighting how it mirrors real-world engineering work through collaboration, planning, and problem-solving. Students also noted that the experience helped them discover the wide variety of engineering careers available and develop lasting friendships along the way.
You can find the slide deck here!
This Year’s Theme: “Fire Resilient Future”
For the 2026–2027 season, teams will tackle the challenge of designing a resilient future city that prevents, protects, and recovers from urban wildfires.
Students will research solutions and present their ideas through several major deliverables, including:
- A 2,000-word essay
- A digital city model created in Revit
- A project plan
- An expense report
- A presentation for finalists
The challenge encourages teams to think critically about sustainability, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, urban planning, and community resilience.
Team Structure and Global Participation
Teams consist of three to five students and must be led by an adult coach, who can be a teacher, engineer, mentor, or parent. Unlike many STEM competitions, Future City High School has no regional divisions – teams from around the world compete together.
Organizers also emphasized the program’s flexibility. Teams can be led by educators from many disciplines, including STEM, English, history, civics, and more, making Future City a truly cross-curricular opportunity.
Resources and Support for Teams
Registered teams receive access to a wide range of resources, including:
- A detailed program handbook
- Official competition rubrics
- Monthly coach calls
- Theme-focused webinars
- Revit installation guides and tutorials
- A mentor panel made up of STEM professionals and Future City High School alumni
Students also receive their own dashboard accounts where they can access resources, submit deliverables, and manage their projects independently.
Competition Timeline and Finals
The competition begins with a Virtual Qualification Round in January. Judges from around the world evaluate each team’s essay and digital model, a narrated video walkthrough of their digital city.
The top 20 teams advance to the finals in Washington, D.C., where they deliver:
- A 7-minute presentation
- An 8-minute Q&A session with STEM Professional judges
Student Outcomes and Career Readiness
Program leaders shared several impressive statistics from last year’s season:
- 91% of coaches said students improved their ability to solve real-world problems through engineering
- 85% of students reported feeling welcomed and included in the program
- Many students increased their interest in STEM majors and engineering careers
The competition also helps students build valuable skills in:
- Collaboration
- Public speaking
- Technical writing
- Leadership
- Digital design using industry-standard software
Scholarships, Cash Prizes, and Special Awards
Future City High School offers substantial awards for top-performing teams.
Finalists can earn:
- First Place: $10,000 scholarship per student + $20,000 team cash prize
- Second Place: $7,500 scholarship per student + $14,000 team cash prize
- Third Place: $3,000 scholarship per student + $7,000 team cash prize
Additionally, special awards sponsored by partner organizations offer $1,000 cash prizes for teams addressing specific criteria.
AI and Revit Guidance
Organizers clarified that limited AI use is permitted for brainstorming and syntax support, but all AI usage must be properly documented. AI-generated images are not allowed in essays.
Teams were encouraged to begin learning Revit early, with extensive tutorials, webinars, and mentor support available throughout the season.
Registration and Next Steps
Registration is now open, and teams can participate at either:
- Competition Access level, which includes eligibility for judging and awards
- Program Access level, focused on learning without competition participation
Students interested in joining are encouraged to recruit a coach and form a team of three to five classmates or friends.
The next information session will take place on August 5, after the official handbook release on August 1.