2026 Student Competition

Mission

The mission of the Student Competition on cold-formed steel design is to promote higher education in cold-formed steel structural design and to encourage students to use creative thinking skills to solve engineering problems.

Learning Objectives

  • Gain exposure to designing with cold-formed steel (CFS).
  • Communicate designs through technical drawings and reports.
  • Utilize CFS to address real-world societal problems.
  • Foster excitement about CFS design.

Problem Statement

In recent years, California has faced increasingly devastating wildfires, displacing thousands of families and creating an urgent need for rapid, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions. Long Beach, while not directly in wildfire zones, has become a potential hub for transitional housing due to its infrastructure, community resources, and proximity to affected areas.

Your challenge is to design a cost-effective, and dignified tiny home that can be mass-produced and deployed quickly to support families displaced by wildfires. These homes will serve as transitional housing, offering safety, comfort, and a sense of stability during a time of crisis.

Design Considerations and Challenges

  • All designs must use cold-formed steel framing as the primary structural system. This material is chosen for its durability, fire resistance, recyclability, and ease of prefabrication.

  • Maximize livability within a footprint of 400 square feet or less (out to out).

  • Exterior finish to be corrugated metal panels.

  • Design to include shell (walls and roof), 2 doors, 3 windows, floor if desired and lateral system as a (minimum).

  • House to accommodate a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids).

  • Support members and attachment clips must all use the material cold-formed steel. Students can use proprietary products provided by manufacturers such as clips and members, or they can design custom shapes or clips of their own.     

  • Foundation to be a delegated design (not to be included in competition.

Deliverables

  1. Submit ‘Intent to Participate’ form using the link below by November 1, 2025. Access to CFS Designer software will be provided & mentors assigned as soon as possible.

  2. Competition Submission. Send to [email protected] no later than January 31, 2026.

a. A design narrative indicating design criteria and loads used for design.

b. Submit fully dimensioned 2D shop drawings in PDF format to include

i. Floor/Roof plans showing members and connections
ii. Wall sections and/or opening elevations showing members and connections
iii. Connection details.

c. Submit calculation package in PDF format showing complete design. Calculations should illustrate load path for both gravity and lateral systems.  Design software such as RISA/SAP/RSG, etc. may be used. One hand calculation minimum must be done utilizing the information provided in Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA)/Steel Stud Manufacturers Association (SSMA) manuals, American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) excerpts, and CFSEI Tech Notes.

Submit "Intent to Participate" Application
Download Competition Information

 

Student Membership

Students are encouraged to obtain a free complimentary CFSEI membership to gain access to a wide range of benefits uniquely tailored for cold-formed steel engineers. To learn more about these benefits, please visit the link below.

Become a Member

 References

 Judging Criteria

  • Technical correctness.
  • Constructability.
  • Presentation.
  • Attention to detail.

Awards

  • 1st place student will receive a $2,000 USD monetary award, an award plaque and 2026 CFSEI Expo registration.
  • 2nd place student will receive a $1,500 USD monetary award, an award plaque and 2026 CFSEI Expo registration.
  • 3rd place student will receive a $1,000 USD monetary award, an award plaque and 2026 CFSEI Expo registration.
Notes:
a. Winner will have the option to present their project at the CFSEI Expo in Long Beach.
b. We encourage applicants to apply for the stipend program if they would like to attend the Expo.
c. Awards are intended to be granted for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, but all three are not required to be given if submissions do not meet an acceptable standard.

 

The winning designs will be recognized and exhibited on appropriate platforms such as professional conferences, websites and newsletters.