The Faculté de l'aménagement at the Université de Montréal is pleased to announce the launch of an international, multidisciplinary and anonymous ideas competition, reserved for students, to create inclusive experiences at the CEPSUM, the Université de Montréal's sports center.

With a total of $31,500 in prizes, the competition promotes the idea of invisible accessibility, an experience of the built environment that is of high quality to all, where the design of accessibility is integrated in an indistinguishable manner, and where universal accessibility is envisaged as a global state of the project experience, rather than a dedicated path made up of identifiable and visible solutions.

Participants are invited to propose transformative ideas that offer inclusive and equitable experiences for all users. The competition is structured around three typical sports center experiences that are not currently universally accessible:

1. The main entrance - Rethinking the entrance and reception of the sports center;

2. Carabins stadium - Improve the game-going experience;

3. The pool - Creating an inclusive swimming experience.

The proposals received over the summer will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury of eight experts. For each of the three experiences, three winning projects will be selected, making a total of nine winners.

All proposals will be presented in October 2025 at a conference organized by the Faculté de l'aménagement, bringing together researchers working on accessibility in the built environment.

"We warmly welcome students from around the world to propose bold, creative ideas that reimagine universal accessibility—not as an add-on, but as an integral, seamless, and uplifting experience for everyone, says Carmela Cucuzzella, Dean of the Faculté de l'aménagement. We are looking for designs that are not only inclusive but also invisible in their accommodation, free of stigma, and full of delight and safety. Think beyond the box—then break it wide open."

"A public space that is not accessible to everyone cannot be considered public, says Bechara Helal, Associate Dean of Research and Scientific Life. It is high time to rethink the place of universal accessibility in design disciplines, and that is what this competition aims to do: define innovative ways of designing the built environment so that it can become the setting for quality public experiences for all."

About the Faculty of Environmental Design

The mission of the Faculty of Environmental Design is to train high-calibre professionals and researchers who are qualified to contribute to progress and innovation in design practices. The Faculty is recognized for offering students a rich and stimulating learning environment in a context of intellectual freedom in which students acquire innovative work methods and develop the kind of critical thinking and professional discipline that allow them to become responsible citizens aware of the issues facing them.

Prizes

An eight-member multidisciplinary jury will review the proposals. There will be three winning projects given out for each of the three experiences:

First place (gold): CAD $6,000.
Second place (silver): CAD $3,000.
Bronze third place: $1,500.00 CAD
Additionally, each winner will get a certificate of merit.

Registrations are open until July 1, 2025. Submission deadline is August 05, 2025 02:00 PM. 

The top image in the article courtesy of The Faculté de l'aménagement. 

> via University of Montreal - Faculty of Environmental Design