Nordic BIM Challenge for Students
New competition Nordic BIM Challenge for Students!
Nordic BIM Group and the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre are launching a new competition at FinnBuild!
The competition aims to promote design practices that support low-carbon construction and the circular economy in the building industry. It provides a platform where future professionals can develop solutions to real-world challenges while gaining practical experience of multidisciplinary collaboration. These objectives are best achieved through teamwork, where expertise from different disciplines complements one another and supports holistic, sustainable design.
For students, the competition offers an opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary team and gain a deeper understanding of how architectural, structural, HVAC, and electrical engineering solutions influence one another throughout a building’s lifecycle. The collaborative approach strengthens communication and project management skills, enhances readiness for working life, and provides hands-on experience of how low-carbon and circular economy solutions are created through cooperation between different fields of expertise.
The competition is open to higher education students in the construction sector across Finland who have completed at least their second year of studies.
Applications are now open!
Applications are open until 31 August 2026. We encourage teams to apply as early as possible to allow plenty of time to prepare their competition entry.
The competition task is to develop a concept for a future-proof, modular and relocatable low-carbon detached house, designed as a buildable project. The design will be created using Archicad, which will be provided free of charge to all selected teams. The objective is to design a building that can be scaled and relocated to meet the changing needs of its occupants throughout different life stages.
We are looking for teams of three to six students representing higher education programmes in architecture, structural engineering and building services engineering. A maximum of eight teams will be selected.
The competition helps participants develop practical design and collaboration skills, and the completed projects will be showcased at FinnBuild 2026.
Prizes will be awarded in four categories, and all participants will receive a certificate of participation. The prize categories are:
- Most aesthetically impressive building – €1,500
- Best collaboration (teamwork and multidisciplinary BIM collaboration) –
- €1,500Most feasible overall design, recognising the best project in terms of buildability, model content, structural quality and lifecycle management –
- €3,000Professionals’ Favourite (winner of the public vote)
We reserve the right to modify the prize categories.
Competition information sessions
An information session for teachers was held on Wednesday, 13 May, from 10:00 to 11:00. If you would like access to the recording, please contact us and we will send you the link.
In collaboration
