On Monday, April 22, Earth Day, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announces the winners of its Campus RainWorks Challenge, a new design competition created to inspire the next generation of landscape architects, planners and engineers to design and implement innovative green infrastructure systems that mitigate the impacts of urban stormwater while supporting vibrant, sustainable communities. IIT’s team, led by Studio Assistant Professor Mary Pat Mattson and Paul Anderson, was composed of students in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Environmental Management.

More than 200 student teams participated and four winners were chosen: Illinois Institute of Technology (1st prize, small institution), University of Florida (1st prize, large institution), Missouri University of Science and Technology (2nd prize, small institution) and University of Arizona (2nd prize, large institution). Many of the winning designs proposed transformative additions to the campus landscape that would reduce stormwater impacts while educating students about the design and management of water through the urban environment. First-prize winners will receive a $2,500 cash award and $11,000 for faculty research on green infrastructure. Second-prize winners will receive a $1,500 cash award and $8,000 for faculty research.