Unlocking Innovation in Built Environment Sustainability – A Student Hackathon
The future of our cities and buildings lies in the hands of the next generation of innovators. With sustainability becoming an urgent priority in the built environment, students are being called upon to bring fresh ideas and creative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time. This is where the Built Environment Sustainability Hackathon comes in—an exciting event designed to ignite innovation, foster collaboration, and make a real-world impact.
Sustainability Hackathon Lead, Elaine Edmonds
What is a Hackathon?
For those unfamiliar with the term, a hackathon is an event where participants collaborate intensively on projects that tackle a specific problem or challenge. Typically, these are short-term events lasting anywhere from a single day to a few weeks, where individuals or teams rapidly ideate, prototype, and present their solutions. The term “hackathon” is a combination of “hack” (meaning to quickly develop something, not in the sense of illegal hacking) and “marathon,” reflecting the intense, focused effort required.
Hackathons have become an incredible breeding ground for innovation, where participants—from software developers and engineers to designers and business minds—come together to solve problems in creative, novel ways. What makes a hackathon particularly exciting is that the ideas generated are often just the spark needed to make a significant difference in an industry or field.
The Challenge Brief: Released on October 25th
The Built Environment Sustainability Hackathon kicks off on October 25th with the release of the challenge brief. This brief will outline the development site, its owner and the specific sustainability issues that participants will focus on. Students will be tasked with addressing the complexity of an urban development project across all disciplines while considering energy efficiency, sustainable materials, waste management, smart buildings, and more. These topics are key to ensuring that the built environment not only meets the needs of today but is designed with future generations in mind.
Participants will have just under three weeks to dive into the brief, conduct research, and start brainstorming their solutions before the hackathon day. Teams will be given the freedom to approach the challenge from various angles, whether it's creating a new material, designing an energy-efficient system, or rethinking urban planning principles for sustainability.
Challenge Day & Team Formation Workshop: October 26th
On October 26th, students will gather for the Challenge Day, which will commence with a Team Formation Workshop. This is a critical part of the hackathon, as collaboration is at the heart of the event. The team formation workshop ensures that each team is composed of diverse skill sets, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to the challenge.
During this workshop, students will pitch their initial ideas, highlight their individual strengths, and find like-minded peers to form well-rounded teams. This mix of talents—whether from engineering, architecture, design, real estate or environmental planning—will allow for creative problem-solving that incorporates different perspectives.
After teams are formed, the real work begins! Students will have the following weeks to refine their ideas, conduct further research, and develop plans. Virtual collaboration tools will be provided for remote teamwork, and the hackathon team will be available throughout the period to provide support.
Final Judging and Presentations: November 12th
The grand finale of the hackathon will take place on November 12th, where the student teams will present their solutions to a panel of industry experts and judges. This will be the ultimate test of their creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Each team will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas, showcase their prototypes or designs, and explain how their solutions contribute to sustainability in the built environment.
Judging criteria will focus on:
- Innovation: How creative and forward-thinking is the proposed solution?
- Feasibility: Can the solution be realistically implemented in the built environment?
- Sustainability Impact: How does the solution contribute to sustainability goals, such as reducing carbon footprints, improving energy efficiency, or promoting the circular economy?
- Teamwork & Collaboration: How well did the team members work together and leverage their diverse skill sets?
The industry panel will include leading professionals from architecture, engineering, urban planning, and environmental science, providing valuable feedback and insight into how the ideas can be taken further.
At the end of the presentations, the winning teams will be announced, and prizes will be awarded to the best solutions. However, beyond the recognition and awards, the hackathon offers participants a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience, make valuable industry connections, and contribute to shaping the future of sustainable cities and infrastructure.
Why Participate?
Participating in a hackathon provides students with far more than just a chance to win prizes. This event is an opportunity to:
- Collaborate with like-minded peers and industry experts on meaningful sustainability challenges.
- Develop Skills that are critical for careers in the built environment, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and project management.
- Build a Portfolio by working on a project that can be showcased to future employers or as a foundation for further research.
- Network with industry professionals, opening doors to potential internships, jobs, or continued mentorship.
-Win a part of the Prize Fund, worth over €1000
Be Part of the Solution
The Built Environment Sustainability Hackathon is a platform for senior students to showcase their skills and ingenuity while tackling one of the most important challenges of our time—creating a sustainable future for our built environment. Whether you’re passionate about urban design, green energy, architecture, or environmental engineering, this is your chance to make a real difference.
Mark your calendars for October 25th to get your challenge brief, and start preparing to collaborate, innovate, and transform the way we build our cities. Who knows? Your idea could be the one that shapes the next generation of sustainable buildings and communities! Sign up here- https://forms.office.com/e/bUpDXWSbs2
Key Dates:
- Challenge Brief Released: October 25th at 2pm
- Challenge Day & Team Formation Workshop: October 26th 9am-5pm, Linenhall Gallery
- Final Judging & Presentations: November 12th 5-7pm, St Laurences, Grangegorman
Get ready to bring your ideas to life and be part of the movement to build a better, more sustainable future!