Table of Contents

1. About BuildReady

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Why BuildReady

1.3 Why Participate in the Design Competition

1.4 What Happens After the Design Competition

1.5 Engagement

1.6 Timeline

2. Design Competition Project Description

2.1 Design Objective

2.2 Site Description

2.3 Neighborhoods

2.4 Lot and Maximum Building Dimensions

2.5 Technical Support Group Feedback

2.6 Design Assumptions

3. Award Selection

3.1 Award Categories

3.2 Jury Panels

3.3 Scoring

3.4 Awards

4. Submission Rules

4.1 Submission Requirements

4.2 Submission Instructions

4.3 Artificial Intelligence (AI)

4.4 Eligibility

4.5 Questions

4.6 Waiver

5. Legal

5.1 Terms and Conditions

5.2 Copyright

6. Acknowledgements

In 2025, the City of Cincinnati received a $2 million Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. With the grant funds, the City intends to develop the BuildReady initiative: a pre-approved building plans program for middle housing (two-, three, and four-family buildings), as well as the construction of two demonstration projects using the plans. There will be six (6) total pre-approved plans developed as part of BuildReady, with the potential for more in the future.

BuildReady’s goal is to create pre-approved middle housing plans that are:

To kick off the process, the City is hosting an Open-Call Design Competition for innovative yet practical middle housing designs. The purpose of the Design Competition is to broaden the understanding of possible middle housing in Cincinnati by advancing creative and new approaches, to serve as a community engagement tool by collecting feedback on popular design elements, and to generate public and professional interest in the later pr-approved plan solicitation.

ABOUT BUILDREADY

1. About BuildReady

1.2 Why BuildReady?

The 2020 Census marked the first time Cincinnati saw population growth since the 1950s, with the population now estimated at over 314,000 people, compared to a low of about 296,000 .

While this is an exciting trend, the city’s housing market is struggling to keep up with the increased demand, with estimates that Cincinnati is currently

Cincinnati Five-Year Estimate of Housing Unit Production (2017-2022) (Reference Document #202200178)

Contextual Respect and enhance the context of Cincinnati’s neighborhoods

Attainable Offer practical designs that keep costs within reach for many residents

Scalable Make it possible for developers of all sizes to build these homes efficiently

1.1 Introduction

[1] U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). Population in POP010210. U.S. Department of Commerce.

job access (go-metro.com/reinventing-metro), the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2018, and the passage of the Connected Communities zoning reform in 2024 to legalize middle housing, reduce/eliminate parking requirements, and increase density around neighborhood business districts and major transit corridors (cincinnati-oh.gov/connectedcommunities).

A major theme that emerged from the community engagement conducted as part of both Plan Cincinnati (2012) and the Connected Communities initiative was residents’ desire for a variety of housing types that meet the differing needs of occupants at all stages of life. However, community members also expressed concern about how the newly permitted middle housing would fit into the existing fabric of their neighborhoods. The city already has hundreds of examples of middle housing across all neighborhoods, but most were built in the early 20th century, and there are few examples of developers building middle housing in recent years.

BuilldReady

Missing Middle Housing

ABOUT BUILDREADY

undersupplied by thousands of units. Many neighborhoods lost housing in recent years, and the Cincinnati region lags well behind its peers in housing construction . 2

Cincinnati has recently taken major action to address its housing challenges, including the approval of a sales tax increase in 2020 to create two new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines to increase housing and

Sources: American Community Survey, Apartment List Rent Estimate, Minneapolis Housing Indicators

[2] Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. (2025). (publication). State of the Region Cincinnati 2025. 4

BuildReady https://www.go-metro.com/reinventing-metro/ https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/341c80f53c764e0abd4199aeeb18b2de

While the BuildReady Design Competition does not provide monetary compensation to winning submissions, there are multiple incentives for participants and winners, including:

Participants who provide entries to the BuildReady Design Competition that meet the qualifying submission requirements will receive five (5) points out of a possible 100 on their submission to the subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP) for the procurement of the pre-approved plans Winners of the BuildReady Design Competition will be recognized at an in-person Awards Event held in September 2026 in Cincinnati Winners will have the potential to be featured in a national publication (digital or print) of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Americas (americas.uli.org) Participants and their design submissions will be shared with local and national press and news outlets

ABOUT BUILDREADY

1.3 Why Participate in the Design Competition?

1.4 What Happens After the Design Competition?

The BuildReady Design Competition is a tool to push creative ideas and engage the community. The winning designs will be the basis for further community engagement activities to identify which features are desirable for the pre-approved plans before a firm is hired to produce them through a Request for Proposals (RFP). The firm awarded the contract for the development of the pre-approved plans will be provided with this feedback, as well as the related winning designs, and asked to incorporate that feedback as appropriate. The selected firm/individual who wins the pre-approved plans contract will be

The city applied for the PRO Housing grant from HUD to reduce barriers to developing middle housing and to ensure new middle housing structures positively contribute to the existing context in which they are built. The Design Competition is a key element of this project to not only foster the innovation and creativity necessary to accomplish these goals, but also to produce plans that are practical and that residents are excited to see on their streets. With the combination of good design, an expedited pre-approval process, and the construction of two demonstration projects that will provide tangible cost comparisons, Cincinnati is seeking to be a pioneer in the development of middle housing so that people of all incomes and needs can continue to call this great city home.

under no obligation to directly translate the winning designs from the Design Competition into a set of buildable plans, and the winners of the Design Competition receive no promise of selection in the pre-approved plans procurement process.

After the Design Competition is closed and awarded the RFP will be issued to hire a firm to produce the pre-approved plans. While submissions to the BuildReady Design Competition are open to all, submissions to the RFP will be limited to professionals who are qualified to create housing plans in the state of Ohio and wil be compensated for such work. Submissions to the RFP will be submitted through the City’s procurement processes. More information will be released about this opportunity at a later date.

Submissions to the RFP to produce the pre-approved plans will receive five

(5) points out of a possible 100 for participation in the BuildReady Design Competition. Applicants to the RFP need not have a design that won in any category to receive these points on their RFP submission; the only requirement is to have provided a single entry that meets the minimum submission requirements to the design competition. The BuildReady Design Competition is otherwise a fully separate program from the RFP, and the respective outcomes will have no further bearing on one another.

The BuildReady initiative highly values the perspectives of both community members and the professional architecture and development communities in shaping this project. The team has already conducted multiple months of engagement to effectively craft this initiative. The engagement has included:

ABOUT BUILDREADY

1.5 Engagement

Request for Information (RFI): An RFI released on March 3 for professionals to provide feedback on the potential structure of the Design Competition, procurement of pre-approved plans, and the future demonstration project. Virtual RFI meetings to answer questions were held on March 10 and 12, and the RFI was closed on March 27. More than 40 people attended the RFI meetings, and the city received 18 responses. The responses helped guide the Design Competition Brief and will be informative in the creation of the RFP.

Photo from a Public Information Session

Public Informational Sessions: Two Public Informational Sessions held for Cincinnatians to learn about the BuildReady initiative, including how to get involved. These 1.5-hour sessions included a presentation about the project and a panel with members from eight city departments. The virtual meeting was held on March 16 and had more than 40 attendees, and the in-person meeting was held on March 24th at the Evanston Recreation Center and had roughly 30 attendees.

Neighborhood Summit: Brochures were made available at the Department of City Planning and Engagement’s table, a presentation was given by the BuildReady team, and a panel discussion was held with the Ohio REALTORS about the pre-approved plans during the annual Cincinnati Neighborhood Summit on April 25 .th

Technical Support Group: Two meetings of the Technical Support group, comprised of interested volunteer members of the public, to dive deeper into discussions on middle housing and pre-approved plans. Over two meetings held on April 28 and May 5, the group learned about BuildReady, discussed preferred architectural styles, determined the desired number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and amenities, and wrestled with tradeoffs and costs.

Their feedback informed the Design Competition Brief and will guide the

RFP.

Presentations to Community Groups: Presentations about BuildReady given to various local organizations and their members, including Community Councils and Community Development Corporations, at their request.

Community groups that welcomed presentations include the Evanston Community Council, Mt. Auburn Community Council, Mt. Auburn CDC, Mt.

Lookout Community Council, the Walnut Hills Business Group, and Walnut Hills Community Council.

Design Competition Jury Panels: The general public was invited to sign up to join the Community Stakeholder Jury Panel for the Design Competition.

Information about who was selected to be on the jury panels will be made public this summer. Additionally, anyone will be allowed to vote online for the People’s Choice awards.

ABOUT BUILDREADY

Photos from the Technical Support Group (TSG) meetings

1.5 Timeline

ABOUT BUILDREADY

May 27 , 2026th

Design Competition Opens

June 11, 2026 Design Competition

Q&A Session #1 Register Here

July 16, 2026 Design Competition

Q&A Session #2 Register Here

August 14, 2026 Design Competition

Closes

Mid-August 2026 Design Competition Evaluation & Voting

Begins

Mid-September 2026 Design Competition Awards Ceremony

Fall 2026 RFP Submission Opens for Pre-Approved Plans

Summer 2027 Pre-Approved Plans

Finished http://bit.ly/BuildReady-DesignCompetitionMtg-1 http://bit.ly/BuildReady-DesignCompetitionMtg-2

The BuildReady Design Competition is not asking participants to design for a specific existing lot, but rather for any potential lot within the constraints of Cincinnati’s most common lot sizes and zoning where middle housing is permitted. The BuildReady team has conducted analysis to understand which neighborhoods could see more middle housing than others, what the common

DESIGN COMPETITION PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2. Design Competition Project Description

2.1 Design Objective

The goal of the BuildReady initiative is to provide a tool for Cincinnati to address the housing shortage by building more middle housing that is contextual, attainable, and scalable. Thus, the BuildReady Design Competition is asking participants for creative submissions that achieve a high-quality, harmonious design while retaining a high level of practicality and cost efficiency. The winning designs should illustrate a unique and innovative approach to mitigating costs while preserving design integrity for two-, three-, and four-family buildings in various neighborhoods in Cincinnati.

2.2 Site Description

2.3 Neighborhoods

While the pre-approved plans will be usable across all neighborhoods, the BuildReady team conducted a preliminary lot analysis to understand which neighborhoods had the potential to be most impacted by the plans. This analysis compiled public and private lots within the Connected Communities areas that were vacant, compliant with minimum lot size regulations, and were not in a major overlay district (Hillside, Historic, or Urban Design). There were 2,746 total lots that met these criteria, with 1,801 (or 66%) located in 10 neighborhoods, as shown in Table 1. This information does not show where middle housing will be built for certain, but instead provides guidance on areas that could potentially see a relatively higher impact from the pre-approved plans.

lot sizes are, and what zoning constraints are in place for those areas. That information is outlined in the following sections and is intended to help ground the Design Competition concepts in real-world constraints. There are also additional considerations for architecture and building amenities informed by the Technical Support Group.

DESIGN COMPETITION PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Neighborhood Number of Vacant

Lots

Avondale 398

East Price Hill 311

Northside 223

West Price Hill 191

Walnut Hills 179

Evanston 140

Westwood 98

Madisonville 94

Nount Auburn 85

Camp Washington 82

Table 1: Neighborhoods with the most vacant lots that are in Connected Communities areas, compliant with minimum lot size, and outside of overlay districts (Hillside, Historic, and Urban Design)

Type Lot Building

Width (ft) Depth (ft) Width (ft) Depth (ft) Height (ft)*

2-Family 25 100 16 50 35

3-Family 30 100 24 50 35

4-Family 40 100 28 50 35

DESIGN COMPETITION PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2.4 Lot and Maximum Building Dimensions

To establish the lot and building dimension constraints for two-, three-, and four-family buildings, the neighborhood vacant lot analysis was cross-referenced with data on the common lot widths and depths for those vacant parcels and the rules of the applicable zoning districts. Given the difference in sizing needs as the unit count increases for two-, three-, and four-family buildings, the team created parameters for lot size and maximum building envelope for each of the three Design Competition building types, shown in Table 2.

The scoring criteria will reward designs that fit within Cincinnati’s overall architectural context, with particular consideration given to the neighborhoods shown in Table 1. Submissions that do not fit within the maximum building dimensions provided in Table 2 will not advance to the scoring stage.

2.5 Technical Support Group Feedback

The purpose of the Technical Support Group (TSG) is to guide decision-making for both the housing exterior (architectural form) and the interior (amenities, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.) of middle housing while considering cost tradeoffs.

The TSG’s feedback informed the lists below, as well as the Design Assumptions shown in Section 2.6. The TSG feedback is provided for guidance and consideration in design submissions. No specific element of the TSG feedback listed below is required to be included; rather, the feedback should be thoughtfully and creatively incorporated to create a design that holistically

*Height is measured from the base elevation to the midpoint of a peaked roof

Table 2: BuildReady Design Competition Maximum Lot & Building Dimensions aligns with the desires expressed by the TSG. Submissions will be judged on how the TSG feedback was successfully incorporated into the overall design.

Elements that must be included or are prohibited in the submissions are explicitly stated in Section 2.6.

Over the course of two sessions, the TSG broadly identified common elements across homes in Cincinnati, then sorted those features based on their cost and impact on a home. The findings are summarized below and provided in full in Attachment 3.

Cost vs. Impact Analysis

Positive impact & low cost

Positive impact, but high cost

High cost with neutral to negative impact or solely negative impact

High-quality insulation Mid-grade window materials such as fiberglass and aluminum

1.5 baths Mid-grade roof materials such as architectural and asphalt shingles Gabled roofs Fiber cement/Hardie board siding Covered front porches

Solid brick façade Brick veneer façade Decorative wood elements Metal roofs ADA accommodations and ramps 2 baths

Low-quality materials such as vinyl siding or vinyl windows Specialty roof materials such as slate Wood windows Detached garage Driveway More complex roof styles with dormers Flat roofs Heat pumps 1 bath Basements Front stoops

Table 3: The TSG identified the following features based on impact vs cost https://cincinnati-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/andrew_halt_cincinnati-oh_gov/IQAvvhzgB3RtQbGohUvkRa94ATglV3jiW7j6V2pW-nkXjhg?e=1DJsEd

Common Exterior Features

Covered front porch (often with columns) Front gable roof Dormers 1-2 Materials /Textures /Colors (Brick, Stucco, Wood, Lap, Shingle, Scallops) Private Entrances (often not centered) Front yard/Setback Decorative Elements (Soffits, Cornices, and Vents) Box Gutters

2.5 - 3 Stories (three visual levels/attic space)

Table 4: The TSG identified elements common across housing in Cincinnati.

TSG participants emphasized the importance of the longevity and ease of maintenance of various materials in their feedback. Materials that require frequent replacement, or that are highly specialized and expensive to maintain, impose costs on the resident that reduce the home’s affordability. Mid-level materials that struck this balance were preferred. Energy efficiency measures were also popular due to their impact on the long-term costs of residing in the homes.

Participants also expressed the need to maximize the livable space on the lot in order to include an adequate number of beds, baths, and space to suit varying needs. Relatedly, there was a strong emphasis on ensuring designs were suitable for all ages and abilities, with consideration for things like no-step entry ADA accessibility. The TSG also felt that some level of usable outdoor space (green or hardscape/balcony), plentiful natural light, and unit adaptability throughout life stages were important.

Lastly, TSG participants felt that it was important to consider what elements of a home are best suited to be added later by the owner, as opposed to trying to build in every feature at the beginning. They felt that thoughtful consideration of this idea could help lower the upfront cost of the home for the occupant, provide opportunities to build equity in the future, and allow the developer to access a wider market to sell or rent the units.

2.6 Design Assumptions

The BuildReady Design Competition intends to set minimum design standards for submissions to enable a high level of flexibility and creativity. The following section outlines the design assumptions for submissions, as well as encouraged and prohibited elements.

Submissions should adhere to the minimum standards while creatively incorporating feedback provided by the Technical Support Group listed above.

The designs should also still be considered in conjunction with other scoring criteria, such as making the homes attainable and scalable.

Drawing Detail Drawings should be conceptual, not construction-ready. Dimensions should be shown where helpful, but need not be exhaustive. Furniture may be shown diagrammatically, but is not required. Code analysis sheets are not required.

Structural, mechanical, and civil engineering drawings are not required.

Contextual Design Cincinnati Preservation has generously shared information on predominant architectural styles and features in the city, as well as the specific neighborhoods listed in Table 1. This information is provided in Attachment 1. The major styles across the top neighborhoods include Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Craftsman, and Colonial Revival. Submissions are not restricted to these architectural styles, but the information is provided so that designs can be sensitive to the Cincinnati context.

Unit Configuration Units may be stacked, side-by-side, or arranged in any creative configuration.

Units within a building need not be identical, the same size, or have the same number of bedrooms or bathrooms. Buildings or units may include attics or basements, and the spaces may be finished or unfinished.

Designs should include interior layouts that balance livability and construction efficiency.

Designs are encouraged to include layouts that can accommodate or are adaptable for multiple generations.

Exterior & Site Exterior stairs, patios, and sheds in the rear yard are permitted. Designs should assumea flat grade and standard municipal utilities.

Designs are encouraged to include facades that are adaptable across multiple neighborhoods. 14 https://cincinnati-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/andrew_halt_cincinnati-oh_gov/IQAmvOnxvvx1T7LJK745L9_hAf36xjO2WEg0qkG_S7oK0rs?e=v1jdT9

Parking Submissions are not required to include off-street parking or driveways. Parking is not required in the BuildReady target areas, and given the project’s accommodation of narrow lots, off-street parking is not anticipated for many sites that may use the final plans.

Designs should not include front-loaded garages.

Designs are encouraged to include consideration of multi-modal transportation, such as bicycles.

Accessibility and Universal Design ADA compliance is not assumed.

Designs are encouraged to include Universal Design and ADA accommodations for at least one unit, and to conceptually demonstrate adaptability for aging in place, and visitability whenever feasible.

Sustainability Designs should include space on the site reserved for trash and recycling carts.

Designs are encouraged to include practical considerations for electrification, high-performance envelope, solar readiness, bike storage and other sustainability features. For more information on sustainability features, see Attachment 2.

Zoning and Building Code Fire access, egress, and life‑safety strategies should be conceptually feasible, but fully code-compliant drawings are not required. Designs should assume sites are outside of overlay districts (Historic, Hillside, Urban Design) and that variances will not be granted.

Designs should include compliance with the maximum lot and building constraints outlined in Table 2. Height is measured from base elevation to the midpoint of a peaked roof or the top of a flat roof.

Cost and Constructability Designs should reasonably support repetition, simplified detailing, and efficient structural systems that mitigate cost. Avoid complex or expensive structural systems such as large cantilevers. Detailed cost estimates are not required.

Designs are encouraged to consider new construction methods (such as modular and panelized construction) and other ideas to help lower costs.

However, long-term quality is still important. 15 https://cincinnati-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/andrew_halt_cincinnati-oh_gov/IQCPZssTg41BTJK7b4JOkSSjASg6wPioUBGl6OuB_YfmKmM?e=fUAin2

Professional Panel Best 2-family building | 1 award Best 3-family building | 1 award Best 4-family building | 1 award

Community Stakeholder Panel

Best 2-family building | 1 award Best 3-family building | 1 award Best 4-family building | 1 award

People’s Choice (online voting)

Best 2-family building | 1 award Best 3-family building | 1 award Best 4-family building | 1 award

Best Student Entry

This award will be scored by averages from the Professional and Community panels, but not the People’s Choice panel.

Professional and Community panel scores will be weighted equally | 1 award

Honorable Mention

These Honorable Mentions are given out at the discretion of the Professional or Community Stakeholder Panels for stellar submissions that did not win their individual category but included particularly unique elements that the juries wish to highlight | 2 awards

AWARD SELECTIONS

One winner will be selected for each of the three categories (best two-, three-, and four-family submissions) by each of the three jury panels (Professional, Community Stakeholders, and Online Voting), for a total of nine awards. There will also be an additional award for the best overall student submission, as well as a small number of honorable mentions.

3. Award Selections

3.1 Award Categories

Table 5: Jury panels and award types

There are three jury panels for the competition, each of which will choose a winner for the three typologies. This award structure provides the equally necessary professional expertise and resident perspective to facilitate a balanced evaluation that is reflective of all stakeholders in the broader BuildReady initiative. The three panels enable a higher level of community engagement in the design competition, in which each group can clearly express their unique preferences and priorities outside of City influence, while the online voting widens the reach and pool of participants in the process.

Jury Panel members will be announced via email and on the BuildReady website during the submission period, before the Design Competition closes.

Details about each panel are included below.

Professional Panel This group consists of people who have real-world experience in the realm of architecture, development, and policy. These professionals bring deep knowledge of what should be considered when evaluating housing designs to make them contextual, attainable, and scalable.

Community Stakeholder Panel This group consists of people from diverse backgrounds across Cincinnati. They are residents, community council leaders, CDC staff, real estate agents, renters, owners, students, and nonprofit leaders. They have volunteered their time to help ensure that new housing fits within the existing look and feel that makes Cincinnati special.

People’s Choice Panel This panel consists of online voting from any members of the public who choose to vote for their favorite building designs. There is no limit to the number of participants on this panel, and votes are anonymous. Anyone is welcome to participate!

AWARD SELECTIONS

3.3 Scoring

Initial Screening Once the competition has closed, all entries will be screened for compliance with the Submission Rules detailed in Section 4, as well as the lot and maximum building dimensions (see Table 2). Any entries that do not meet the minimum submission requirements or do not fit within the maximum building dimensions will not advance to the scoring stage. 17

3.2 Jury Panels

Scoring Category Points Details

Contextual 25

The design of submissions should work within the City of Cincinnati’s overall architectural context, with particular consideration given to the context of the neighborhoods with the highest potential impact (see Table 1 & Section 2).

Attainable 25

Submissions should be designed to make the homes more attainable to middle-income Cincinnatians, both for the initial construction costs as well as ongoing costs related to building maintenance, utilities, and operational expenses.

Creative 15

Submissions should strive for creativity in design, construction methods (such as modular or panelized construction), building layout, future adaptability, and flexibility in order to successfully accomplish all other goals of the competition.

Community Priorities

Submissions should incorporate feedback from the Technical Support Group in Section 2. Not every feature must be incorporated, but submissions should be clear in how the TSG feedback informed the design.

Scalable 10

Submissions should incorporate strategies to enable these homes to be easily built at scale by both large and small developers.

Strategies could include certain building methods, materials, layouts, repeatable details, or flexibility for contractors for different sites.

Sustainable 5

Submissions are encouraged to include practical considerations for electrification, high-performance envelope, solar readiness, and other sustainability features. For more information on sustainability features, see Attachment 2.

Universal Design/ Accessability

Submissions should consider how to include principles of Universal Design and ADA accessibility, especially for multi-generational living or aging in place in at least one unit.

AWARD SELECTIONS

Scoring The following scoring criteria will be used by the Professional and Community Stakeholder Jury Panels to evaluate design submissions for alignment with the goals of BuildReady. Note that submissions should follow the guidance of the Design Assumptions described in Section 2. These assumptions inform the points given in each of the Scoring Categories.

AWARD SELECTIONS

Submissions will be evaluated separately in each typology category. Student submissions will be evaluated collectively across typologies. Submissions will be discussed holistically and evaluated by jury members before winners are announced. Design Competition applicants will remain anonymous through the selection process, and winners will be chosen purely on submission merit. The juries will select winning submissions that best achieve the initiative’s scoring criteria.

Projects that successfully engage with the BuildReady design objectives will be well-received by the juries. Winner selection is up to the jury’s discretion.

3.4 Awards

Winning submissions will be selected in each of the categories discussed in Section 3.1. There is no monetary compensation for winning submissions, but winners will be recognized at the BuildReady Awards Ceremony to be held in person in September of 2026. The winning designs will be shared with local and national press and news outlets, and the winners will have the potential to be featured in a national publication (digital or print) of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Americas (americas.uli.org).

Participants who submit entries that meet the submission requirements of the BuildReady Design Competition will receive five (5) points out of a possible 100 on their submission to the subsequent RFP for the procurement of the pre-approved plans. While the winning designs will serve as inspiration for the pre-approved plans, the Design Competition results will not have any bearing on the selection of a firm for the RFP to produce the pre-approved plans.

Additionally, the selected firm/individual who wins the RFP contract will be under no obligation to directly translate the winning designs from the Design Competition into a set of buildable plans.

http://americas.uli.org/ http://americas.uli.org/

All submissions must be completed according to the instructions below. Failure to comply with any submission requirement may be grounds for disqualification. The City of Cincinnati shall have final jurisdiction in any competition‑related dispute.

Submissions are digital only; no hard copies will be accepted. No additional materials may be submitted beyond those explicitly listed in this section. Each individual or team may submit one (1) submission per building type. If a team submits entries for more than one building type, separate submissions must be provided for each entry. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Required Submission Content Each submission must consist of a single Architecture Design Board that includes all of the required information listed below:

Architecture Design Board Board size: 30 × 40 inches Orientation: Landscape Resolution: 300 dpi Color space: RGB recommended, but CMYK accepted File format: Single, flattened PDF

Design Board Content:

Submission title Building footprint that is within the maximum building dimensions shown on a lot that meets the provided lot dimensions for the selected housing type (see Table 2) One floor plan per level and one building section drawn to scale Square footage range, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and other key unit details 1-2 concept rendering(s) that clearly communicate massing, façade design, and key architectural features

Building Footprint:

16x50x35 Square Footage:

2,000 square feet Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1.5

This design is meaningful to me and inspired by my neighborhood of Avondale. I took details of historical homes and added modern sustainability features.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

4. Submission Rules

4.1 Submission Requirements

30"

40"

My 2-Family Design Features of Note:

Facade material is xyz. Window orientation was intentional to catch more south-facing sunlight. Outdoor storage includes room for waste bins. Downspouts connect to rain barrels to water the backyard garden.

Interchangable features to fit each neighborhood include xyz.

Conceptual Example Layout

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submission Specifications Maximum file size: 25 MB File naming convention:

BuildReady_[BuildingType]_[Professional|Student]_[Submission Name].pdf

(Example: BuildReady_3Family_Professional_TwoFamilyName.pdf)

Anonymity No names, logos, firm identifiers, or other identifying information may appear anywhere on the submission board or in the file name

Submission Form

All participants must fill out and upload the separately required Submission Form, which will be available on the BuildReady website and in Bonfire

Submissions will be reviewed primarily in digital format. Color variations may occur if submissions are printed or reproduced for exhibition purposes; the City of Cincinnati is not responsible for such variations. Submissions that do not comply with these technical and content requirements may be disqualified at the City’s discretion.

4.2 Submission Instructions

A concept narrative (maximum 300 words) describing how the design responds to the BuildReady design parameters, Cincinnati neighborhood context, and TSG feedback

Any callouts or other text providing further detail or highlights of the design do not contribute to the narrative word count

All required drawings, diagrams, renderings, narrative text, and submission name must be contained entirely within the single board

Dates Design Competition Opens: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Design Competition Closes: Friday, August 14, 2026, at Noon Eastern Time

(GMT-4)

All submissions will be processed through the City of Cincinnati’s Bonfire portal, which requires creation of a free account. Visit the BuildReady website at bit.ly/Build-Ready and select the “Design Competition” page for more information about submission.

https://bit.ly/Build-Ready

The BuildReady Design Competition is open to all and encourages proposals from both large established firms as well as small emerging firms and independent practitioners. In addition, the team recognizes the benefit of including diverse, outside voices in the conversation and invites firms from across the country and world to submit proposals. Competition entries will be judged anonymously, though success in the initiative will require an understanding of Cincinnati’s specific housing challenges.

Both college students and professionals are invited to submit to the BuildReady Design Competition. Participants can submit individually or in teams. Each team or individual may submit only one proposal per building type. Participants can submit for all three building types if they so desire, and each submission will be evaluated separately. Architectural licensure in Ohio or elsewhere is not required to submit to the BuildReady Design Competition.

Members of the jury, along with their co-workers or professional partners, are not eligible to participate in the BuildReady Design Competition. Employees from the City of Cincinnati are also ineligible.

4.4 Eligibility

4.3 Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Recognizing that the applications of AI are broad and that the BuildReady Design Competition is a tool for generating engagement and ideas without providing monetary compensation, the use of AI is permitted in the preparation of submissions. However, the BuildReady team encourages submitters to use AI sparingly. Any submissions that use AI should declare during the submittal how it was used, such as for idea generation, text editing, rendering assistance, etc.

No points will be deducted for the use of AI, but the focus will be on selecting the highest quality submissions.

4.5 Questions

Questions can be submitted at any time to buildready@cincinnati-oh.gov.

Responses to questions of common interest will be posted in the FAQ section at bit.ly/Build-Ready. There will also be two virtual Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions for Design Competition participants. Both sessions will be recorded and posted. Details are provided below:

mailto:buildready@cincinnati-oh.gov

Design Competition Q&A Session #1 Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026 Time: Noon Eastern Time (GMT4) Register: bit.ly/BuildReady-DesignCompetitionMtg-1

Design Competition Q&A Session #2 Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026 Time: 3:00 PM Eastern Time (GMT4) Register: bit.ly/BuildReady-DesignCompetitionMtg-2

4.6 Waiver

The BuildReady initiative has involved many people throughout its development, and the team also desires a wide range of jury panelists and participants for the Design Competition. Therefore, the City Manager has provided a waiver so that jury panelists can participate in future procurement processes related to the BuildReady initiative.

https://bit.ly/BuildReady-DesignCompetitionMtg-1 https://bit.ly/BuildReady-DesignCompetitionMtg-2

LEGAL

The City of Cincinnati (referred to hereafter as the “City”) reserves the right in its sole discretion to waive minor irregularities in any submission, request clarification or additional information from any participant, or reject any submission it determines to be noncompliant.

The City shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by a participant in preparing, submitting, or presenting its response to the brief.

The scoring and determination of winning submissions is solely in the discretion of the Jury Panels, and the decisions of the Jury Panels are final and not subject to review.

Design Competition participants will be awarded 5 points in the evaluation process for the City’s RFP for pre-approved building plans for middle housing immediately following the Design Competition. Participation in the Design Competition does not confer eligibility on any participant that is ineligible to submit a response to the RFP.

The City is under no obligation to award a contract or procure any services related to the projects described in the brief.

Response to this brief constitutes permission for the City and its sublicensees to reproduce, distribute, and exhibit submission materials from participants.

5. Legal

5.1 Terms & Conditions

5.2 Copyright

Participants retain ownership of their design submissions. By entering the Design Competition, each participant grants the City a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use, display, publish, and distribute design submissions and/or portions of submissions. The City has the right to grant to third parties sublicenses for the use, display, publication, and distribution of design submissions and/or portions of submissions for purposes related to the Design Competition’s administration, promotion, exhibition, and educational outreach and the City’s procurement of services to create pre-approved building plans for middle housing. The City will use best efforts to include appropriate credit to participants when displaying, distributing, or publishing submissions. Participants acknowledge that the City of Cincinnati and its sublicensees are not responsible for any unauthorized use, copying, or distribution of submissions by third parties, and participants waive any claims against the City of Cincinnati and its sublicensees related to such unauthorized use. 24

The BuildReady initiative is a true team effort and has benefited greatly from the dedicated hard work of so many people. We’d like to sincerely thank the Urban Land Institute for their continued partnership and support, and the American Institute of Architects for their advice during the formation of this initiative. We’d also like to thank the Greater Ohio Policy Center and Ohio Realtors for sharing their wealth of knowledge on pre-approved plan programs, especially through their Housing Ohio: Tools for Development initiative and the Ohio Pre-Approvals Network. Special thanks to Cincinnati Preservation for generously providing information on Cincinnati’s distinct architectural elements and styles. We also want to thank the Building Electrification Institute, Elevate, and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their support in creating the Building Decarbonization Guide. We also thank the 20+ cities that shared their time with us to discuss pre-approved plans, design competitions, middle housing, and engagement as we refined the BuildReady initiative. Finally, thank you to all the hard-working members of the City of Cincinnati administration who have made this initiative possible!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

6. Acknowledgements

THANK

YOU

FOR YOUR

PARTICIPATION

Attachment 1:

Neighborhood Characteristic Styles

(Courtesy of Cincinnati Preservation)

Major Cincinnati Architectural Styles

Style Date

Popular Characteristics

Italianate 1850-1890s

Flat or low-pitched roof (often not visible) Wide, projecting bracketed cornice Tall, narrow windows (often 2-over-2) Arched windows or decorative window hoods Strong vertical proportions Typically 2–4 stories Brick construction common Built close to the sidewalk, often in rows

Second Empire

1860-1885

Mansard roof (defining feature), often with slate shingles and decorative patterns Dormer windows projecting from the roof, frequently ornate Strong vertical emphasis with tall, narrow windows Bracketed cornices and decorative trim Symmetrical or slightly asymmetrical façades Quoins, molded window surrounds, and iron cresting

Queen Anne

1880-1910

Asymmetrical, irregular overall form Towers or turrets often at corners Complex, steeply pitched rooflines Porches with decorative spindlework Variety of materials and textures (wood shingles, brick, clapboard) Patterned shingles and decorative trim Large bay windows and projecting elements Emphasis on visual variety and ornament

Victorian Vernacular

1870-1910

Simplified forms derived from high-style Victorian architecture Typically wood-frame construction with local materials Decorative elements limited to porch details, spindlework, or simple brackets Built by local builders rather than architects, often reflecting regional traditions

Major Cincinnati Architectural Styles

Style Date

Popular Characteristics

Tudor Revival

1890-1940

Steeply pitched, front-facing gables Half-timbering with stucco infill Prominent, often oversized chimneys Narrow, tall multi-paned windows Arched doorways and entry details Use of brick, stone, and stucco Asymmetrical

Craftsman 1905-1930

Low-pitched roof with wide overhanging eaves Exposed rafters and decorative brackets Full-width front porch Tapered columns, frequently on brick or stone piers Use of natural materials (wood, stone, brick) Built-in elements and simple, functional design

Colonial Revival

1890-1950

Symmetrical façade and balanced proportions Centered front door with decorative surround Columns or pilasters at entry Multi-pane, evenly spaced windows with shutters Side-gabled or hipped roof Brick or wood siding common Classical details (pediments, cornices)

Cape Cod Revivial

1930-1955

One to one-and-a-half story, compact rectangular form Steeply pitched side-gable roof, often with little or no overhang Symmetrical façade with centered front door End Chimneys Minimal ornamentation, emphasizing simplicity and practicality Dormers

Major Cincinnati Residential Building Forms

Style Description

Foursquare

Boxy, 2–2.5 story cube Hipped roof with centered dormer Full-width front porch Found widely in streetcar suburbs like Westwood and Hyde Park One of the most recognizable early 20th-century forms

Bungalow

1 to 1.5 stories Low-pitched roof with wide eaves Prominent front porch Often includes a dormer Strong horizontal emphasis Common in early auto suburbs

Front Gable

Triangular gable faces the street Narrow, vertical proportions Roof ridge runs perpendicular to street Common in 19th-century urban neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine Often attached or closely spaced

Side Gable

Roof ridge runs parallel to the street Broad front façade Very common in early 20th-century neighborhoods Frequently paired with Colonial Revival or minimal traditional styles

Cross Gable

Multiple gables intersect (L- or T-shaped plan) Creates more complex massing Common in Queen Anne and Tudor Revival houses Adds visual variety and larger interior layouts

Shotgun Long, narrow footprint Rooms arranged in a straight line Either gable front or flat roofs

Rowhouse/ Townhouse

Often attached housing or very narrow setbacks Built in a continuous row, creating a unified street edge Narrow, deep lots Typically 2–4 stories tall Set directly at the sidewalk (little to no front setback) Front gable or flat roof

Cincinnati Neighborhoods Summary Note: The neighborhoods shown are the same as Table 1

Style Description

Avondale

High Development Period: 1910-1960 Major Styles: Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Tudor Major Building Forms: Bungalow, Foursquare, Front Gable, Side Gable Popular Building Materials: Brick, Stone, Wood

East Price Hill

High Development Period: 1870-1950 Major Styles: Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Victorian Vernacular Major Building Forms: Foursquare, Bungalow, Front Gable, Side Gable, Cross Gable, Gambrel Roof Popular Building Materials: Wood, Stone, Brick

Northside

High Development Period: 1890- 1940 Major Building Styles: Queen Anne, Craftsman, Second Empire, Italianate Major Building Forms: Vernacular, Bungalow, Front Gable, American Foursquare Popular Building Materials: Brick, Wood, Stone

West Price Hill

High Development Period: 1900-1960 Major Building Styles: Queen Anne, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Tudor Major Building Forms: Bungalow, Front Gable, Gambrel, American Foursquare Popular Building Materials: Brick, Wood, Stone, Stucco

Walnut Hills

High Development Period: 1900-1950 Major Styles: Colonial Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne Major Building Forms: Mansard, Hipped Roof, Front Gable, Dormers Popular Building Materials: Brick, Stone, Wood

Evanston

High Development Period: 1900-1950 Major Building Styles: Queen Anne, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Tudor Major Building Forms: Vernacular, Bungalow, Front Gable, Gambrel, American Foursquare Popular Building Materials: Brick, Wood, Stone, Stucco

Cincinnati Neighborhoods Summary Note: The neighborhoods shown are the same as Table 1

Style Description

Westwood

High Development Period: 1900-1940 Major Styles: Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Craftsman, Colonial Revival Major Building Forms: Foursquare, Bungalow, Front Gable, Cross Gable, Side Gable Popular Building Materials: Brick, Wood, half timbering with stucco infill

Madisonville

High Development Period: 1920-1970 Major Building Styles: Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Cape Cod Revival, Craftsman Major Building Forms: Bungalow, Front Gable, Side Gable, American Foursquare Popular Building Materials: Brick, Wood, Stone, Stucco

Mount Auburn

High Development Period: 1880-1920 Major Building Styles: Italianate, Queen Anne, Victorian Vernacular Major Building Forms: Row House, Shotgun, Mansard Roof Popular Building Materials: Wood, Brick, Stone

Camp Washington

High Development Period: 1880-1920 Major Building Styles: Italianate, Queen Anne, Second Empire Major Building Forms: Mansard Roof, Row House Popular Building Materials: Brick, Wood, Stone

Attachment 2:

Cincinnati Building Decarbonization Guide

(Courtesy of the Building Electrification Institute (BEI) and Elevate)

Building Electrification Institute and Elevate

FOR THE CITY OF CINCINNATI PRE-APPROVED HOUSING DESIGN COMPETITION

Building Decarbonization, illustrated.

A primer on the technologies, design moves, and small details that turn a building into a low-carbon, healthy, future-ready home.

Issued for designers, architects, and developers participating in the City of Cincinnati Pre-Approved Housing Design Competition. Distributed by the Building Electrification Institute and Elevate. BEI · 2026

Why This Matters 02 / 12

i. THE CASE

Buildings are where climate gets personal.

The buildings we live, work, and play in can lower our bills and fight the climate crisis. We just need to design for it.

~30% of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions come from buildings — and roughly half of that from homes.

3–4× the efficiency of a heat pump versus a conventional gas furnace, even on cold mornings.

50+ years a well-built home will stand.

Equipment swapped twice. Envelope rarely.

HEALTH

The air inside.

Gas appliances release nitrogen dioxide, fine particulates, and benzene into kitchens at significant and harmful levels. Children in homes with gas stoves have ~42% higher odds of asthma symptoms. Electrification is a public-health intervention.

RESILIENCE

When the grid wobbles.

Pair a heat pump with rooftop solar and a battery and a home keeps the lights on, the food cold, and the bedrooms warm through outages. Electric equipment can and does run well in an outage when paired with solar and batteries.

COST

Operating costs, not sticker prices.

A well-designed all-electric home typically costs less to operate than a mixed-fuel one — and avoids the price volatility of gas. Doing it once, at construction, is far cheaper than retrofitting later.

COMFORT

Quiet, even, gentle heat.

Modern heat pumps run continuously at low capacity rather than blasting on and off. The result:

tighter temperature bands, quieter mechanical rooms, and dehumidification you actually notice on a humid August afternoon.

The All-Electric Home, in One Drawing 03 / 12

ii. THE SYSTEM

Eight technologies, one functioning ecosystem.

An…