Missing Middles
Sacramento: Three & Up Challenge
This competition is your chance to shape the future of neighborhoods with designs that are viable, attainable, and inspiring.
Build What’s Missing…
PRIZE FUND
$30,000
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
05/ 15/ 2026
REGISTRATION OPEN
01/ 05/ 2026
In partnership and sponsored by:
Introduction
“Missing Middles: Sacramento Three & Up Challenge” is a national design competition that calls on architects, designers, students, and housing innovators to envision creative and practical solutions for small-scale multifamily housing. This initiative responds to the urgent need for housing diversity and density by exploring how 3+ unit dwellings can be successfully integrated into neighborhoods traditionally zoned for single-family homes. Submissions must be rooted in affordability, targeting Sacramento’s median household income, and align with typical development benchmarks. We’re looking for designs that can be replicated and scaled—ideas that can move beyond the concept stage and into communities. This is your opportunity to shape the future of housing in Sacramento. Let’s build something better, together.
Images credit by Visit Sacramento
The goal is to inspire builders, designers, and the publics with viable, beautiful, and functional alternatives that bridge the gap between single-family homes and large multifamily developments.
Through this competition, we aim to foster creative problem-solving, promote housing affordability, and contribute to the ongoing discourse on sustainable and equitable urban growth.
Rather than prescribing a specific site or scale, the competition offers flexibility, inviting proposals across architectural, urban, or policy-driven frameworks. Participants may propose building typologies, neighborhood strategies, or systemic interventions. Proposals should reflect a deep understanding of Sacramento’s environmental, cultural, and technological landscape, with designs that are scalable, sustainable, and grounded in a vision for long-term resilience and equity.
Submissions should present a coherent and compelling architectural narrative, supported by site strategies, housing models, and thoughtful design detailing. Solutions should prioritize quality of life, community integration, and environmental responsibility, pushing beyond cost-effectiveness to explore how affordable housing can contribute to the city’s vibrancy and sense of place.
Images credit by Visit Sacramento
Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams 2-5 who are architects, designers, planners, students (no licensure required). People who have direct personal or professional relationships with jury panel members or organizers may not participate in this competition.
Brief
The full competition brief can be downloaded as often as required; no additional information will be provided after registration.
Critical Dates
Jan 5, 2026
Competition Kickoff - Open Call for Contestants:
We will open and officially announce the Missing Middles Design Competition.
Jan 5, 2026 - May 15, 2026
Submission Intake:
Last day to submit -
May 15th, 2026
May 18, 2026 - May 31, 2026
Jury Review:
A two-three day intense jury review to evaluate all the submitted projects.
June 5, 2026
Winner Announcements:
Winners of the competition will be announced via our website and newsletter. A publication with all of the contestants will be produced and distributed.
June - July, 2026
Event/ Symposium:
A studio format symposium will allow for winners to present their contest submission. We will also serve as a professional mixer.
Prizes
Professional Awards - $30,000 in Total Prizes
The Green Blueprint Award
$10,000
Scalable Futures Award
$10,000
The Community Catalyst Award
$10,000
Student Awards - $5,000 in Total Prizes
Gold
$2,500
Silver
$1,500
AIA | California Bronze Award
$700
Honorable Mentions
(2) Entries $150
Meet the Jury
Bruce Monighan
Lead Juror/ AIA, NCARB
Julie Young
Developer/ Founder
Sarah Ellis
Founder/ Architect
Kimberley Garza
Founder/ Principal
FAQ
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Click on "register now", fill in all the required fields, choose your payment method and submit your information. You will be forwarded to Paypal or CPS secure payment gateway, to cover the competition fee. Once we receive your payment, we'll send you an email with your username and password to upload your submission directly to the website.
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Please contact us – Info@missingmiddles.com and we will address the problem directly.
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Yes. If the jury panel selects a Student award's submission for the top 3, it will automatically be awarded both prizes.
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No. Competition entries are evaluated anonymously. The participant registration type is only revealed upon the announcement of the results.
I am experiencing problems with registration payment processing.
Please contact us – Info@missingmiddles.com and we will address the problem directly.