 MIDDLE HOUSING DESIGN COMPETITION DEADLINE EXTENDED
The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) has extended the submission deadline for the 2026 Middle Housing Design Competition. Designers now have until Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. to submit their plans.
The competition, run in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Southern Arizona, invites architects, engineers, designers, builders, contractors, design-build teams, and students to submit middle housing design plans for pre-approval and to make them available to Tucson property owners. Any individual or firm may submit up to four designs. Fifteen selected designs will each receive a $1,000 award funded by AARP, and building review fees will be waived for designs submitted as model plans. Designers retain full ownership of their work.
WHAT IS MIDDLE HOUSING?
Middle housing refers to smaller-scale residential building types that sit between single-family homes and large apartment complexes. Mayor and Council voted 6-1 on December 16, 2025, to allow middle housing on most Tucson residential lots, effective January 1, 2026, giving Tucsonans more housing options at a range of life stages and income levels. Design costs can be a barrier to building, and this competition aims to create a catalog of pre-approved plans that reduces both the cost and complexity of adding housing.
For more information about middle housing and the design competition, visit middlehousing.tucsonaz.gov. You can also contact the team by email at MHDesign@tucsonaz.gov.
This project was made possible due to the generous support of AARP. It is part of AARP's nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports cities, towns, neighborhoods, and rural areas in becoming livable for people of all ages. This year, 750 grantees were selected from 5,100 applications across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To learn more, visit the AARP Community Challenge website.
Project Contact
Amanda Smith, Lead Planner
MHDesign@tucsonaz.gov
Media Contact
Ina Ronquillo, Public Information Officer
ina.ronquillo@tucsonaz.gov
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