2023 AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition is PRESENTED BY: Call 811 - Know what's below. Call before you dig
ABOUT THE 2023 EVENT
The AIA Sandcastle Competition is a fundraising event for AIA Houston and ArCH Foundation as well as one of the top five revenue-generating events for the City of Galveston. Competing teams have their eyes and shovels set on winning the prestigious Gold Bucket Award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event, the teams - stretched along the beach front - meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work non-stop for five hours.
The judging of the sculptures is rated on the originality of concept, artistic execution, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. At the end of the day, everyone goes home with memories of a great day at the beach filled with fun, sand, and sun.
THE SAND SCULPTURES : Please respect the hard work of our participants by not touching any of the sand sculptures even after the event. Many spectators visit the beach the next day, on Sunday, to view and enjoy the sculptures.
TIMELINE
ALL REGISTRATION LINKS LISTED AFTER THE TIMELINE
MARCH 21 | TEAM REGISTRATION BEGINS
The fee includes t-shirts and event wristbands (which allow access to sponsor tents and their giveaways) for up to 10 team members.
There is a fee of $25 for each additional t-shirt/ event wristband beyond the 10 that are included with your team registration fee.
JUNE 16 | TEAM REGISTRATION ENDS
Team Registration ends at 5:00pm and is required to participate in Site Selection Lottery Event
JULY 10 | TEAM LATE REGISTRATION & LAST CALL FOR PRE-ORDERED T-SHIRTS
Last call to modify or pre-order additional shirts. Orders are due by 5:00pm.
On a first-come, first-served basis, teams and sponsors can purchase additional shirts at the T-Shirt Distribution Party or the AIA tent on event day.
JUNE 21 | TEAM & SPONSOR SITE SELECTION LOTTERY EVENT
Registration Required (5:30-8:30PM)
Teams and Sponsors must be present to participate in the Site Selection Lottery.
Sponsored by: The Houston Design Center, 7026 Old Katy Rd, Houston, TX 77024
Complimentary food and beer sponsored by:
Daltile, Harvey Cleary, Interface Carpets, Putterman, Rockfon, Scharack & Associates (PSA), Stites Gorman &Associates (SGA), Texas Interiors
JULY 10 | TEAM LATE REGISTRATION AND LAST CALL TO PRE-ORDER TSHIRTS
Last call to modify or pre-order additional shirts. Orders are due by 5:00pm
On a first-come, first-served basis, teams and sponsors can purchase additional shirts at the T-Shirt Distribution Party or the AIA tent on event day.
JULY 22 | BEACH CLEAN-UP DAY - New this year!
Registration Required
Teams who participate will receive bonus points towardstheir sustainability score. Stay tuned for more details.
AUGUST 9 | T-SHIRT DISTRIBUTION PARY
(5:30-8:30PM)
Registration Required
Teams must send at least one representative to pick up t-shirts, vehicle beach pass and event participant wristbands. Complimentary food and drink.
Sponsored by: CBI Group 1050 N Post Oak Rd #100, Houston, TX 77055
AUGUST 12 | SANDCASTLE EVENT DAY!
No vehicles permitted on beach before 6:30am or after 9:00am
6:30am — 9:00am With official vehicle pass, beach front opens for delivery of equipment & supplies to the Sandcastle sites.
10:00am — 3:00pm Sandcastle Competition
3:00—4:30pm Sandcastle Judging
+/- 5:00pm Awards Ceremony
TBD Vehicle access to the beach after the police and parks board determine safe access
REGISTRATION LINKS
TEAMS
TEAM REGISTRATION
TEAM LATE REGISTRATION (Team will not be included in Site Selection Event)
TEAM T-SHIRT AND WRISTBAND ORDERS
TEAM SITE SELECTION EVENT REGISTRATION
FREE TEAM SIGNAGE FORM - Not Available Yet, updating for 2023
SPONSORS
SPONSOR T-SHIRT AND WRISTBAND ORDERS
SPONSOR SITE SELECTION REGISTRATION
BECOME A SPONSOR
ICE
2023 SANDCASTLE ICE ORDER FORM
BEACH CLEAN-UP DAY
BEACH CLEAN-UP DAY REGISTRATION
MEDIA / LIABILITY FORM
RULES
AWARDS
Each team is automatically entered in each of the Overall Categories listed below:
- Gold Bucket (1st Place)
- Silver Shovel 2nd Place)
- Bronze Shovel ( 3rd Place )
- AIA College Challenge (Awarded only to university student teams)
- Team Signage
- Team T-Shirt
- Sydney Lenoir Public Favorite
- 811 Presents: Most SustainableTeam
All teams will receive a sustainable rating from a team of judges rating everything from water delivery systems to recycling efforts and formwork.
Teams also have the opportunity to earn extra sustainability points by participating in our BEACH CLEAN-UP DAY ON JULY 22.
The team with the highest score will receive an award.
THEME BASED CATEGORIES
Each Team is permitted to enter only ONE of the Theme Based Categories listed below
- Optical Illusions NEW!
- Architectural Icon
- Kidtastic! Toy Box (favorite childhood toys) NEW!
- Texas Pride NEW!
- Pop Culture: Best of the 90’s NEW!
- Traditional Castle
HOTEL
Hilton Galveston Island Resort
5400 Seawall Boulevard. Galveston, TX 77551
PHONE RESERVATIONS: (409) 744-5000 and give code GASAND
ONLINE RESERVATIONS
: To make online reservations, please contact ellen@aiahouston.org for the direct link
Reservations must be made by July 11 for the group rate
TENTS
TENT VENDOR INFORMATION (DOWNLOAD HERE)
