34th Annual AIA Sandcastle Competition

TEAM REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Welcome to the 34th Annual AIA Sandcastle Competition!  In order to participate, you must meet the qualifications outlined within the Official Competition Rules.  Over the next several months, your team will need to submit a variety of forms for team and party registrations, t-shirt/wristband orders and theme/category choices; links can be found below and on our Team Pre-Event Schedule + Deadlines page, located HERE.

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OFFICIAL RULES

Download Official Rules HERE.

2020 CATEGORIES

THEME-BASED CATEGORIES (new for 2020)
(Each team chooses only ONE of the theme-based categories)
Architectural Icon
Traditional Castle
Texas Pride
     Everything is bigger (and better!) in Texas
Kidtastic: Nursery Rhymes
     Row, row, row your boat, gently down I45!
Pop Culture: Video Games
     Game on...from Pong to Pokemon!
Go For the Gold!
     The Summer Olympics have been postponed, but here's your team's chance to bring home a medal in August!
Animal Kingdom
     Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

OVERALL CATEGORIES (returning)
(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)
Sydney Lenoir Public Favorite Award
Greatest Feat of Structural Ingenuity
Team Signage + Costume (now combined into one award)
Team T-Shirt
Most Sustainable Team*
*All teams will receive a sustainable rating from a team of judges rating everything from water delivery systems to recycling efforts and formwork. The team with the highest score will receive an award.

REGISTRATION FORMS

Team Registration Form - Due Friday, June 5 by 5pm in order to participate in Site Selection Lottery. Late registration due Monday, July 27 by 5pm.

Kick-off Party/Site Selection Lottery Registration Form - Due Friday, June 5 by 5pm

Theme & Category Form - Due Monday, July 27 by 5pm.

Team T-shirt and Wristband Order Form - Due Monday, July 27 by 5pm.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

TENT VENDORS (coming soon):  Each team is responsible for obtaining and installing a shade canopy at their site.  Download a list of tent vendors HERE who have put together Sandcastle Tent Packages so that all you have to do is show up and not worry about a tent. Billing and pricing are with these companies and do not go through the AIA Houston office.

Download the AIA Sandcastle Competition Informational Poster HERE.

Download the Free Team Sign Flyer from Thomas Printworks HERE.

Click HERE to download the most up-to-date Site Map (initial map will be available in June).

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HOTEL INFORMATION

AIA Sandcastle has a block of rooms at the Hilton Galveston Island Resort. Make your reservations online by clicking here (online code: SAND) or call 409-744-5000 and ask for the AIA Sandcastle rate (phone code: Sandcastle Competition 2020). Monday, August 3, is the deadline to reserve rooms.  PLEASE NOTE: The Hilton Galveston Island Resort charges $8/per day for parking at the hotel.