INTRODUCTION

Every design—big or small—begins as an idea. At IE School of Architecture and Design, we’re on the lookout for yours. We want to celebrate those flickers of creative light that shine the brightest.

This ideas competition is open to anyone who believes that one of our innovative bachelor or master programs can help unlock your full potential. The general theme “Imagining Student Life at IE: Beyond the Vertical Campus ” is the same for all applicants, but we’ll consider applicants to each program in separate pools when judging the submissions.

Winning entries will be awarded a substantial scholarship toward the cost of the bachelor or master of your choice!

In September 2021, we will open our new vertical campus in Madrid: the IE Tower. This hub of innovative learning is the fifth-tallest building in the capital, stretching 180 meters high. Located in the city’s emerging financial district, the 50,000-square-meter space is an exciting addition to a new, vibrant sector at the heart of one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in Europe.

Click on this link to visit IE Tower website

To celebrate this exciting new chapter in IE University’s history, this competition will be directly related to our vertical campus.

That’s where you come in.

BRIEF

Your challenge is to think creatively in order to develop exciting new ideas for student life, drawing on the opportunities presented by the vertical campus.

The brief is intentionally broad. We don’t want to constrain, contain, or impede an innovative idea with restrictive guidelines. Your submission can deal with anything from how we might reimagine the traditional student residence to tackling the issue of sustainability in all aspects of student life. Alternatively, you may focus on increasing the connection with the city, promoting student well-being or improving on-and off-campus mobility.

While students will not live in the IE Tower, the new urban campus experience will undoubtedly influence how and where students live going forward. Your submission could consider these knock-on effects from a variety of angles and use the resulting implications as a basis to improve students’ daily lives.

Then again, you may wish to think about the student experience in terms of sustainability at all levels—in-class, at home, and commuting to and from campus. There are countless ways we could make the IE Tower more sustainable, whether by reimagining the role of furniture or using more eco-friendly materials.

This line of thought can extend to classrooms, resources and common areas, where leisure, sports and other lifestyle activities take place. And not just in terms of sustainability. You may wish to consider the look and feel of these shared spaces or how the services can be booked. Would an innovative university app improve the IE University experience?

Your proposals should acknowledge that the campus doesn’t exist in isolation. It is a living ecosystem that exists within a thriving city. Countless connections will take place daily between the campus and the city and your proposal may consider these as well. You could think about logistics of travel and the most viable ways to get in and out of campus: shuttle buses, scooters, bikes or eco-cars. Or perhaps you could approach it in terms of services and the wider community, whether they should be limited to IE University students or extended to our neighbors as well.

Above all, we want to see your creativity in action in a way that demonstrates your talent and way of thinking. We want you to consider how this hub of limitless potential can provide the most value to our students.

OUR PROGRAMS

BACHELOR IN ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES (BAS)
The Bachelor in Architectural Studies prepares students to transform the world and to make meaningful environments. With a project-based approach to learning and a diverse body of faculty and students, the program synthesizes creative, technical, environmental, and social considerations, and is driven by a forward-looking and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Duration: 5 years (intake: September)
- Format: full-time
- Language: English
- Location: Segovia and Madrid

BACHELOR IN DESIGN (BID)
The Bachelor in Design is a comprehensive degree that seeks to challenge today’s physical, experiential, functional and emotional reality. Designed for flexible and audacious individuals seeking creative solutions for a better and more sustainable life.
- Duration: 4 years (intake: September)
- Format: full-time
- Language: English
- Location: Segovia and Madrid

MASTER IN STRATEGIC INTERIOR DESIGN (MSID)
This program trains professionals to find strategic solutions to face the changes taking place in work, retail, hospitality and educational environments. Following an inherently forward-thinking approach, you will gain the tools and insights to design future-proof spaces that adapt to evolving needs.
- Duration: 10 months (intake: October)
- Format: full-time
- Language: English
- Location: Madrid

MASTER IN BUSINESS FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN (MBArch)
The Master in Business for Architecture and Design is chiefly concerned with the role design plays in business decision-making. Following a practical approach, you will solidify your managerial and advanced design skills to succeed in the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC).
- Duration: 15 months (intake: April)
- Format: part-time
- Language: English
- Location: Madrid + Amsterdam + Online

GLOBAL MASTER IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT (GMRED)
The Global Master in Real Estate Development (GMRED) has been designed to explore the relationship between real estate development, investment, and city infrastructure in a holistic comprehensive approach with a special focus on technology and sustainability. Leading professionals and academics in the sector will guide you as you delve into facets of residential and commercial, land use, offices, hospitality, and logistics through case studies. With this program, you will learn the skills and knowledge that will be needed in the future of real estate and boost your career prospects for leading the sector.
- Duration: 15 months (intake: October)
- Format: part-time
- Language: English
- Location: Madrid + Mexico City + Online

MASTER IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT (MRED)
The Master in Real Estate Development provides the skills and insights to help define our urban future. Rooted in finance, this one-year program explores the relationship between real estate and city development to gain a profound understanding of the development process and its future implications.
- Duration: 10 months (intake: October)
- Format: full-time
- Language: English
- Location: Madrid

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**
This competition is open to six programs: two Bachelor’s (BAS and BID) and four Master’s (MSID, MBARCH, GMRED and MRED). The documents to be submitted vary depending on which program you choose:
- For BAS, BID and MSID, there is no constraint: every creative option is welcome, as long as it is then sent through a presentation.
- For MBARCH, GMRED and MRED, on the other hand, the questionnaire found on the site must be downloaded, filled in and sent.
- Finally, a CV is also required for whichever program you want to apply for.

BAS, BID and MSID
You also have a wide scope in terms of how you carry out the challenge. In fact, it’s easier to define the format by what you can’t do—: please do not submit a long-form text-only document.

Of course there may be some writing involved, but we encourage participants to use graphic means as part of their proposals:

Sketches. Renderings. Photomontages. Collages. Videos. Websites.

Please use whatever medium best supports your conceptual approach.

The submissions will be judged mostly on the strength and originality of your idea, communicated effectively and with creativity. While technical solutions may be submitted, they are not necessary—the idea itself is of paramount importance.
- all texts must be in English;
- font, sizing and layout must be choosen by the candidate;
- the files must be named as follows: surname_name_courseletter.pdf (eg. in the case of candidate John Smith, candidate for “BAS”, the file will be named: Smith_John_BAS.pdf).
- format supported are: .pdf, .jpg, .png, (video or website can be linked in a .pdf presentation)
- you are required to also upload a CV

MBARCH,GMRED and MRED
Each candidate must deliver a .pdf format (maximum size 1MB), vertical layout, maximum 5 pages long, to be uploaded on the personal login area;(optional) one slide, horizontal, 16:9 or 4:3 .jpg or .png format;
- all texts must be in English;
- font, sizing and layout must be kept consistent with the given template, which can be downloaded on the competition website;
- the files must be named as follows: surname_name_courseletter.pdf (eg. in the case of candidate John Smith, candidate for “MRED”, the file will be named: Smith_John_MRED.pdf).
- you are required to also upload a CVEach document must contain:
- the title showing the program for which the document is applying: (MBARCH, GMRED or MRED);
- Answer to the given question (Q1-Q6).

Ready to begin? Help us explore the broader implications of our new urban campus, and to imagine the future.

REGISTRATION
1. Access to the website: iearchdesign-challenges.com;
2. register by filling in the required fields;
3. check your email to access the account activation and password registration area;
4. choose the password for your account;
5. download the documentation template for participation in the competition;
6. fill in the documents consistently with the requirements of chapter IV;
7. log in to your account;
8. choose the IE competition you want to participate in;
9. upload the required documents consistently with what is described in chapter IV.

PRIZES
- FOR THOSE APPLYING TO OUR BACHELORSThere will be two (2) winners of the challenge under the Bachelor category.They will have the opportunity to take advantage of exclusive scholarships (up to 50%) to study at IE University (School of Architecture and Design)

- FOR THOSE APPLYING TO OUR MASTERSThere will be four winners of the challenge under the Masters category.Once the winners enroll in the program of their choice, they will entitle a Guaranteed Direct Award scholarship worth 40% of the program’s tuition.

Scholarships are applicable to those who successfully complete the admission process and receive an offer to study with us.

CALENDAR
13th May – Competition kickoff
28th June – Last day to sign up
30th June – Last day to submit proposal
1st-15th July – Jury deliberations
20th July – Finalists Pitch their projects
21th July – Winners announced

REGISTRATION FEE
There are no registration fees for the “Imagining Student Life at IE Competition”. Registration and submittal must be completed through the competition page iearchdesign-challenges.com

JURY
The documentation will be studied by the Jury members maintaining the anonymity of participants. “Imagining Student Life at IE Competition” under the Bachelor ́s category will be selected by the following Jury members:

Benedetta Tagliabue: Head Architect at Miralles Tagliabue embt and Chairman of Fundació Enric Miralle
David Goodman: Associate Dean and Director of the Bachelor in Architectural Studies at IE School of Architecture and Design
Edgar Gonzalez: Director of the bachelor in design at IE school of architecture and design
Margarita Chiclana: CEO UNEXUM Real Estate and Director of the Global Master in Real Estate Development at IE School of Architecture and Design
Christine Murray: Editor-in-chief, Founding Director and Owner at The Developer and Festival of Place
Jeffrey Sújar: Managing Partner Alternative Investments at Urbania International

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do I need to deliver?This competition is open to six programs: two Bachelor’s (BAS and BID) and four Master’s (MSID, MBARCH, GMRED and MRED). The documents to be submitted vary depending on which program you choose:
- for BAS, BID and MSID, there is no constraint: every creative option is welcome, as long as it is then sent through a presentation.
- For MBARCH, GMRED and MRED, on the other hand, the questionnaire found on the site must be downloaded, filled in and sent.
- Finally, a CV is also required for whichever program you want to apply for.You can find the details about the documents that must be submitted at chapter IV of this document.
Is this competition for me? This competition is open to all, students and young professionals in the fields of architecture, design and business, who wish to attend the teaching programs of the IE School of Architecture and Design. Given the international nature of the school, the official language of the competition is English.
Where are the programs taking place and can I apply from any part of the world?The IE programs can take place either face to face or online. For additional details regarding the locations, you can check Chapter III of this document.