NAHB Student Competition Success Shows Residential Construction Future is Bright

Aspiring home builders, land developers, designers and project managers from NAHB Student Chapters across the country presented thorough building proposals at the International Builders' Show.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The 2026 International Builders' Show in Orlando saw nearly 75,000 builders, remodelers, developers and other home building professionals attend. Students from NAHB Student Chapters across the country participated in the prestigious NAHB Student Competition, presenting thorough building proposals and fielding tough questions from construction company executives. The winners were announced at NAHB's Student Chapters Awards Ceremony.

Why it matters

The NAHB Student Competition highlights the next generation of talent entering the residential construction industry, showcasing their skills in areas like land development, design, finance, and project management. As the industry faces labor shortages, this competition helps identify and develop the future leaders who will shape the future of home building.

The details

Eighty-five teams participated in the competitions, up from 76 a year ago. The winners were announced in front of a full room during NAHB's Student Chapters Awards Ceremony at the LVCC on Feb.28. The competition challenged students to propose a thorough building plan for a lakefront lot, including renderings, pricing, and details across disciplines like finance, construction, architecture, and civil engineering.

  • The 2026 International Builders' Show took place in Orlando.
  • The NAHB Student Chapters Awards Ceremony was held on February 28, 2026.
  • Registration for the 2027 Student Competition will open on August 21, 2026.

The players

Matthew Genereau

Vice president of the Student Chapter at North Dakota State University.

Austin Sichmeller

President of the Student Chapter at North Dakota State University.

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What they’re saying

“We chose to build a lakefront lot that offered more of a bang for our buck. It might not have been the cheapest, but we viewed it as the best value. We decided on a three-bed, three-bath selling price of about $1.7 million. The renderings were phenomenal and it's nice having a team of finance, construction managers, architects, interior designers and even a civil engineer.”

— Matthew Genereau, Vice president of the Student Chapter at North Dakota State University (nahb.org)

“Start early, be prepared for the niche questions that come up and do your research beyond what's set in the guidelines. It's important to dive into soil and target demographics. Make sure you really know how to sell the house.”

— Austin Sichmeller, President of the Student Chapter at North Dakota State University (nahb.org)

What’s next

Registration for the 2027 Student Competition will open on August 21, 2026.

The takeaway

The NAHB Student Competition showcases the next generation of talent entering the residential construction industry, highlighting their skills in areas like land development, design, finance, and project management. As the industry faces labor shortages, this competition helps identify and develop the future leaders who will shape the future of home building.