Why IBS Attendees Should Watch the Student Competition
The NAHB Student Competition at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) features contests between the sharpest up-and-coming land developers, project managers and designers from NAHB’s Student Chapters.
During the competition, students present and defend sharp professional building proposals, which are reviewed, critiqued and judged by a panel of construction company executives.
“You’re seeing a significant investment in the future, and you’re seeing the best and the brightest students that are interested in home building,” said Eric Holt, associate professor of practice at the University of Denver, and Student Chapter advisory board member.
“If you want to see and recruit for your future workforce, come to these presentations. You’ll meet students that have dedicated their semester to this. They’ve put a ton of hours and work into this, their faculty has done a bunch of fundraising and coaching. This is the best of the best for home building’s future.”
Seventy-four teams are set to compete across four student competitions: four-year programs (production homes, undergraduate and graduate students), four-year programs (custom/small build), associate programs and secondary programs. Teams will present in 30-minute intervals.
“Industry professionals attending IBS need to understand that these students aren’t as green as they might think,” said Alicia Cox Skoug, Washington D.C. division president for Drees Homes and a judge for the four-year and graduate programs production home build competition.
“They understand the nuances and have the big-picture idea of what needs to go into a project. It’s also just impressive to see these students come in and present. It’s like a dissertation.”
All IBS attendees are encouraged to attend the Student Competition. The three-day contests start on Monday, Feb. 24 and end Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The full schedule is available here and open to all attendees.
Latest from NAHBNow
Mar 25, 2026
Podcast: 3 Key Focus Areas for NAHB’s Blueprint to 100On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez sit down with 2026 NAHB Chairman Bill Owens to discuss his plans for the year, including the Blueprint to 100 initiative, and what’s happening in Washington.
Mar 24, 2026
5 Courses to Boost Your Business' Profitability this SpringNow is a critical time for builders to tactfully manage their budgets and strategically plan for the future to put themselves in the best position for success. NAHB will host several live online courses this spring that will focus on helping builders thrive by refining their skills in estimating, communicating, designing and more.
Latest Economic News
Mar 25, 2026
Age of Housing Stock by StateAccording to the latest data from the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS), the median age of owner-occupied homes has reached 42 years old. The age of the housing stock is an important remodeling market indicator.
Mar 24, 2026
Almost Half of the Owner-Occupied Homes Built Before 1980Around 47% of the U.S. housing stock was built in the 1980s and earlier. The median age of owner-occupied homes climbed to 42 years old in 2024, up from 31 in 2005 according to the latest data from the American Community Survey.
Mar 23, 2026
Comparing New and Resale Prices: 4Q25In the fourth quarter of 2025, the median price for a new single-family home was $405,300, which was $9,600 lower than the median price of an existing home, which stood at $414,900.