NAHB Student Competition: Four-Year Programs - Custom/Small Build

The NAHB Custom/Small Build Student Competition exposes students to a small scale residential construction project from concept to closing. Teams identify a home building opportunity in a specific geographic area, focusing on the best opportunity for a small builder to be successful and grow their business.

The 2024 NAHB Student Competition will be held at the 2024 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, Feb. 26-28

2024 Competition Timeline

Sept. 5, 2023 — Competition Problem Posted
Oct. 17, 2023 — Registration Due ($400)
Nov. 21, 2023 — Team Member List Due
Dec. 5, 2023 — Last Day to Withdraw from Competition
Dec. 19, 2023 — Projects Due
Feb. 26-27, 2024 — Presentation Dates
Feb. 28, 2024 — Judges’ Debriefing (morning, time tbd)
Feb. 28, 2024 — Awards Ceremony at IBS (afternoon, time tbd)

2023 Competition

The 2023 NAHB Student Competition was held at IBS 2023 in Las Vegas, Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, 2023.

2023 Competition Problem Description

Rules and Guidelines

Important Materials

2023 Custom/Small Build Competition Winners

First Place: Louisiana State University

• Proposal
• Video of Presentation

Second Place: Utah Valley University

• Proposal
• Video of Presentation

Third Place: California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

• Proposal
• Video of Presentation

Resources for Competitors

• NAHB Four-Year Student Competition Guidebook
• Question Board: All competition related questions posted in our Google group will be answered by the competition’s consultants.
• Cengage Learning books will be available to all competition teams. (*Returning teams have the set of books from Cengage Learning. Only new teams will be shipped a set of resource books.)
• 2022 Four Year Programs Custom Home Builder Judges Debrief Video
• 2023 Competition Judges

Entry Requirements

$400 entry fee for four-year programs.