Custom Application

Sandcastle Competition Team Registration - General University Team

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Deadline: Jul 17, 2026 5:00 pm (GMT-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
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Date: Sep 19, 2026 10:00 am - Sep 20, 2026 9:00 pm (CDT)
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$250.00

About the event

The American Institute of Architects and La Izquierda Fest partner to enrich the annual AIA Sandcastle Competition with music, vendors, and family-friendly activities at East Beach. Competing teams have their eyes and shovels set on winning the prestigious Gold Bucket Award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event, the teams – stretched along the beach front – meticulously sculpt their piles of sand and work non-stop for five hours.
AIA Houston
AIA Houston
AIA Houston
AIA Houston

About the application

Team Eligibility

  • Architect team registration is open to architecture, design, and engineering firms with at least one team member being an AIA Architect, Assoc. AIA Architect, or be an AIA Affiliate Member/Firm.
  • Accredited architecture, design, and engineering universities may participate. A maximum of one (1) student team per university is permitted.
  • High school architecture classes, clubs, or organizations may participate. A maximum of one (1) team per school is permitted.
  • Public, non-architecture or design-related groups may participate. Higher registration fees apply.
  • Universities without an accredited architecture, design, and/or engineering program may participate and are considered public teams. A maximum of one (1) team per university is permitted.
  • Teams are not restricted in size.

Registration
Team registration is open from April 6th at 9:00 AM CST to July 17th at 5:00 PM CST.

Registration fees:

  • Architecture Team: $250
  • Architecture University Team: registration fee waived
  • General University Team: $250
  • High School Team: $150
  • General Public Team: $400

Included in registration fees:

  • Up to ten (10) Galveston Sandcastle Festival t-shirts/tank tops
  • Up to ten (10) participant wristbands

Additional forms are released for teams to provide additional information, including site selection, t-shirt and wristband order, theme-based category, tent rental, and ice order.

All forms may be accessed at www.galvestonsandcastlefestival.com

 

Site Selection

  • Winners of the previous year’s Gold Bucket, AIA College Challenge, and Sustainability Awards will have the first call to select their respective sites in the order listed here.
  • Site selections will be decided on a rolling basis in the order in which team registrations are received. Each team will have a maximum of three (3) business days from receipt of the site selection notification via email to select its team site; otherwise, a site will be assigned to the team.
  • Non-architect teams will have a designated area separate from architect-comprised teams. Reference the site selection map for available team sites.
  • View site selection map here.

Payment Options
If you wish to pay by check, please contact Alex Moreno before submitting the registration form.
alexm@aiahouston.org
713.684.7021

Terms & Conditions

2026 Official Competition Rules
The rules can be found at www.galvestonsandcastlefestival.com under the Team and Sponsor Information.

 

All teams, sponsors, and individual participants are required to comply with all the provisions of the Official Competition Rules. By registering to compete, teams affirm that they have read the official competition rules and agree to comply with all terms and regulations.

 

Prices

Architect Team Registration $250.00 Universities without an accredited architecture, design, and/or engineering program may participate and are considered public teams. A maximum of one (1) team per university is permitted.

Questions on the application

User information

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Email

Additional information

  • Team Name
  • Company, University, or High School Name
  • Primary Team Contact Name
  • AIA Member Number
  • Primary Team Contact Email
  • Primary Team Contact Phone Number
  • Secondary Team Contact Name
  • Secondary Team Contact Email
  • Secondary Team Contact Phone Number
Sandcastle Competition Team Registration  - General University Team
Sandcastle Competition Team Registration - General University Team
Galveston Sandcastle Festival