Campus RainWorks Challenge

Launched in May 2012, the Campus RainWorks Challenge is a student competition designed to inspire the next generation of landscape architects, planners, and engineers to develop innovative green infrastructure systems that mitigate the impacts of urban stormwater while supporting sustainable communities.

Green infrastructure uses vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage stormwater and create healthier urban environments. While single-purpose “gray” stormwater infrastructure (e.g. catch basins, pipes, and ponds) is largely designed to move urban stormwater away from the built environment, green infrastructure uses vegetation and soil to manage rainwater where it falls. By weaving natural processes into the built environment, green infrastructure can provide not only stormwater management, but also heat island mitigation, air quality management, community amenities, and much more.

The U.S. EPA announced the winners of its 2012 Campus RainWorks Challenge in April 2013. Student teams were invited to create an innovative green infrastructure design for a site on their campus showing how managing stormwater at its source can benefit the campus community and the environment. Winning teams earned a cash prize, as well as research funds for their faculty advisor to conduct research on green infrastructure. 

EPA is preparing to launch its 2013 Campus RainWorks Challenge this fall. Challenge registration will begin in September 2013. Additional details on the 2013 competition will be made available on this website at the end of July.

To ask a question about the competition, please email Tamara Mittman at RainWorks@epa.gov.