Welcome to the Future City Ohio Region!
Ohio 6th, 7th, and 8th graders have imagined, designed, and engineered the future! Future City provides an authentic STEM experience for middle school students around the country.
Registration closes on October 31, 2026.
Ohio Region Competition is on January 23, 2027.
National Competition is on February 13-17, 2027.
Regional
Finals Location
Fawcett Center, The Ohio State University
2400 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, OH 43210
2026-27 Future City Theme
2026-27 Future City Theme: Fire Resistant Future
Design a city resistant future city that can prevent, protect, and recover from urban wildfires.
Mentors Needed!
Engineers, city planners, and other professionals with technical backgrounds are invited to volunteer as a mentor for the Ohio Future City Competition (FCC).
Future City mentors volunteer from September to January. Mentors provide advice, guidance, and technical assistance as the students work on the various project components.
You’ll meet with the team to get to know the students and focus them on the big picture: good urban design, an overview of the essay topic, and brainstorming possible solutions.
You’ll help with the model, teaching the students about scale, and working on the presentation.
Making yourself available by email to review things like the essay and ideas of futuristic components is helpful too. A teacher is also present when you meet with students.
Interested in mentoring? We’ll help you connect with a school near your home or work. Contact Alauddin A. Alauddin at ohio@futurecity.org
Judges Needed!
Engineers, architects, city planners, and other professionals with technical backgrounds! We need you!
Engineers created this competition to offer a one of kind STEM experience for middle schoolers. It’s success is dependent upon engineers, city planners, and architects providing guidance to these young minds.
Serving as a judge is rewarding!
Judges should have a technical background sufficient to understand and evaluate the student’s work. Members of the STEM community are welcome and encouraged to volunteer! Future City provides assessment rubrics and training.
Judging Opportunities:
There are 2 different judging opportunities:
Essay Judge (Virtual)
Volunteers read research essays written by the students on the selected theme that year. A rubric and scoresheet will be provided. Scores are submitted electronically. Time commitment is approximately 3 hours. Essays are available to be judged starting in mid-December and are judged over a two week period. Scores are due in Mid-January.
City Model/Presentation Judge (In person)
Volunteers are to come to the Ohio Regional Finals at the date & location of the competition (both listed above). Judges listen to 4 different student teams give a 7-minute presentation, then ask the students follow-up questions about their city model. Judges are in teams of 3 or 5. A rubric and scoresheet are provided. Breakfast is provided to judges, as well. It’s fun and rewarding.
Register to be a judge here (choose “Ohio” as your state): Register here »
*Be sure to select “regional competition judge” and choose “Ohio” as your region.
Questions?
Contact Scott Lowry at sdlowry@hntb.com.
Sponsors
Thank you to all of our wonderful 2025-2026 sponsors! Your continued support helps us achieve this wonderful program!
25-26 Program Sponsors:
Platinum –
Burgess & Niple
ODNR Div. of Water Resources
Gold –
Commonwealth Associates
Silver –
Strand Associates
Ohio University
Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education
The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc.
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Additional Sponsors –
The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute
Special Awards Sponsors:
American Institute of Architects (AIA) – Columbus Chapter
Rotary Worthington AM
Allied Mineral Products
NCEES
Verdantas
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Central Ohio Section
HNTB
Educational Foundation – Project Management Institute
American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) – Central Ohio
The Andersons
Questions?
Contact Joe Bolzenius at joseph.bolzenius@hotmail.com.
Special Awards
2025-2026 Special Awards
Best Architectural Model – American Institute of Architects (AIA) – Columbus Chapter
Winner – Crestview Middle School
Honorable Mention – Indian Hill Middle School
Best Moving Part – Worthington AM Rotary Club
Winner -Indian Hill Middle School
Honorable Mention – Columbus Humanities Arts & Technology Academy
Best use of Ceramics – Allied Mineral Associates
Winner – Hertiage Middle School
Honorable Mention – Millennium Community School
Best use of Recreation – Worthington AM Rotary Club
Winner – Genoa Middle School
Honorable Mention – St. Joseph Montessori School
Best use of Recycled Materials – Verdantas
Winner – Columbus Humanities Arts & Technology Academy
Honorable Mention – Girl Scout Troop 4294
Best use of Water Resources Engineering – Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Education
Winner – Heritage Middle School
Honorable Mention – Genoa Middle School
Best use of Transportation – HNTB Corporation
Winner – Genoa Middle School
Honorable Mention – Heritage Middle School
Best Project Plan – PMI Educational Foundation
Winner – North Union Middle School
Honorable Mention – Watkins Middle School
Best Land Surveying Practices – National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
Winner – Genoa Middle School
Honorable Mention – Heritage Middle School
Peoples Choice Award – The Andersons
Winner – Genoa Middle School
Honorable Mention – Watkins Middle School
Rookie of the Year – American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) – Central Ohio Section
Watkins Middle School
Future City Board - Ohio Region
Alauddin A. Alauddin, PE, Ohio EPA – Regional Coordinator
Joe Bolzenius, PE, Mannik Smith Group – Chair
Lydia Ramlo, PE, Graduate Student – Secretary
Jeffrey Zaye, CPA, Vance Outdoors Inc. – Treasurer
Scott Lowry, PE, HNTB
Walker Clark, PE, City of Columbus
Aaron Wise, Horizon Science Academy – Educator Liaison
Michael Kelley, Ohio EPA