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, 2025.
Ohio Region Competition is on January 10, 2026.
National Competition is on February 2026.
2025-26 Future City Theme
2025-26 Future City Theme: Farm to table. Design a city that eliminates food waste from farm to table and keeps your citizens health and safe.
Mentors Needed!
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 Holly Tucker 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 “Electrify Your Future” theme. 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. Scores are due in early January.
City Model/Presentation Judge (In person)
Volunteers come to the Ohio Regional Finals on 1/10/25. The location is TBD. 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 and lunch are 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 Lowery at sdlowry@hntb.com.
Sponsors
Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors! Your continued support helps us achieve this wonderful program!
Program Sponsors:
Burgess & Niple
ODNR Div. of Water Resources
Commonwealth Associates
Strand Associates
Ohio University
Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education
The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc.
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
Sustainability at Ohio State
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
Special Awards
2024-2025 Special Awards
Best Architectural Model – American Institute of Architects (AIA) – Columbus Chapter
Best Moving Part – Worthington AM Rotary Club
Best use of Ceramics – Allied Mineral Associates
Best use of Recreation – Worthington AM Rotary Club
Best use of Recycled Materials – Verdantas
Best use of Water Resources Engineering – Sam Chebaro Memorial Award, Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education
Best use of Transportation – HNTB Corporation
Best Project Plan – PMI Educational Foundation
Best Land Surveying Practices – National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
Best Visualization of a Smart, Sustainable City – American Society of Civil Engineers
Peoples Choice Award – The Andersons
Rookie of the Year – American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE)
Future City Board - Ohio Region
Holly Tucker, Ohio EPA – Regional Coordinator
Alauddin Alauddin, Ohio EPA
Joe Bolzenius – Chair
Matt Marquis, ODNR
Scott Lowry, HNTB
Lydia Ramlo, Strand
Walker Clark, City of Columbus
Jeffrey Zaye