The Beck Summer Design Challenge: Emergent Urbanism

Each summer, The Beck Group welcomes a new group of interns into our practice. They spend time in  design and construction, gaining a view of how ideas evolve from concept to built form.

A highlight of the program is the Beck Summer Design Challenge, which gives interns the chance to explore bold ideas and test creative solutions.

This year’s challenge focused on the theme of Emergent Urbanism. The prompt asked interns to design small but meaningful interventions that could ripple outward and create lasting impact across Dallas and Fort Worth.

The Projects

Intern teams explored ideas ranging from housing solutions to civic landmarks and cultural crossings. Highlights included:

• Monarch Village envisioned modular housing tied to a monarch butterfly habitat and linear park.
• Cedar Housing Collective proposed a civic ground floor with retail kiosks, a playground, and live-work lofts to support a vibrant neighborhood.
• Big Red 4 Fire Station reimagined a fire station as a community landmark with bold form and welcoming public spaces.
• Fightin’ Flyin’ Four Fire Station proposed a public safety education center and community hub alongside the operational facility.
• The Cultural Link turned a pedestrian bridge into a space of wellness and cultural storytelling.

The Winners

Our jury was impressed by all of the submissions. Each team demonstrated strong storytelling, thoughtful use of design tools, and an awareness of how architecture can shape a community. In the end, two projects stood out:

Monarch Village by Alyda Hunnicutt & Kaitlyn McGriff, for its integration of ecology, housing, and public space.

Big Red 4 Fire Station by Brooke Black, Caroline Annett, and David Wang, for its bold rethinking of civic infrastructure.

The jury also gave an honorable mention to The Cultural Link by Dylan Martos, Mariyah Mansuri, and Sean Morris, for its creative graphics and strong vision for everyday urban life.

Why It Matters

This year’s Summer Design Challenge showed how even modest design moves can have big impact. Housing can support ecology. Infrastructure can double as a cultural landmark. Everyday crossings can become places of connection.

The lesson is simple: design matters most when it multiplies its impact, shaping not only buildings but the lives lived around them.

Looking Ahead

The Summer Design Challenge is one of many ways Beck invests in the next generation of designers and builders.

If you’re a student searching for hands-on experience in design or construction, keep an eye out for our 2026 Summer Internship Program details.

Learn about internship opportunities at Beck >>

Michael Kaiser is the National Design Director at The Beck Group. He focuses on creating meaningful experiences through design and thrives on collaboration with clients and project teams across market sectors.