The annual Skyscraper Competition, organized by eVolo, has become an important architectural prize with high media attention. The 2009 edition invites architects, engineers and designers to continue exploring on new dieas and concepts for vertical density.

Skyscrapers have been springing up in fast-developing countries without careful consideration of the urban fabric, environmental effects and quality of life. The 2009 competition calls for innovative designs for the historical and social context, the existing urban fabric, the human scale and the environment.

All students, architects, engineers and designers are invited to participate. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged. Participants must register by 12 January 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

The GE Edison Award is an annual program sponsored by GE, and that recognizes excellence and quality in professional lighting designs that employ significant use of GE light sources (lamps and/or LEDs).

Entries are judged on the following criteria: functional excellence; architectural compatibility; effective use of state-of-the-art lighting products and techniques; appropriate color, form and texture revelation; energy effectiveness and cost effectiveness.

Winning projects receive Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, Awards for Excellence in Environmental Design and/or an Award for Residential Design. The GE Edison Award Winner is selected from among the Awards of Excellence.

The GE Edison Award competition is open to all professional designers, architects, engineers, and consultants (except GE employees) who have made significant use of GE lamps in the submitted project. Only installations completed between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2008 may be submitted. Entries must be received by GE (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on 12 January 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

The Going with the Grain Challenge is to design an original and compelling object that can be made from a single sheet of FSC-certified plywood measuring 4-feet x 8-feet x 1-inch. Entries should be functional designs that reveal the beauty of the wood.

Eligible entries are limited to one sheet of plywood. All are welcome to enter, including furniture designers and manufacturers, architects and industrial designers. But, you must be a member of Design 21: Social Design Network to enter this contest. This Challenge is co-hosted by The Nature Conservancy and FSC-US who are working together to increase consumer awareness of and demand for FSC products.

Application for this competition closes 26 January 2009. Learn more about free membership at Design 21 and other guidelines at Design Green Now.

Oregon Metro’s restoration and enhancement grants support individual, non-profit and government sponsored restoration, enhancement and education and efforts in regional watersheds. These grassroots, community-minded projects create new connections and improvements to neighborhoods, natural areas, backyards and beyond.

In May 2008, the Metro Council awarded $250,000 to successful applicants whose projects restore and enhance regional watersheds, educate citizens about watershed health, and/or inspire environmental awareness and action.

Metro is now accepting grant applications for projects that connect citizens to their watershed through hands-on restoration activities and environmental education. Pre-applications are due 7 January 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

eVolo Architecture invites architects, engineers and designers to take part in its fourth international architectural competition, ‘08 Skyscraper.’ The idea of the competition is to continue exploring on new ideas and concepts for vertical density. Skyscrapers have been springing up in fast-developing countries without careful consideration of the urban fabric, environmental effects, and quality of life. This year’s competition calls for innovative designs for the XXI Centry, which takes into consideration the historical and social context, the existing urban fabric, the human scale, and the environment.

Registration deadline is 12 January 2009. Visit the site to learn more.

Redesign the broken models of the 20th century. Challenge our patterns of living and working in a fuel-hungry world…come up with solutions that connect us, make us more efficient, more humane. Focus on one area that needs fixing—products, interiors, buildings and landscape, communication systems, or anything else you can imagine—and develop your idea fully.

This competition, sponsored by Metropolis’ Next Generation, is open to all designers in practice ten years or less. All entries must be submitted by 30 January 2009 at 11:59pm PST. Residents of the following states by law are not required to pay an entry fee: AZ, CT, MD, ND, and VT. Visit the site to learn more.