The "Architecture and Construction Talks" project workshop has been nominated for the 2026 Local Agenda Award.

The Architecture and Construction Talks project workshop was nominated for the 2026 Local Agenda Award, Dresden’s sustainability award, and is one of six selected projects that made it to the final round and were able to present their project to the jury in early September 2026. In an interdisciplinary collaboration involving civil engineers, architects, landscape architects, and the School Liaison Office at TU Dresden, Stefanie Schroeder, Dr.-Ing. Kerstin Speck, Carola Handrianz, Prof. Robert Jockwer, and Prof. Birgit Beckmann led a project workshop with young people at the CUBE carbon concrete house in June 2026.

© André Terpe

Over the course of one week, 23 students in grades 8 and 10 from Dresden high schools designed two complementary structures made of wood and carbon concrete as places for people to meet and interact on the BUGA grounds at Südpark. The result was architecturally sophisticated skywalk structures, observation decks, and exhibition spaces built using resource-efficient methods that minimized material use. In their designs, the students prioritized sustainability and the economical use of materials just as much as creative design and usability for a broad social audience. The project workshop was supported by research conducted within the SFB/TRR280 and by industry partners, and demonstrates that the promotion of early-career researchers is best achieved through hands-on experience and early responsibility.

The collaboration between universities, schools, and local stakeholders in shaping sustainable cities and communities—along with the early involvement of young people—fosters creativity, a sense of responsibility, and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the results of the project workshop can help raise Dresden’s profile among the city’s residents in the context of BUGA 2033 and impressively demonstrate how young people are already developing ideas for a sustainable and forward-looking building culture. We are all the more pleased that the project workshop has been nominated for the Local Agenda Award.

The Dresden Local Agenda bases its work on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Serving as a hub connecting politics, administration, academia, business, and civil society, it facilitates cross-sectoral cooperation, partnerships, and citizen participation. The Local Agenda Dresden Award annually recognizes outstanding commitment to projects and dedication to Dresden’s sustainable development.

The final winner will be announced in the coming weeks.