The Future City Competition (FCC) is a project-based learning experience where students in grades 6-8 imagine, research, design, and build cities at least 100 years in the future. Schools or recognized youth organizations can form teams and have the option to compete in the state competition. Students spend approximately five months (September-January) completing the following deliverables: a 1,500-word city essay; a scale model of their city built from recycled materials; a four-part project plan; a 7-minute team presentation; and a Q&A session with judges (professional engineers who volunteer their time). Review the Minnesota Academic Standards alignment for FCC.
After piloting a small Future City high school program last year, DiscoverE has opened Future City High School (for students in 9th-12th grade) to all high schools! There are no regional competitions for Future City High School. Teams submit all deliverables directly to Future City National. Learn more below.
2025-2026 Theme: Farm to Table
Design a city that eliminates food waste from farm to table and keeps your citizens healthy and safe.
Informational Zoom Sessions
Are you curious about the Minnesota Future City Competition? Want to learn what makes this national competition such a great experience for students? Contact MN Future City Co-coordinator, Betsy Narr, to schedule an informational Zoom session.
Project Deadlines:
The 2025-2026 project deadlines are below. The MN Regional Competition will be held January 24, 2026, at Metro State University in St. Paul.
| October 31, 2025 | Registration closes |
| November 14, 2025 | Project Plan Part #1 & #2 due |
| December 16, 2025 | City Essay and Project Plan #3 due |
| December 19, 2025 | Schools confirm number of teams and names of students for the MN Regional Competition |
| January 7, 2026 | Special Award selections due |
| January 20, 2026 | Project Plan #4 due |
| January 24, 2026 | City Model and Presentation due |
| January 24, 2026 | MN Regional Competition Metro State University (Founders Hall) – 387 Maria Ave, St Paul, MN 55106 |
| February 14-17, 2026 | Future City Competition Nationals in Washington, D.C. |
2025 Minnesota Future City Competition Winners
Justice Page Middle School
Nieuwmaris
Valley Middle School of STEM
Project: Kelluva
Girl Scout Troop #27432
Mocamapolis
Mounds Park Academy
AuroraVann
Scott Highlands Middle School
Veneziano Galleggiante
Contributors
We would like to thank our contributors for their incredible support! If you would like to learn more about making a financial contribution to the Minnesota Future City Competition, please contact Colleen Feller at 612-638-1511.
Platinum Contributors
Gold Contributors
Silver Contributors
American Water Works Association
Association for Facilities Engineering
Barr Engineering
Bolton & Menk
City Engineers Association of Minnesota
HDR
MN Dept of Health
Bronze Contributors
Alliant Engineering • Center for Transportation Studies, U of MN
DBIA Mid-America Region: MN Chapter • Erickson Engineering • Great River Energy
HNTB • Kimley-Horn • Kurita America • MN Association of County Surveyors
MN Federation of Engineering, Science, and Technology Societies • MN Society of Professional Engineers and Foundation
MN Surveyors and Engineers Society • National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
Project Management Institute Educational Foundation • Rani Engineering • RS & H Elevate •
Society of American Military Engineers • SRF Consulting Group • Stantec • TKDA • Wheeler Lumber • WSB
2026 Minnesota Future City Competition Special Awards
| Special Award | Sponsor | 2025 Winning Team |
|---|---|---|
| Best Incorporation of Cultural and Historical Resources Into a City | MSES | New Richmond Middle School – Wueppon Reef |
| Best Industrial / Commercial Layout | AFE – Twin Cities | Rosemount Middle School – Amphrite |
| Best Infrastructure System | ASCE MN Section | Girl Scout Troop #27432 – Mocamapolis |
| Best Land Surveying Practices | NCEES | Mahtomedi Middle School – Klovers |
| Best Rail Infrastructure | HDR, Inc. | DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science – Flotatia |
| Best Transportation System | SRF Consulting Group | Justice Page Middle School – Grad Apolona |
| Engineering Excellence | MFESTS | Justice Page Middle School – Nieuwmaris |
| Innovative Spark: Urban Public Transit Award | HNTB | Andersen United Middle School – Floatapolis |
| Most Environmentally Friendly Power Source | Eaton | Valley Middle School of STEM – Cobalt City |
| Most Innovative City Setting | 3M | Discovery Public School of Faribault – Discovery New Atlantis |
| Most Innovative Constructability | DBIA Mid-America Region: MN Chapter | Scott Highlands Middle School – Veneziano Galleggiante |
| Most Innovative Power System | Emerson | Friendly Hills Middle School – Ciudad Flotante |
| Best People-First Design | MN Society of Professional Engineers & Foundation | Andersen United Middle School – Kotepa |
| Outstanding City Model | CEAM | Mounds Park Academy – AuroraVann Justice Page Middle School – Nieuwmaris |
| Outstanding Essay | MN FCC Steering Commitee | Justice Page Middle School – Nieuwmaris |
| Outstanding First-Year Participant | MN FCC Steering Committee | Girl Scout Troop #27432 – Mocamapolis |
| Outstanding Future City Project Plan | PMIEF | Justice Page Middle School – De Flytende Kuplene |
| Outstanding Team Presentation | CenterPoint Energy | Justice Page Middle School – Nieuwmaris |
| People’s Choice | MN FCC Steering Committee | Scott Highlands Middle School – Veneziano Galleggiante |
| Readiness for Natural and Humanmade Disasters | SAME – Mpls-St. Paul | Mounds Park Academy – Makaropolis |
| REAL City | Bolton & Menk | Valley Middle School of STEM – Project: Kelluva |
| Safe Drinking Water | MN Dept. of Health / AWWA | Rosemount Middle School – Scythas |
Winning teams receive an award for their school. Each student on the team receives a gift bag with small prizes and a certificate.
About Future City High School
Future City High School engages students in grades 9-12 in imagining, researching, designing, and building cities of the future. Emphasizing the engineering design process and project management, 3-5 students collaborate in teams led by coaches to build sustainable city-wide solutions to make the world a better place.
With a focus on career exploration, building and maintaining STEM skills, and studying sustainable technologies, Future City High School features a virtual Qualification Round, making it accessible to anyone, anywhere. Students will have fun while gaining soft skills, pushing their problem-solving skills to the limit, and becoming a change maker!
Competing teams are eligible for up to $140,000 in scholarships and cash prizes.
Throughout this journey, students learn from experts in various engineering disciplines, gaining technical knowledge and insights into their potential careers.
Learn more by watching the Future City High School video on YouTube!
During the Future City Competition, students learn…
How to use engineering to solve real-world problems.
The skills needed for effective teamwork.
The importance of strong writing, public speaking, and creativity.
Questions?
For more information on how your students can participate, visit the Minnesota Regional page or contact Betsy Narr at 612-638-1550.
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SparkPath is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that presents its programs in collaboration with BrightWorks, a Minnesota Service Cooperative. BrightWorks member districts/schools save 30-50% on SparkPath registration fees. For more information, visit www.brightworksmn.org.
