The Rice Design Alliance – a public programs and outreach arm of Rice Architecture – is now accepting applications for the Rice Design Alliance Houston Design Research Grant. The grant is open nationally to university students and faculty with research projects involving the spatial implications of urban food distribution and consumption systems in Houston and its region.
Grant proposals should analyze and research design-oriented alternatives to current urban food networks in order to reduce the food deserts in the city and its surroundings. Research which takes into account existing local urban farming, food distribution, or agricultural entrepreneurship initiatives that are already improving food accessibility is encouraged – as is neighborhood-specific urban research that identifies existing challenges.
The Houston Design Research Grant will provide $6,000 US in seed funds for a proposal that demonstrates the potential to catalyze a Houston-based design project. The winning proposal from each category (Student and Faculty) will be published in Rice Design Alliance’s Cite magazine, and the winners will present their projects at Rice Architecture.
Grant applications will be reviewed by a jury composed of individuals representing the Houston community, academia, city governance, and local and international experts and practitioners in architecture, design, engineering, and urbanism. The submission deadline is March 31 and winners will be announced at the end of April.
The Houston Design Research Grant is made possible by a gift from The Mitsui U.S.A. Foundation . Since 1999, the Rice Design Alliance (RDA) has awarded grants to students and faculty from leading architecture schools through this program formerly known as Initiatives for Houston Grant. For past grantees and awarded projects, please visit: https://www.ricedesignalliance.org/programs/grants