Mayor's Mississauga Building Challenge | 2026

Your city.
Your vision.
Your time to build.

Design and build a scale model of a Mississauga building. Present it to real industry judges. Win prizes.

Teams of 3Going solo?

Apply with your team Apply on your own

Event video coming soon

May 1, 2026 | Living Arts Centre, Mississauga

Applications close April 10.

Supported by

The Challenge

It started with one student’s scale model of the Absolute Towers — a build so impressive it caught the Mayor’s attention. Now, 100 students get the chance to run it back.

Teams of 3 will design and build a scale model of a Mississauga building using identical materials kits, then present their vision to a panel of industry professionals. Three categories. Three winners. $500 per category.

How It Works

Stage 1

Apply

Put together a team of 3 — or apply on your own and we’ll match you.

A Mississauga building you want to recreate
A short explanation of why it matters to you
A supporting teacher’s name and email

Stage 2

Build Day

May 1 at the Living Arts Centre. 9 AM to 5 PM.

Your team gets a materials kit. You build. You present. Judges rotate to each team science-fair style. Winners announced at the closing ceremony.

$500 awarded to the winning team in each category.

Best Realistic|$500 per team

Best Artistic|$500 per team

Best Narrative|$500 per team

Event Details

Everything you need to know about Build Day.

Build Day Schedule

May 1, 2026 · Living Arts Centre

9:00 – 9:30 AM

Welcome and keynote address from the Mayor

9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Build time(includes breaks and catered lunch)

3:00 – 4:30 PM

Presentations and judging (science-fair format)

4:30 – 5:00 PM

Awards ceremony, photos, and closing remarks

Pro tip: wear comfortable shoes. You're going to be working hard.Mississauga wasn't built in a day — but your model will be.

Who Can Apply

Open to students from three Mississauga-area school boards.

Peel District School BoardGr. 11–12

Construction SHSM students

CSC MonAvenirGr. 11–12

Construction SHSM students

Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSBGr. 10–12

Students in TAS courses, construction technology, engineering design, or related STEM/skilled trades programs

💬Not sure if this is for you? If you're interested in building, designing, or construction — apply. We want students who are excited to be there.

Your Application

Tell us why you’re excited to participate.

Mississauga's Absolute World towers against a blue sky

What to Include

1Introduce yourself (or your team)

2Tell us which building you chose

3Explain why it matters — to you and to Mississauga

4Apply Now →

Materials Kit

Each team receives an identical kit of building materials — everything you need to construct your model. Full details will be posted here soon.

Example Item 1Details TBD

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Example Item 2Details TBD

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Example Item 3Details TBD

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Example Item 4Details TBD

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Example Item 5Details TBD

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Everything is provided. Just show up.

What You'll Get

$500 prizes

Three categories. Three winning teams.

All materials provided

Every team gets an identical kit. Show up and build.

Lunch is on us

Catered lunch for every participant. Dietary needs covered.

Branded swag

Event t-shirt and water bottle for every participant. Yours to keep.

Industry mentors

Real professionals circulating during the build — not just judging.

Mayor’s keynote

The Mayor of Mississauga kicks off the day with a personal address.

This event counts toward SHSM requirements for eligible Peel DSB and MonAvenir students. Certification coordinated through LearnIt.

Questions?

What do I need to bring?

Nothing. Materials kits, lunch, and swag are all provided. Just bring yourself (and your team).

What if I don’t have a team?

No problem. Apply on your own and we’ll match you with other solo applicants — by grade where possible.

Do I have to be in SHSM?

Depends on your school board. Peel DSB and MonAvenir students need to be in Construction SHSM. Dufferin-Peel students can apply if they're in TAS, construction technology, engineering design, or related programs. Check the eligibility table above.

How do I get there?

Your school handles transportation. Talk to your teacher or coordinator about how your group is getting to the Living Arts Centre.

What’s in the materials kit?

Every team gets the same kit: [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object].

Is this a whole day?

Yes — 9 AM to 5 PM at the Living Arts Centre. Lunch is catered. The day includes build time, presentations, judging, and an awards ceremony.

What if another team picks the same building?

That’s totally fine. What makes yours unique is your vision, your design choices, and your story. Two teams could pick the same building and produce completely different models.

Organized By

Questions? Reach out to damian.matheson@myblueprint.ca