**Photo credit:** some random student on his way to the toilet.

Students from across Norway were invited to participate in the 2026 National Student Competition, centred on the theme "From Vacant Site to Meeting Place." Organised by UrbanLab at NMBU, the competition encouraged interdisciplinary teams to develop creative proposals for transforming underused urban spaces into inclusive and socially vibrant public places. The competition opened the 16th of March, and was held physically 21-22 March 2026, welcoming students from across Norway and a wide range of academic disciplines. Tin participated as a supervisor.

This year's case focused on Meierikvartalet in Skien, a long-debated city-centre site that has remained vacant despite earlier redevelopment ambitions. Although located adjacent to the city's main pedestrian street, the site has remained vacant after redevelopment plans stalled. Students were asked to rethink the area and develop concepts that could transform the site into a vibrant meeting place for the local community by addressing both its physical and social potential. Participants were challenged to propose innovative solutions that strengthen community life, encourage social interaction, and contribute to sustainable place-making through thoughtful urban design.

Team req.: 2–4 students, open to students from all Norwegian higher education institutions. At least one team member had to study spatial planning or a related planning discipline. Interdisciplinary and cross-university teams were encouraged

Fully digital (no physical attendance required). Entries had to clearly explain how the proposed solution addressed the identified urban challenge and be submitted electronically before 22 March 2026 at 23:59. AI-assisted work was permitted provided its use was transparently documented.
Submission format included: Report, poster, film, podcast, other creative formats
Evaluation criteria: Originality, clarity of the problem and proposed solution, communication and presentation quality, interdisciplinary approach and understanding of local context

Prize money:

First prize: NOK 10,000
Second prize: NOK 4,000
Third prize: NOK 2,000

Additional bonuses:

NOK 500 for interdisciplinary teams
NOK 500 for teams representing multiple universities

The competition was hosted by Urban Lab - a student-led initiative at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). It serves as a platform for exploring and testing innovative ideas in urban and regional development, providing students with opportunities to engage with both academia and industry through interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world projects.