‘No Harm in Waiting’ design competition for early career architects

We are pleased to announce the launch of ‘No Harm in Waiting’.

The RSUA/JP Corry Design Competition for 2026 challenges Early Career Architects to propose creative ideas for a specific bus shelter that explores the potential of gender equity and inclusivity within public realm design.

Bus Shelters are a familiar part of our everyday public realm, but they can also be places where people feel vulnerable or unsafe.  We are inviting early career architects to reimagine this everyday piece of infrastructure and explore how design can help create public spaces that feel safer, more accessible and welcoming.

The competition aims to:

• Encourage creative responses to the task of delivering an equitable public realm.
• Generate debate, interest and discussion around existing challenges relating to safety and inclusion in the public realm, including those specific to the entrant’s chosen site.
• Demonstrate how a bus shelter design may respond to local, place-based issues.
• Incorporate safety and inclusion as fundamental design considerations.  Designs should provide a safe waiting environment and support free, confident movement through public space.
• Reimagine a familiar and widely used element of public transport infrastructure, exploring how its design can better serve all users.
• Showcase the creativity and talent of Early Career Architects

The deadline for submissions is 11 October 2026 but please do register immediately by emailing Julia Leaker on julia@rsua.org.uk

An overview of the competition, including eligibility to participate, can be viewed here.