NEWH Green Voice exists to make sustainability practical and relevant for the hospitality industry.
NEWH Green Voice is made possible through industry partnership and reinvestment. Support from NEWH Friends of Green Voice sponsors helps fund programming and education, while also extending impact through student scholarships.
Award-winning students and the projects recognized for sustainable hospitality design.
That investment shows up through the annual NEWH Green Voice Design Competition. The competition invites students to apply sustainable products and practices within a real design challenge.
The future of hospitality is increasingly shaped by adaptive reuse—the transformation of existing buildings into vibrant destinations that preserve resources, celebrate local identity, and reduce environmental impact. This competition challenges students to reimagine an existing commercial building as a sustainable hotel that enriches both the guest experience and the surrounding community.
Participants will develop an innovative hospitality design that demonstrates thoughtful adaptive reuse, responsible material selection, and a commitment to human health and environmental stewardship. Designs should integrate sustainable products, emerging technologies, and evidence-based design strategies while creating memorable guest experiences and healthy workplaces for hotel employees.
Students are encouraged to think beyond aesthetics by considering how architecture, interiors, materials, lighting, sound, texture, scent, and technology work together to create an immersive hospitality experience.
There is no prescribed project budget. Creativity, innovation, and sustainability are the priorities.
The Green Voice Design Competition awards:
Winners receive travel and accommodations to attend the awards presentation at BDNY in New York, where their work is recognized in front of industry leaders.
Scholarship funds are awarded directly to the recipient’s academic institution to support continued education. To receive the scholarship, you must be a currently enrolled student with past, current or upcoming debt through your college for tuition or program approved books/supplies. Scholarship awards are generously donated by NEWH Friends of Green Voice sponsors.
Select an existing commercial building anywhere in the world and transform it into a hotel property.
The selected building:
The project should demonstrate how adaptive reuse preserves existing building resources while creating new economic, environmental, and social value for the community.
Your proposal should communicate a compelling story that connects the building’s history, the surrounding community, and the future guest experience.
Through storyboards, plans, diagrams, annotations, rapid visualization, 2D documentation, and 3D renderings, demonstrate how your design:
Provide a narrative describing:
• Why the building was selected.
• Why the geographic location was chosen.
• The relationship between the building and its surrounding community and culture.
• How the project supports neighborhood revitalization and long-term sustainability.
Include:
• Graphic Site plan
• Building orientation
• Relationship to surrounding context
• Community analysis
Projects must include:
The proposed hotel shall provide a complete hospitality experience that reflects the student’s design concept while demonstrating adaptive reuse, sustainable design, and operational functionality.
Space sizes are recommendations and may vary based on the selected building and overall hotel concept. Students should justify significant deviations within their project narrative.
Recommended Size: 1,200–2,500 SF
The arrival experience should establish the identity of the hotel and provide an intuitive sequence from entry through guest check-in.
Minimum program elements include:
• Building entrance and vestibule
• Reception/check-in desk
• Concierge or guest services area
• Waiting/lounge seating
• Flexible social gathering space
• Feature wall, artwork, or signature design element
• Circulation to elevators and public amenities
• Luggage storage (may be behind the desk)
• ADA-compliant circulation
• Integrated branding and wayfinding
Students should consider:
• First impressions
• Accessibility
• Guest flow
• Acoustics
• Lighting
• Indoor environmental quality
• Biophilic design opportunities
Design two (2) distinct guest room schemes
Recommended Size: 375–500 SF each (including bathroom)
The two guest rooms should share the same overall design language while demonstrating flexibility through different layouts, finishes, or guest experiences.
Each guest room should include:
• Entry vestibule
• Sleeping area
• Lounge or seating area
• Workstation
• Wardrobe/closet
• Luggage storage
• Beverage station or mini-bar
• Television/media wall
• Appropriate lighting layers
• Window treatments
• ADA considerations where applicable
Bathroom should include:
• Vanity
• Toilet
• Shower or tub/shower combination
• Storage
• Mirrors
• Sustainable plumbing fixtures
• Accessible clearances where applicable
Students should demonstrate thoughtful integration of:
• Wellness
• Material selection
• Guest comfort
• Lighting control
• Acoustics
• Technology
• Energy efficiency
Recommended Size: 2,000–5,000 SF
Minimum program:
• Reception/check-in
• Waiting lounge
• Two treatment rooms
• Locker rooms
• Restrooms
• Relaxation lounge
• Retail display
• Staff support/storage
Optional features:
• Sauna
• Steam room
• Cold plunge
• Outdoor wellness area
• Meditation room
• Hydrotherapy
Students should emphasize wellness, acoustics, lighting, indoor air quality, and sustainable materials.
Recommended Size: 3,000–6,000 SF
Minimum program:
• Pool
• Pool deck
• Lounge seating
• Towel station
• Restrooms
• Mechanical/service access
Optional:
• Indoor/outdoor connection
• Hot tub
• Cabanas
• Food and beverage service
• Green roof integration
Recommended Size:: 2,000–4,500 SF
Program should include:
• Host station
• Dining area
• Bar (if applicable)
• Service circulation
• Waiting area
• Point-of-sale
• Accessible seating
Kitchen design is not required, but students should indicate:
• Kitchen location
• Food service relationship
• Service circulation
• Back-of-house access
Students should consider flexibility between daytime and evening use.
Recommended Size: 1,500–3,000 SF
Minimum program:
• Reception or check-in
• Cardio area
• Strength training area
• Functional fitness/stretching area
• Hydration station
• Storage
• Restrooms or connection to locker rooms
Optional:
• Group fitness studio
• Recovery space
• Outdoor fitness terrace
Designs should prioritize daylight, ventilation, durable materials, and user wellness.
Recommended Size: 1,500–5,000 SF
Students are encouraged to develop a unique public destination that enhances both the hotel and the surrounding community.
Possible concepts include:
• Art gallery
• Cultural exhibition
• Local maker marketplace
• Community event venue
• Rooftop gathering space
• Botanical conservatory
• Library
• Co-working lounge
• Wellness studio
• Interactive digital experience
• Educational space
• Outdoor gathering plaza
Minimum program should include:
• Public gathering area
• Flexible seating
• Integrated technology
• Wayfinding
• Lighting strategy
• Accessibility
• Storage or support space as appropriate
Students should clearly explain how this space supports the hotel’s brand while creating value for the surrounding community.
You will submit 2 PDFs as outlined below:
Submit in 1 PDF
Include sufficient documentation to communicate the complete design solution.
Required drawings include:
• Site plan to show building orientation and relationship to surrounding context
• Floor plans of all designed spaces
• Furniture plans of all designed spaces
• Reflected ceiling plans
• Floor Finish plans
• Interior elevations of the main walls showing important elements of the design concept
• Color & Material schedule including – LEED v4.1 Materials documentation column with the product selected and link the associated sustainability certificate
• Branding and signage concepts
• Perspective renderings, rapid visualizations, process sketches – telling the guest experience and showing design intent for spaces. If AI was used to augment the student’s work, disclose what program, how it was used and what views.
• Construction notes where appropriate
• Index of sustainable materials, systems, and technologies
• Documentation supporting LEED v4.1 Material Ingredient compliance
• Certification spreadsheet identifying each qualifying product and associated documentation
Submit in 1 PDF
Submit the following in one combined PDF:
Design Intent Narrative
Maximum 500 words describing:
• Overall concept
• Design inspiration
• Guest experience
• Sustainability strategy
Location Narrative
Maximum 500 words describing:
• Building selection
• Geographic location
• Community context
• Benefits of adaptive reuse
Designer Biography
Maximum 500 words
Student Resume
Students may submit a video presentation (maximum 10 minutes) that explains:
• Design concept
• Sustainable design strategies
• Adaptive reuse approach
• Guest experience
• Innovation and technology