Home

Build UP! empowers and equips students to pursue sustainable innovations that improve people’s lives, drive the economy and contribute to students’ education and professional development. 

Build UP! makes a positive impact on education, the environment, and the economy: 

• Education – Students learn first-hand valuable skills, including sustainable design and green building, the construction process, teamwork, project management.
• The Environment – Build UP! houses use innovative technologies and green building practices to demonstrate the potential of energy efficiency and sustainable building.
• The Economy – Students gain access to internship and job opportunities in Michigan.  Vacationers to Build UP! homes increases tourism in the area.  Michigan products and services are showcased in the home, helping both emerging and established technologies gain traction.

The Build UP!  Building a Brighter Michigan Sustainable Housing Design Competition is an open, interdisciplinary competition for which 7 student teams from across the State of Michigan are designing an energy efficient house to be built on Mackinac Island.