Our chapter’s signature event combines volleyball and sandcastle construction to present a unique opportunity for Cleveland architects and designers to engage with the public on one of Cleveland’s premier beaches (Edgewater Beach just west of Downtown Cleveland). Join us for a day of friendly competition for a great cause, as all proceeds support the ACE Mentor Program’s scholarship fund.
This year, Sand Fest is blasting into the future with our “Cleveland in the Year 3000” theme! Imagine what our city, and our world, might look like a thousand years from now. Will Cleveland have floating neighborhoods over Lake Erie? Gardens growing on skyscrapers? Stadiums powered by clean energy and transportation that moves through the air instead of the streets? As technology evolves, so will design. From futuristic landmarks and next-generation transportation to reimagined versions of Cleveland icons, the possibilities are endless.
Whether you’re competing or spectating, get ready to explore a Cleveland that hasn’t been built yet. Let your creativity run wild as you imagine the future of our city. Don't wait until the year 3000 to get in on the fun! We can't wait to see how you bring Cleveland in the year 3000 to life in the sand! 🚀🏙️
Event sponsorships are available at multiple levels and include team registration benefits. For more information on sponsorship levels and what they include, please go to: https://tinyurl.com/AIA-Sandfest-Sponsor-Sheet
Early bird registration ends May 29th, 2026, and registration closes July 10th. Please be sure to carefully read the full competition rules for both the sandcastle and volleyball competitions by downloading the PDFs at aiacleveland.com/sandfest, as some rules may have changed.
New in 2026!
Individual players/sandcastle builders are FREE! (Individuals will be paired with a team or put on a team of other individuals as availability allows; placement is NOT guaranteed.)
Organizations with partial teams can pair up with other partial-teams (Non-student or other free organizations will pay full team price upon assembling a full team.)
Student and other free organizations can now be sponsored by an organization. It’s a perfect opportunity to get recognition and support a student or other free organization.
If you're interested in any of the above options, please email mnorman@dvaarchitecture.com.
To learn more about ACE, go to: https://www.acecleveland.org/about
Please consider donating directly to ACE at: https://www.acementor.org/donate/
Looking to get involved? Join our Community Outreach Committee!
We are looking for volunteers to strengthen the Community Outreach Committee’s impact on the Cleveland community! Sand Fest is a perfect opportunity to get involved. This sand sculpture and volleyball competition attracts hundreds of visitors and allows design professionals to connect with the community while showing off their creativity. We’re looking for volunteers to help plan and run the event—no sandcastle experience needed!
If you’re interested in joining the Community Outreach Committee or volunteering for Sand Fest, please email Chris Dewey at cdewey@dvaarchitecture.com and Emily Leu at eleu@gpdgroup.com