The sixth annual Dal-Tile Interior Design Scholarship, presented by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation, is now open for submissions. The competition, which will award $27,500 in scholarships, challenges students to reimagine the Booz Allen Hamilton Innovation Center, located in Washington, D.C. The grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship, three runners-up will receive $2,500 scholarships, and the school or university with the most student submissions will receive a $10,000 grant.

“For six years the Dal-Tile Interior Design Scholarship has challenged interior design students across the country and awarded the rising stars of the industry for their creative design solutions,” said Kim Albrecht, senior brand marketing manager for Dal-Tile. “This year we are taking the competition to a new level, using an existing space–the Innovation Center–as our canvas and empowering students to transform it using the extensive line of Dal-Tile products.”

For the 2017 competition, students will be asked to evaluate the Innovation Center and identify areas of opportunity. Using Dal-Tile products, students will redesign the space to incorporate Fitwel components, a future-looking building certification focused on occupant and community well-being, creating a stimulating and comfortable space for employees. Students are also required to keep their design within a budget, a challenge that is similar to what they will face once they enter their professional career.

“At ASID, we believe that design impact lives,” said Patrick Schmidt, chair of the ASID Foundation. “This competition challenges students to be thoughtful in their redesign to maximize occupant comfort and well-being. By partnering with Booz Allen Hamilton, we are presenting students with a real-life challenge that they can draw from in their future careers.”

New this year, the winning student will be invited to pitch his or her design to the Innovation Center design team, OTJ Architects, and Booz Allen Hamilton representatives. Based on this pitch, elements of the winning design will be considered for implementation into the existing Innovation Center space.

“We are excited to partner with Dal-Tile and the ASID Foundation to encourage the next generation of designers,” said Brinda Sen Gupta, deputy director of the Booz Allen Hamilton Innovation Center. “The Innovation Center is intended to enable great ideas and advance how our employees build value. The Dal-Tile Interior Design Scholarship, much like the Innovation Center, serves as a catalyst to inspire students as they prepare to make their leap into the professional design industry.”

The contest will run until Sept. 30, with the final winner being announced at the Dal-Tile Philadelphia Design Studio during NeoCon East 2017 in Philadelphia.

For more information, visit www.daltiledesign.com.