The Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge Returns for Second Year

The second annual Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge is back, with entries due August 15. The contest, created by builders Mike Farley and Reid Schindler, challenges designers to take a real-life scenario and design a lavish poolscape with a $1 million budget. The winner will be named at the PSP Expo in November and take home a $5,000 cash prize.

Last year’s debut program was by all measures a resounding success, with participants representing a wide range of professionals and students from across the country. Farley and Schindler hope to keep the momentum going with this year’s contest.

“Our goal is to push everyone’s boundaries in design and presentation, and give them a budget they may not normally get to have,” Schindler says. “We provide the site, base sketch up or pool studio files, and the client parameters so that all you need to add is your own creative twist.

Last year’s design scenario was based on a hypothetical project in Texas with a contemporary home, dramatic topography and sweeping views. This time around, the setting moves to the shores of Lake Tahoe, where the fictitious clients are looking for a rustic, yet sophisticated backyard design that includes an outdoor kitchen, a spa that seats 8-10 adults, a vegetable/herb garden, a diving element and more.

Schindler explains one of the program goals is to forge a connection between the pool and spa industry and landscape architecture students.

“We provide this to all of the landscape architecture programs around the USA in hopes that we can get them more in tune to what is going on in the pool industry and help drive some talent our way,” he says. “One student will win a trip to New Orleans as well.”

For more information about how to enter, visit the contest website.