This winter, ACE DC is getting a little sweeter!
2025 ACE DC
Gingerbread Design & Build Competition
Get ready to have some fun in a sweet and friendly Gingerbread Design and Build Competition, while helping raise funds for ACE DC programming and scholarships.
Bring your gingerbread house kit, some edible elements and join ACE DC as we
DESIGN IT...BUILD IT...and FUND IT!
Submit it!
Vote on it!
Celebrate it!
November 3 - December 13
Join It!
Gather your team or Sponsor a student team
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Create your own Team!
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Entry cost for a team of 5 participants in $250.
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Teams can be made up of co-workers, friends, or even your family!
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Additionally, your team is responsible for purchasing gingerbread house kits and supplies. Max spent on build items should be $100. No receipts required...scout's honor!
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Sponsor a Student Team!
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A $300 sponsorship includes:
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Company name and logo assigned to one ACE DC student team design
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Our ACE DC Student Gingerbread Design and Build Teams compete in their own competition, where judges evaluate their completed design project. All final design images will be shared on the ACE DC website and social media sites. As a sponsor, your logo will be included in all social media postings.
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Listed as a sponsor on all electronic and printed materials related to the Gingerbread Design and Build competition and at the ACE DC Scholarship Breakfast in May 2026
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Firms can sponsor more than one team
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November 3 - December 13
Design & Build it!
Our Gingerbread competition is inspired by the CIRT National Design Competition that ACE Students across the country participate in each year. Your teams will have 4 categories to choose from as the inspiration for your edible creations. Competition Guidelines can be found below.
2025 Gingerbread Design and Build Competition Categories:
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Net Zero Data Center
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As AI technology expands, so does the demand for data centers, often at a cost to the environment and local resources. Design a Net Zero data center that minimizes its carbon footprint and respects the surrounding community. Your proposal should creatively conserve energy and water, reuse or recycle materials, and/or integrate renewable energy. Consider how the structure fits aesthetically and responsibly within its local environment. You may design a new facility or reimagine an existing one.
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Cultural Destination
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Design an iconic structure or space that enhances an existing destination while honoring its cultural identity and community value. Your proposal should balance tourism growth with authenticity, boosting local business, improving accessibility, and supporting sustainable design. Projects may be new builds or thoughtful redesigns that strengthen connections between people, place, and purpose.
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Largest Structure
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Design the next tallest (or largest) gingerbread structure while remaining within the maximum base size.
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Project Recreation
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Recreate an edible rendition of one of your firm's projects.
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Competition Guidelines:
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General Team Guidelines:
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This competition is open to ACE DC mentors, alumni, board members, sponsor firms, friends and family of ACE!
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School teams should see the "Students" section of the site for the Student Gingerbread Design and Build Competition details
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Maximum team size is 5 people
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Firms can have multiple teams and compete against each other!
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Gingerbread Structure Criteria and Constraints:
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Suggested Budget: $100 max
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Gingerbread Footprint/Base Size: 11 inches x 17 inches max
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All components of the structure MUST be edible (besides the base). They can include but are not limited to:
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Store-bought gingerbread kits
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Homemade gingerbread
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Icing
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Candy
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Marshmallows
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Pretzels
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Cookies
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Brownies
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Rice Crispy treats
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Graham crackers
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anything edible!
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Deadline is December 13th
Submit it!
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You must be registered in order to submit an entry.
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Provide 3 pictures of your gingerbread creation:
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No people in photos please. Please keep a clean, simple background in photos
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Images must be horizontal in order to properly be shown on the website
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Please provide at least one photo that is from a bit further back with enough space around the image to crop if needed to properly display on the voting site.
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Be sure your photos look their best, as these will be what people vote on!
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Include your team name, which category you are submitting for, and title for your gingerbread creation.
December 18th - January 9th
Vote on it!
After completing your gingerbread creation, use it to fundraise for ACE DC and compete for the three award categories. Your team's photo submissions will be uploaded to the Showcase page (to come soon), where your friends and family can vote to help you bring home the award.
Each vote is $1. Be sure to SHARE, SHARE, SHARE the showcase page to gather more votes!
All funds raised support ACE DC programming and scholarships!
January 2026
Celebrate it!
There will be three categories of awards:
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People's Choice Award
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The entry with the most number of votes will be recognized with the coveted People's Choice Award.
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Highest Fundraiser Award
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We'll also recognize the firm/company with the most votes across all of their entries.
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Judge's Choice Award
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Our team of judges will award first place to the most creative gingerbread creation in each of the 4 categories.
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Throughout the Month of January, ACE DC will highlight submissions and winners via email, our website, and all social media platforms. Winning teams will be invited to send a representative to receive their physical award at our Scholarship Breakfast in May 2026 (details to be provided).