The aim of the McKinley House competition is to design a modular house using familiar materials and systems while advancing the architecture and general aesthetic appearance of the building. The competition builds upon the success of the McKinley "There's No Place Like Home" project and the support of the Construction Industry Education Foundation. The design competition creates a great opportunity for designers to rethink the design of the House in refreshing, new ways. Architects and designers are challenged to produce a design that encourages the students of McKinley and the general public to consider residential architecture in a new way.

The design competition provides the opportunity for the architectural community to become more involved with students and their work. This architecture design competition seeks to improve architectural awareness, foster creative design, and discover new models for residential design that will represent 21st Century values in design and construction. The competition is open to architects licensed 10 years or less, intern architects and students in the field of architecture and design, as well as individuals and teams.