PSP Expo Accepting Entries for Million Dollar Pool Challenge

Organizers of the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo are now accepting entries for the 2019 Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge. The competition is designed to give pool and landscape designers, builders and outdoor living architects a real-world scenario from which to deliver innovative design solutions without the restraints of a budget.

The challenge creators, Reid Schindler and Mike Farley, partnered with PSP Expo to create the parameters around this year’s challenge, which is strategically designed for all experience levels.

“We are thrilled to once again be partnering with Reid Schindler and Mike Farley to bring this competition back after its successful launch in 2018,” says Tracy Garcia, CEM and show director for Informa Markets. “We look forward to seeing the creative solutions that are submitted for this year’s clients and wish all participants good luck!”

The challenge consists of one fictional couple, a husband and wife, who are seeking a designer to create the ultimate oasis in their backyard, which is an actual site. Their conflicting priorities mimic what pool industry professionals often experience when working with clients in real-world situations.

“The success of our inaugural year of the design challenge has us on the edge of our seats waiting to see what the designers can come up with for year two,” says Schindler, who also owns SchindlerDesignCo. “Not only were the designs put together at such a high level, but the presentation and graphics really put them over the top and pushed the boundaries of what you typically see in the pool industry, which was our No. 1 goal.” 

Organizers have identified core learning objectives for the overall challenge:

• Learn how top pool designers deal with complex projects to give the homeowner everything they could dream of and more.
• Identify how top pool designers are presenting their work to the client, i.e. hand graphics, computer graphics, videos, etc.
• Learn how top designers balance function with features.

Five finalists, including one student, will be selected to receive a trip to PSP Expo in New Orleans where they will present their renderings live to their peers in the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge conference session scheduled for Nov. 6 at 9:15 a.m. Voting will be live during the session, and the winning designer will receive a $5,000 cash prize. All finalists will receive two nights’ hotel accommodations, selected by show management, and have a portion of their airfare reimbursed. The winner will also be featured in leading industry publications.

New this year, participants may work as individuals or submit as a group project. Students are entered within the general competition and will be eligible to win multiple spots in the design competition. One student/group will be selected for a student only design award, sponsored by Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Wave Network.

The PSP Expo conference program also includes an entire track for designers and builders including sessions presented by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (formerly The Association of Pool &Spa Professionals/National Swimming Pool Foundation) and GENESIS.

Qualified media receive complimentary access to the Expo, Conference Program, and the Welcome Party and are encouraged to register for Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge conference session and participate in live voting. More detail and the submission form for entries can be found at www.themilliondollarpoolchallenge.com.