Location: Architecture Building, Great Space
This event is open to undergraduate students from the University of Maryland.
PlaceHack challenges student teams to rethink a place-based problem in College Park or on UMD’s campus—an underused space, a dangerous intersection, a parking lot—and conceive something new. Creativity, teamwork and pizza collide to inspire great spaces@UMD and win cash prizes!
In Partnership with the Office of Belonging and Community, this year’s challenge is accessibility. Your team will envision a classroom space that is engaging, supportive and open to everyone! The 24-hour challenge takes place Friday, February 6 - Saturday, February 7, 2026.
PlaceHack Dates:
December 8, 2025 : Registration opens
February 4, 2026: Registration closes
February 5, 2026: Theme is emailed to all registered teams
February 6, 5:00 p.m.: PlaceHack kickoff in the Architecture Building, Great Space
February 6, 5:30 p.m. - February 7, 5:30 p.m.: Student hackathon (space, materials, food and mentors will be available in the Architecture Building’s Great Space throughout the Hackathon)
February 7, 5:30 p.m.: Team presentations and awards
PlaceHack is open to all undergraduate students at the University of Maryland. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning teams and their ideas may be implemented in the redesign of a space on campus! Teams require three-to-five students and must represent three different colleges. Registration is limited to 100 students.
For disability accommodations, please contact Kosura Oluoch, at kosurao@umd.edu.
*Please note: If you are registering your entire team, you only need to fill out this form once. Individual registrations will have the opportunity to join a team the day of the competition.