Future City is a national, project-based program that asks students to imagine, design, and build a city of the future. The competition to geared towards 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
Leon Hayes Intermediate School in Grand Ledge, Michigan, took on a major challenge this school year and turned it into a strong outcome. For the first time, all 360 sixth-grade students participated in the Michigan Regional Competition of Future City, a city planning and engineering program sponsored in Michigan by the Engineering Society of Detroit.
Sixth-grade teacher Travis Ward said the entire class fully committed to the project. “Our principal had experience with Future City when he worked in Florida,” Ward said. “When he described it, I knew we should try it.” Planning began the previous school year. With support from school leadership, the team introduced “Future City Fridays” starting on the first day of school.
On those Fridays, all subjects—math, language arts, science, social studies, and electives—focused on city planning and engineering concepts. “If we were working on scale, that was in math. Writing the city narrative happened in English. In science and social studies, we looked at infrastructure and sustainability. Everything connected,” Ward said.
Each team created a different concept. One team developed “El Futuro,” a water-based city focused on sustainability, security, and clean energy. “Our city was about keeping the planet safe, using recycling and electric systems, and making it secure because it’s in the water,” said student Jackson Degg. Another team designed “Nahuku,” focused on inclusion and accessibility, powered by hydropower and wind energy.
Teams assigned roles such as builders, researchers, writers, and organizers. Logistics were challenging. “We had 36 city models to manage,” Ward said. “It was chaotic, but the process mattered.” Teachers narrowed 36 teams to 10 in November. Judges then selected three finalists, who refined their projects after school for the regional competition. Despite being new and younger than most competitors, Leon Hayes students performed well, with multiple teams placing in the top 10.
Students gained a clearer understanding of how cities function and the level of collaboration required. “We understand what’s happening behind the scenes now,” Degg said. “It’s like producing something and then seeing it come to life.” Students also improved teamwork.
Beyond the competition, students developed a stronger awareness of their own communities. “They now understand the systems behind what they see every day,” Ward said. The school plans to continue the program next year and refine the approach.
“What makes Future City unique is its real-world approach to learning. Students take on the roles of engineers, architects, city planners, and project managers. Along the way, they develop critical skills including problem-solving, teamwork, budgeting, writing, and public speaking,” said Allison Marrs, Future City Middle School Program Manager at The Engineering Society of Detroit.
This project brings learning to life, helping students connect what they learn in class to the real world while building the skills and confidence they’ll use in their future careers.”
Registration for the 2026–2027 Future City program is officially OPEN! This Year’s Theme: Fire Resilient Future, has students designing a resilient Future City that can prevent, protect, and recover from urban wildfires. Registration is FREE in Michigan and open now through October 31. Register here: https://futurecity.org/register/
Article written by Susan Thwing, who is the editor of TechCentury magazine and has more than 30 years of experience in journalism, university communications, healthcare, engineering, and research.