We asked Arkansas architects, designers, builders, and students to design a backyard cottage and/or attached private guest suite that fits Little Rock’s neighborhoods, climate, and new ADU ordinance while meeting residents at every stage of life. Now it’s time to see what they came up with. Join us to see the results!
Showcase & Awards Ceremony: September 11, 2026
Friday, September 11 | 12:00 – 4:00 PM
City Center, 315 North Shackleford Road, Little Rock, AR 72211
We’re celebrating the winners of the “An ADU for U” Design Competition, a citywide call for innovative accessory dwelling unit designs that make living in Little Rock more affordable, flexible, and age-friendly. Come walk the gallery of entries submitted by Arkansas architects, designers, builders, and students, each reimagining what backyard cottages and attached guest suites can look like under the city’s new ADU ordinance.
What to expect:
- Catered lunch and refreshments
- Resource tables to connect with local organizations and developers offering ADU resources and educational materials in Little Rock
- A keynote address from Groundwork, the organization that worked to unlock this flexible-living housing product statewide
- Speaker panels exploring the opportunities ADUs offer and how to navigate the ADU development process in Little Rock
- A full design showcase of every competition entry
- The award ceremony, presented by our expert judges, including a $1,000 first-place prize
This free, public event is open to anyone and everyone who cares about the future of housing in Little Rock. Whether you’re an aging-in-place advocate, a design enthusiast, or simply ADU-curious, come celebrate an afternoon of big ideas for small homes.
What is an ADU?
An Accessory Dwelling Unit is a smaller, secondary home built on the same lot as an existing house — flexible enough to be a first apartment, a place for aging parents, or extra income for a homeowner.
ADUs let aging adults downsize without leaving their neighborhood, live near family for support, or house a caregiver on-site—supporting independence, social connection, and affordable aging in place.
About the Competition
Our Little Rock, in partnership with AARP Arkansas, hosted the “ADU for U” Design Competition to inspire new housing designs that give Little Rock residents more affordable, age-friendly housing choices.
Architects, students, design-build teams, and community members submitted innovative ADU designs that could help shape expanded housing options across Little Rock. Through this effort, we set out to:
Increase ADU Awareness and Access
Educate the community about the benefits of ADUs and what is possible across income levels and family configurations.
Spotlight Little Rock’s New ADU Ordinance
Introduce the community to recent guidelines that legalize ADUs and identify areas to further unlock ADU development citywide.
Champion Age-Friendly Design
Educate leaders, builders, and the public on design that lets peopel age in place or live near loved ones
Now, at the Showcase & Award Ceremony, you can see how entrants brought these goals to life and hear directly from the organizations and experts working to expand ADU access across the city.
Design Requirements Recap
All submitted designs were required to be a detached or attached ADU addition, meet site conditions, and include:
- Kitchen: a sink with running water, food storage area, cooktop, and food preparation space
- Bathroom: a toilet, sink, and shower or tub with running water
- Sleeping Area: at least one sleeping area
- Separate Entrance: independent access not shared with the main home
- At least three (3) Universal Design Features, per the Universal Design Checklist
ADU Design Competition Guidelines
Universal Design Checklist
Winners Circle
- First Place: $1,000
- Second Place: $500
- Third Place: $300
- Best Student Entry: $200
Winners will be announced live at the September 11 Showcase & Award Ceremony.
Additional Resources
ADU Design Competition Planning Committee
This initiative would not be possible without the contributions, knowledge, and resources from our planning committee:
- Blake Tierney, Age Friendly Little Rock Commission
Bobby Matthews, AB Property Holdings - Chloe Chapman, Incremental Development Alliance
- Chris Burks, University of Arkansas of Little Rock, Public Policy Department
Patricia Fry, AARP Arkansas
CJ Brady, City of Little Rock Sustainability Commission
Morgan Weithman, Quapaw Quarter Association
Kathy Wells, Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods - Justin Vess, Little Rock Downtown Neighborhood Association
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