The Ice Box Challenge 2025 has come to a close, marking the end of an inspiring competition filled with innovation, dedication, and collaborative spirit. After careful consideration, the jury has selected an overall winner, as well as outstanding contributions in four distinct award categories.
Each of these categories highlights unique strengths demonstrated by participating universities, from technical excellence and creative design to communication impact and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Below, you will find the jury’s official motivations and the winners in each category.
Congratulations to all participating students for pushing the boundaries of sustainable building design and for making this year’s challenge truly remarkable.
The jury’s motivation:
From the very start, this team blew us away with their creativity and professionality. As we followed the work, they have stood out from an extremely strong competition in their eye for details and thorough work. We have decided to award the first place in the competition to this team for the overall quality of their work, and their excellence in implementing their vision.
We are proud to award this team the win, for their ability to cooperate.
For their execution of details.
For their well thought through choice of materials.
For their careful adaptation of vision to feasible product.
For their attention to detail and careful compliance to the task.
For their ability to communicate the objectives of the challenge in a both scientifically and accessible way.
For excelling in just about every single criteria. For an outstanding project that combines new thinking with tradition, great construction with amazing design. For the ability to anchor the future deeply in the roots of history.
The winner in the ice box challenge 2025 is:
Sub-Zero Studio from Luleå!
Recognising outstanding creativity in the use of reclaimed and repurposed materials, the award goes to the team from Borlänge – Dala Glacier
The jury was very impressed with the team’s creative use of reclaimed materials – utilising the materials from a nearby skatepark for the outer cladding of the ice boxes, and also including the use of sheep’s wool insulation. We wanted the challenge to show that Passivhaus can work very well with materials that use low embodied carbon and so really appreciated the team embracing this aspect. Many congratulations!
We are delighted to announce the award for “Distinction in Craft and Commitment”
Honouring exceptional attention to detail, skill, and time commitment, the award goes to the team from Östersund – Ice Box Challenge Miun.
The jury was very impressed with the technical and precise handiwork demonstrated in your project. We were also very impressed with your resilience and commitment in delivering the project, with only a team of three. It was an additional challenge on top of the ice box challenge itself and we wanted to celebrate that incredible achievement. Well done!
The next award goes is for “Outstanding Execution and Delivery”
Celebrating reliable planning, coordination, and successful project completion, the award goes to the team from Växjö – Team LNU.
The jury has been very impressed by the team’s commitment and enthusiasm for the project from the outset and the efficient and timely way you have met all the Ice Box Challenge targets. You have clearly worked very well together as a team and the ability to implement projects in such an efficient manner wil be invaluable in your future careers. Well done!
The final category award is for “Excellence in Project and Concept Communication”
Acknowledging clear, compelling communication that effectively conveys the project’s vision and impact, the award goes to the team from Luleå – Sub-Zero Studio.
The jury has been very impressed with the consistent and professional communications you have produced. From your project documentation to videos, website and social media posts, your team has really helped to increase the impact of the Ice Box Challenge and communicate Passivhaus. Congratulations