One Houston Project Will Receive a Donated MODroot Soil Cell System
Apply to receive up to 4,000 ft³ of MODroot for a real urban tree project facing Houston’s toughest site constraints.
Houston projects often have to balance compacted soils, impervious hardscape, stormwater pressure, and limited rooting volume, all while trying to preserve canopy and usable space. The MODroot Urban Tree Challenge is designed to help a real project overcome those barriers through donated system support and technical guidance.
Why This Challenge Exists
In Houston, urban trees are often asked to survive in conditions that do not support long-term success. Tight footprints, paved surfaces, stormwater requirements, and limited soil volume make it difficult to deliver a healthy canopy without compromising site performance.
This is not about awarding product for a concept. It is about helping a Houston-area team move a viable project forward by providing the system support and technical guidance needed to enable healthier trees and more resilient infrastructure.
Created to help unlock a better outcome for one real, buildable project.
How It Works
Submit Your Project
Share your project details, site constraints, goals, and why additional soil volume matters.
Project Review
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
- Buildability
- Site challenge and need
- Potential sustainability impact
- Strength of project story
- Fit for MODroot application
Winner Selection
One Houston-area project will be selected to receive donated MODroot system support.
What You Win
What the Selected Project Receives:
- Up to 4,000 ft³ of MODroot
- Standard system components, including geotextiles and appurtenances
- Design support from the Greenrise team
- Optional add-ons available, including installation and soil media
Who Should Apply
Who This Is For:
- Civil Engineers
- Landscape Architects
- Developers
- General Contractors
- Municipal Teams
- Institutional and Campus Teams
Ideal Projects Include:
Tight urban footprints
Streetscapes, plazas, parking areas, and other paved environments
Sites with stormwater compliance pressure
Projects trying to increase canopy without losing usable space
Projects where limited soil volume is constraining the tree plan
Why MODroot
MODroot is a modular soil cell system engineered to create healthy rooting environments beneath paved surfaces. It is designed to preserve the volume of uncompacted soil, support load-bearing applications, and enable stormwater infiltration in constrained urban settings such as streetscapes, plazas, and parking areas.
Guest Judge
Steve Stelzer brings deep Houston sustainability experience to the review process. He serves in leadership with the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition and previously led the City of Houston Green Building Resource Center, where he advised on green building strategies, maintained educational programming, and supported public-facing sustainability resources.
Steve StelzerAIA Member Emeritus, LEED AP 
Submit Your Project
If your site is constrained by hardscape, stormwater requirements, or limited rooting volume, this is an opportunity to move a better solution forward with donated system support and technical guidance.
Deadline: June 15th, 2026
Winner Announced: July 1, 2026
Tell Us About Your Project
We are looking for thoughtful, real-world submissions. Help us understand the site, the constraint, and what a stronger soil cell approach could make possible.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE LATEST NEWS
