Steven Holl’s career was forged in the fires of competition, and SHA continues to treat competitions as opportunities to articulate bold ideas that resonate with place and purpose. Holl argues that embracing the unknown (the “doubt” inherent in competitions) can spark more creative, context-attuned solutions. Many of SHA’s most iconic works emerged from competitions – including the celebrated Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, the winning entry in a 1992 international competition among 516 designs. In each case, the competitive process sharpened the conceptual rigor, resulting in buildings that today feel meant for their site. Through competition entries, SHA continually tests and evolves its design philosophy, proving that even in a constrained format, genuine innovation can flourish.