Redwood Empire Projects: All architects and designers practicing within the United States are eligible to submit projects that are located in the chapter area. (Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Trinity, and Sonoma counties).

Or:

Redwood Empire Architects: All architects and designers practicing within the chapter area are eligible to submit projects located within or outside the chapter area. If a firm has multiple offices, only projects executed by the chapter area office are eligible.

Any architect, designer, or architecture firm falling into one of the above categories may submit any number of eligible entries provided each is submitted separately with individual registration payments. Projects that have won awards in other programs are eligible except those previously honored in an AIARE awards program.

Exception: previous winners in the Unbuilt Category are eligible to resubmit in a Built Category once the project has been completed. Any number of projects can be entered regardless of project size, budget, style, or building type.

Projects designed, renovated or built after January 1, 2021 may be submitted.

PROJECT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The AIARE requires submission of materials in digital format online. Please read the project
category guidelines and eligibility criteria carefully. If your project falls within the guidelines of multiple categories, you
may submit the project to those multiple categories separately.

Note: Common App will be utilized for judging in addition to the online project narrative. The
COTE Award (Sustainable/Resilient Design) is NOT a separate Design Awards category, but
will be awarded to highest performing projects based on the Common App, in ADDITION to any
other awards your project might receive in the standard categories.

After you register at AIARE.org and make your entry fee payment, you will be able to submit
your entries during the submission period, to be announced in 2026. We will only accept entries submitted at
AIARE.org.

After you fill in all required fields, upload Image Folders, Project Narrative
(Description, Design Challenge, Physical Context), Common App docs, Digital JURY Board,
and waiver, your entry will be reviewed and checked for completeness. After all entries are
received and verified, they will appear on the AIARE.org website for viewing by the Jury and the
public for People’s Choice Awards.

Download Conditions of Submission Waiver

PROJECT INFORMATION
Please provide the full name of the project without revealing the name of the architect or firm.

PROJECT NARRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
The following text is required for a complete entry:
1. Project Description
2. Design Challenge
3. Physical Context
Examples of possible descriptive information:
● Context
● Program/Scope
● Budget/Cost
● Special Challenges/Unusual Characteristics
● Solution/Design
● Project team credits
● Special contributing vendors
● The consultant team including, but not limited to: civil engineer, structural engineer,
mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineer, landscape architect, and general
contractor/builder. For each consultant you may include firm name, contact name, phone
number and email address.

NUMBER AND TYPE OF IMAGES & IMAGE FILE NAMING
Format & Size for Images for online viewing and People’s Choice Awards: The digital image
files (plans, photos, illustrations) must be in a picture format with the extensions .jpg or .jpeg.
● ONE featured / lead image
● Up to additional 9 images (10 total)
● Maximum file size 2MB
Only letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores in file names. No spaces.[It will show up as a box with a RED X in it if the name is not correct.] Please make certain your files have the correct extension (.jpg, .jpeg).

Note: The featured image will be used as the lead thumbnail image throughout the site. Make
sure it is the project’s best representation. The digital images may include photographs,
graphics, diagrams, renderings, etc, to fully illustrate your entry. (Video files and/or animations
are not eligible.)

COMMON APPLICATION FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE (Common App)

The Common Application is based on the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence which seeks to inform progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. These are to be thoughtfully considered by designer and client at the initiation of every project and incorporated into the work as appropriate to the project scope. The Framework is intended to be accessible and relevant for every architect, every client, and every project, regardless of size, typology, or aspiration.

Download the Common App for editing in Excel (v. 2019 or later)
Required Documents’ Naming Convention
● App_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.xlsx
● App_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
Common App Webinar – How to Complete the Common App

DIGITAL + PHYSICAL PRESENTATION BOARDS
Each entry shall also be compiled and presented in a digital format with two boards:

● one (1) WITHOUT identifying information (anonymously submitted to the Jury)
○ To be included in your online submission

● one (1) WITH identifying information (to be presented/displayed at the Gala)
○ To be printed by submitter by DPI, Draftech or printer of your choice
○ SIZE – 30”x42” landscape
○ Foam Core Board, semi-gloss
○ Boards can be delivered by submitter or printer to the Gala venue or you can arrange for
AIARE staff to pick up for the Gala (DPI or Draftech only)

JURY boards can be any size as long as they are PDF or JPEG or PNG to maintain integrity.
Required Documents’ Naming Convention (Firm Name will not be revealed to the jury; it is for internal identification purposes only):
● Jury_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
● Gala_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf

Each board submission must include:
a. Description that provides a brief explanation of the program, concept, design
solution and any other pertinent information.
b. Photographs (or Renderings for unbuilt Projects) that depict the whole project
with views of interior as well as exterior.
c. Supporting drawings and/or Diagrams of your design ideas and concepts.
d. “Adaptive reuse, Renovation and Historic Preservation, etc” should include
before and after images.
e. The following information will be concealed during judging deliberation:
i. project name, entrant name, owner name (may remain anonymous), and
key members of the design team.

ARCHITECTURE – BUILT INCLUDING INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE | TENANT IMPROVEMENTS:

Built projects could be any of the following:

• Commercial: Winery, Office, Retail, Hospitality, Mixed-Use
• Healthcare: Medical Office Building, Emergency Room, Expansion
• Education: Kindergarten-12, Higher Education
• Public Building/Public Space
• Multi-Family Housing
• Interior projects not limited by scale, budget or project type. Entries may include renovations, additions, adaptive reuse, preservation or new construction. Interior architecture that exemplifies the design of space within a building envelope including finishes, lighting and furnishings will be considered
• Other

ARCHITECTURE – UNBUILT:

This award category calls for architectural design work that, to date, remains unbuilt. The intent of this category is to welcome the ideas and work of practicing architects, architectural educators, and architecture students from throughout the chapter area.

SMALL PROJECTS | INSTALLATIONS | AVANT-GARDE (PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY):

This category strives to elevate public awareness of the value of design that architects bring to our built environment regardless of the constraints of size and scope. Each architect/designer has their own idea of what a small project might be. We encourage submissions of projects that are unusual or don’t necessarily fit the norm. Examples include but not limited to…

• Furniture
• Deck
• Installations
• Woodwork
• Sculpture
• Accessory Building

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN – BUILT:

Custom Residential projects (New, substantial remodels or additions).

• Under 3000 sf
• 3000 sf and over.

ALTERATION, REHABILITATION, RESTORATION, ADAPTIVE RE-USE, RENOVATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION:

The restoration, preservation, renovation, or rehabilitation of an existing building. Please show before and after photos of the project. Please describe to what extent the project was altered or restored and what percent of the original project remains intact.

WARREN J. HEDGPETH COMMUNITY DESIGN (formerly SOCIALLY EQUITABLE | SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGN):

Projects of any scale that were performed either pro bono or fee-based (including reduced-fee) by a local architect to make the world a better place through service and philanthropy. This includes, but is not limited to projects that address issues of social, racial, or economic injustice through the use of power and design.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD:

All submissions are automatically entered for this award. Go online to cast your vote after submissions are reviewed and posted at AIARE.org.

5 STEPS TO SUBMIT PROJECT/S:

Step 1 – Register

• Review the Eligibility Criteria + Submission Guidelines. Determine the Category or Categories that you want to use to submit your project/s. Review the Entry Fees as they relate to your membership status.
• Register + pay fee/s – You will then receive an email with a link to submit ALL requirements once the submission portal is open July 1 through extended deadline of August 23 – you have another week!

Step 2 – Project Narrative & Common App

• Prepare your online project submission + Common App docs
  • We recommend creating your narratives in a separate document, then copy/paste into the online form + Common App for submission (yes, it’s fine to use the same copy for both!)

Step 3 – Digital Boards

• Prepare your Digital Boards
  • Submit a JURY board in the online submission with project narratives, Common App, and waiver
  • Print GALA Board at the printer of your choice – DPI or Draftech may offer a discount – Due on October 12, delivered to venue or see Summary Guidelines for other options.

Step 4 – Waiver

• Fill out your Waiver: Conditions of Submission / Photographer Consent
  • Submit in the online submission with project narratives, Common App, and JURY board

Step 5 – Submit online

• Review the Submission Guidelines carefully before submitting. After your online submission is made, changes or modifications are not possible.
  • In order to streamline your application, we recommend that you create your submission in a Word Document so you can COPY/PASTE for: Website submission narrative, project summary, context, AND into the Common App narrative sections.
  • The form is intended to be submitted in one sitting, but if for some reason you need to step away, email the form to yourself to continue later.