
The 2022 Design Awards Competition
Many thanks to incoming jury as well as the Design Awards Committee for their time and efforts.
The AIARE Design Awards program recognizes excellence in local architectural projects and practices. The intent is to honor exceptional work, both built and unbuilt, establish practices of excellence within our local community and nurture new values that contribute to design and design appreciation.
Registration portal open June 15 through July 29 | Submission portal open July 15 through August 15
Middle/High School Student Registration portal open July 15 through August 15 | Submission portal open August 15 through September 15
Gala: Saturday, October 15, 6:00-9:00pm Saralee & Richard’s Barn, Sonoma Co. Fairgrounds Get Tickets
The American Institute of Architects is pleased to invite you to our in-person Design Awards Gala. You can purchase tickets to attend event here.
Required Documents for Website Submission:
Please register/pay fees through the following the submission portal on the website
You will then receive a link to submit your projects including the following:
- Photos (up to 10 / 2MB max each)
- Contact & Project information
You will use the following to fill out the Common App and create your boards only; it is no longer required to submit full information via website. Students will still need to submit this information online.
- Project Description (students only)
- Design Challenge (students only)
- Physical Context (students only)
See below “how to’s” to fill out the Common App:
- Non Residential Calculation Instructions
- Non Residential Calculator
- Residential Calculation Instruction
- Residential Calculator
Required Documents for Dropbox Submission:
Please submit the following Common App documents to the AIARE Design Awards 2022 Dropbox
- DesignExcellence_CommonApp_2021v4.16_Final
- Naming Convention for Documents:
- App_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.xlsx
- App_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
- Naming Convention for Documents:
Please submit the following Digital Boards to the AIARE Design Awards 2022 Dropbox
- Digital Boards (any size .pdf, .jpeg, .png)
- Naming Convention for 2 Boards:
- Jury_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
- Gala_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
- Naming Convention for 2 Boards:
Please submit the following document to the AIARE Design Awards 2022 Dropbox
Check out the webinar “Demystifying the AIA Common App” for a short tutorial on how to fill it out (note: the video was recorded for 2020, but filling out the Common App is the same, go to the requirements tab to find the Common App docs and calculators)
Check out the AIA CA webinar for a long tutorial with Henry Siegel, FAIA
Entry Categories
Projects designed, renovated or built after January 1, 2017 may be submitted.
PROJECT CATEGORY SUBMISSION
If your project falls within the guidelines of multiple categories, you may submit the project to those multiple categories separately. Note: Sustainable/Resilient Design award is NOT a separate 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 other categories.
1. 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
2. ARCHITECTURE – UNBUILT:
This award category calls for architectural design work that, to date remains un-built. 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.
3. 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
4. RESIDENTIAL DESIGN – BUILT:
Custom Residential projects (New, substantial remodels or additions) completed since January 1, 2015.
- Under 3000 sf
- 3000 sf and over.
5. 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 in tact.
6. WARREN J. HEDGPETH COMMUNITY DESIGN (formerly SOCIALLY EQUITABLE | SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGN):
Projects of any scale that were performed either pro bono or fee-based by a member of AIARE 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.
7. PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD:
All submissions are automatically entered for this award. Go online to cast your vote!
Details
All submissions will be reviewed by a common jury connected to all facets of the design profession. As projects are subject to diverse contexts, programs, budgets, and restraints, each entry is judged for the success with which the project has met its individual requirements.
We encourage submissions that exhibit a strong definition of design excellence. Submissions may be exemplary in their typology, technical advancement, innovation, economy, sustainability, as well as other achievements.
Submissions are required to use the Common App found in the Requirements Tab – this won’t negatively impact your submission score, but can potentially help your submission earn a better score. You must submit both Excel and PDFs.
The jury may also choose not to award in a category; it is at their sole discretion.
Entry Fees
AIARE Members: $200
AIA Members: $250
Non Members: $300
Students: Free with photo I.D.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
Get Started
Register and pay for your submission by clicking the button below. You will receive an email with the link to submit your project(s) after the portal opens on July 15.
Submit all photographs, documentation, etc. through the link provided in email once you register.
Each entry shall also be compiled and presented in a digital format with two boards. Submit Digital Boards and Common App (Excel and PDF) documents to AIARE Design Awards 2022 Dropbox.
Each entry shall have a Gala Presentation Board printed on foam core. Landscape 30″ x 42″ (see Criteria/Requirements sheet for more information)
Required Documents
Jury_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
Gala_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
App_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.xlsx
App_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
Waiver
The Jurors (AIA DC):

Mary Kay Lanzillotta, FAIA

Joseph McKenley, AIA

Joanna Schmickel, FAIA

Peter Cook, FAIA
Thank you to our 2022 Design Awards Sponsors!




