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 (separate fees). Check out the How to Submit tab for a graphic guide to help you with the process. You may also download a copy of this page as Guidelines doc here>>

The chapter will not be utilizing the Common App during this year’s competition.

Registration and project submissions are both fully open from July 1 through July 31, 2026. You can complete your registration, submit your entry fee, and upload your project materials entirely at AIARE.org.

Tips for Submission:

It is highly recommended that you compile your text, project details, and files in a separate document before starting the online form. It is best to complete the online form in one sitting. Once you fill in all required fields and upload your project materials, your entry will be reviewed for completeness. Verified entries will be published on the AIARE.org website for viewing by the Jury and by the public for the People’s Choice Awards.

Note on the COTE Award:

The optional COTE Award (Sustainable/Resilient Design based on the AIA Framework for Design Excellence) is NOT a separate Design Award category. Instead, it is awarded to the highest-performing project based on your COTE submission, in ADDITION to any standard category awards your project might win. The COTE Award Form can be saved outside of the portal and completed anytime during the July submission window.

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

Digital image files (plans, photos, illustrations) must be uploaded in standard picture formats with .jpg or .jpeg extensions.

• Quantity: Exactly ONE featured/lead image, plus up to 9 additional images (10 images total).
• File Size: Maximum 2MB per file.
• File Naming: Use ONLY letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores. Do not use spaces. (Note: Files with spaces or incorrect formatting will fail to render and display a box with a RED X).

Note: Your designated featured image will serve as the primary thumbnail across the website. Ensure it represents the project beautifully. Images may include photographs, graphics, diagrams, or renderings. Video files and animations are not eligible.

DIGITAL + PHYSICAL PRESENTATION BOARDS

Each entry requires two presentation boards compiled in a matching layout format:

• One (1) DIGITAL BOARD (Submitted Anonymously): Must contain NO identifying firm or architect information. This file is uploaded with your online application for the Jury review.

• One (1) PHYSICAL BOARD (For Gala Display): Must INCLUDE identifying firm/architect information. This board will be displayed at the design awards Gala. 

○ Specifications: Size 30”x42” landscape layout, mounted on semi-gloss Foam Core Board.

○ Printing/Delivery: To be printed by the submitter via DPI, Draftech, or a printer of your choice. Boards can be delivered to the Gala venue directly on October 17, or you can arrange for AIARE staff to pick them up from DPI or Draftech only.

File Layout & Resolution: Digital boards must be uploaded as a PDF, JPEG, or PNG to maintain visual integrity.

Required File Naming Convention (Firm names are required in the file title for internal administration but will be automatically concealed from the jury during deliberations):

• Jury_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf
• Gala_Category_ProjectName_FirmName.pdf

 Every board submission must include:

1. A text description providing a brief explanation of the program, concept, design solution and any other pertinent information.
2. Photographs (or high-quality renderings for unbuilt projects) depicting the whole project, including interior and exterior views.
3. Supporting architectural drawings and/or diagrams illustrating design concepts.
4. Before-and-after imagery (strictly required for Adaptive Reuse, Renovation, and Historic Preservation categories).

Reminder: Project name, entrant name, owner name, and specific design team members will be hidden from the jury during judging to maintain strict anonymity.

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 Registration will now remain open until July 31, allowing you to register and submit your project immediately thereafter.
• You will receive an email immediately following registration with a link to submit ALL requirements during submission period window July 1 – 31.

Step 2 – Project Narrative 

• Prepare your project submission
  • We recommend creating your narratives in a separate document, then copy/paste into the online form for submission (it’s fine to use the same copy for both Design Award Submission + COTE Award Submission where applicable).
  • Watch the DA26 COTE Award Submission Clinic Webinar for key pointers to help with your submission

Step 3 – Presentation Boards

• Prepare your Digital Boards
  • Submit a JURY board in the online submission with project narratives, and waiver without identifying information
  • Print GALA Board at the printer of your choice – DPI or Draftech may offer a discount – Due on October 17, 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, 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.
  • 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.