The AIA Silicon Valley Design Awards ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION

The Design Awards submission is structured into main categories and optional concentrations. In addition to the design awards given in each main category – Architecture, Residential, Interior Architecture, Urban Design / Master Plan, Small Project / Big Impact, Unbuilt / Research / Competition, and Social Responsibility Architecture, Residential, Interior Architecture, Urban Design / Master Plan, Small Project / Big Impact, Unbuilt / Research / Competition – the jury will evaluate projects based on a variety of features, including unique design, originality, extended use attributes, sustainability, budget, and use of environmental surroundings.

Architecture – Open to any project type, including renovations, adaptive reuse, preservation, multi-family housing, commercial and new construction.

Residential – Open to only single family residential home projects.  This category includes new builds, remodels, additions and historic preservation.

Urban Design / Master Plan – Projects beyond the scale of an individual building which expand the role of the architect by contributing to urban planning and community development and which demonstrate a significant contribution to improving the quality of life in neighborhoods, communities or regions. Examples include, but are not limited to, civic projects; landscape projects; urban planning; environmental projects; and design advocacy on behalf of the public.

Interior Architecture – Interiors projects not limited by scale, budget, or project type. Entries may include renovations, additions, adaptive reuse, preservation or new construction.

Small Project / Big Impact – Commissions that leverage design opportunities to produce a positive impact beyond the limits imposed by small scale and/or budget. Projects may be of any type or scale including furniture and industrial design.

Unbuilt / Research / Competition – Projects of any scale or type whose construction has not commenced at the deadline for submissions to this awards program. Projects are eligible for consideration even if their physical realization is never anticipated. This includes the work of students in accredited school architecture programs pursuing degrees in architecture or otherwise on a career path toward a professional degree in architecture.

Social Responsibility – Projects of any scale that were performed pro bono by a member of AIA Silicon Valley to make the world a better place through service and philanthropy qualify.