*Submission Instructions Subject to Change. Please check back March 20, 2024, when the Call for Awards opens to ensure that your submission is in accordance with the latest instructions.
The AIA Colorado Annual Design Awards honor the outstanding work of AIA Colorado members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight member contributions to positive change.
Eligible projects must be designed by an AIA Colorado member architect/firm within the last five years, but can be any project type, any size and do not have to be located within Colorado.
The jury may recognize eligible projects in one of the following levels.
Award of Excellence: This is the highest possible honor, which recognizes projects that represent excellence of architectural design on all levels and exemplify the highest standards to which AIA members aspire. Unanimous approval by the jurors is required.
Award of Merit: Granted to projects which display a high standard of architectural quality and design, as deemed unanimously or by a consensus of jury members.
Honorable Mention: Honors notable achievements in one or more aspects of the project, as deemed unanimously or by a consensus of jury members.
In addition, eligible projects may be recognized for their integration of sustainable design excellence with environmental performance.
The submission fee is $250 per entry.
Entrants that are already submitting for a category (listed below) can also submit their project for consideration in the sustainability category, at no extra cost, by completing the Sustainability Common App. To be considered for the sustainability category you must already be submitting a project for another category and have paid your submission fee. More information below, under “Categories.”
Refunds will not be issued for entries that are disqualified, withdrawn, incomplete, or late. The submission deadline will be strictly observed; no exceptions will be made.
Online Submission Process Opens: Friday, March 15, 2024
Submission Deadline: May 17, 2024
For projects to be considered, the following requirements must be met:
The AIA Colorado Design Awards celebrate design excellence regardless of budget, size, style, or type, and recognizes the range of outstanding work by AIA Colorado architects and their positive impacts to our communities.
The jury evaluates entries based on how successfully projects have met their individual requirements while clearly conveying the project’s vision. Entries are judged individually—not in competition with each other.
Jurors will consider each submittal holistically through the lens of the Framework for Design Excellence, including but not limited to the following:
Classifications are used solely to facilitate the submission and judging processes. The jury is not required to recognize awards within each project category; there is no maximum or required minimum number of projects recognized within any category. Entrants must select from one of the following categories (except for the sustainability category) that best represents their submission. A project may be entered for sustainability recognition as well by submitting additional information.
Announcing a new Design award! The R&D award seeks to celebrate the work that we do that doesn’t fall into traditional categories of built (or even unbuilt) projects. It recognizes the investigations that forward the art and science of Architecture.
“So what sort of things would fit into this category?” A comparative study of embodied carbon in your project. Pioneering a new product or material assembly. Creating original building forms or performance using cutting edge modeling technology. Studying or improving fire resistance in envelop design. Or creating a new building code to reflect those ignition resistant design strategies. More examples can include fabrication, building components or systems, sustainable strategies, construction details, design process, social/community impact, and research-focused faculty or student work.
The IRS uses a 4-part test to determine if an Architect’s activity qualifies for the R&D tax credit and this category will use the same general filter:
This Award is open to any member including those who are non-licensed professionals in firms, in academic settings, or working in group collaborations.
All submissions are to be completed online through the AIA Colorado Design Awards portal.
Projects previously submitted between 2019 and 2023 that did not receive statewide recognition may resubmit for consideration for an AIA Colorado 2024 Design Award.
Submissions that do not follow instructions and/or submission requirements may be disqualified and will not receive any refund of entry fees.
Click here to access the submission portal. An account must be created prior to submitting projects. A draft of the submission can be saved during the process. Payment is required at the end of the application before the project is submitted or another entry started.
See below the information you will be asked to submit via the online application.
1 – Project Title
2 – Submission Details
3 – Eligibility Verification
4 – Nominating Firm Information
5 – Project Details
The following information will not be seen by the jury but may be used for publication purposes after the jury deliberation.
*When one architect is not the sole author, all other participants contributing substantially to the design of the project must be given credit as part of the submission, regardless of professional discipline. AIA Colorado reserves the right to recognize additional project contributors that may not have been listed in celebration and promotion of the Design Awards.
6 – Project Photos for AIA Colorado Communications and Marketing
6 high-resolution photos, with proper credit, to be used on AIA Colorado’s website and/or in other AIA Colorado communications and marketing. Label the filename of each image with the project name and number your photos 1 through 6. Photo number 1 will be used as a thumbnail on the AIA Colorado website and marketing materials.
7 – Project Submittal for Jury Review* (PDF – 17 pages maximum, full-bleed permitted,
11×17″ aspect ratio, “landscape orientation”)
*Firm and personnel names are not to be visible on any of the pages or file names. Failure to follo50 these instructions will result in disqualification. If selected to receive an award, this PDF may be shared publicly.
8 – Online Verification Forms
The entrant will be required to agree to the following items:
PLEASE NOTE: Awards and Honors given to recipients on behalf of AIA Colorado are based upon the nominations and supporting material provided by the nominee or their professional peers.
AIA Colorado members are dedicated to high ethical and professional standards. Accordingly, recipients are expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner befitting their recognition as the best among us. AIA Colorado reserves the absolute right to elevate or disqualify any submission and may at any time rescind an award previously bestowed.
Questions? Contact Jon Bell, AIA Colorado Communications & Creative Director.