AIA Philadelphia 2024 Design Awards
The 2024 AIA Philadelphia Design Awards program celebrates the best contemporary architecture regardless of budget, size, style, or type. These stunning projects demonstrate the range of outstanding work our members create and highlight the many ways buildings and spaces can improve our lives.
In 2019, the AIA adopted the Framework for Design Excellence as the set of guidelines and requirements to assess project performance, recognizing that Design is not just about aesthetic components, but how buildings perform for people. Along with many of our peer Chapters, AIA Philadelphia has taken the lead on incorporating the Framework into our Design Awards program over the past two years. The Framework for Design Excellence is made up of 10 measures, formerly known as the COTE Top Ten. This Framework organizes our thinking, facilitates conversations with our clients and the communities we serve, and sets meaningful goals and targets for climate action, which requires a holistic approach addressing the interdependence among people, buildings, infrastructure, and the environment. The Framework for Design Excellence provides the elements that support this vision during project evaluation. While projects submitted do not need to address all the measures included in the framework, they do need to highlight how they perform in this context and highlight relevant narratives and metrics when applicable.
The jurors will review the information provided in the Framework for Design Excellence Form in addition to the traditional Project Submission, for all projects. The jury evaluates entries based on how successfully projects have met their individual requirements and relative to the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. All projects must demonstrate design achievement, including a sense of place and purpose, of ecology and environmental sustainability, and of history. Submitted projects do not have to adhere to all measures but need to address several of them. Submitters are strongly encouraged to consider their submission materials in this context.
To adhere to AIA National's submission guidelines, built projects submitted for the design competition must have been completed within the last five years.
It is within the jury's discretion to select any built project from any built category for consideration for the Gold Medal. Likewise, it is also in the jury's discretion to select any unbuilt project for the Silver Medal.
The jury process must remain blind, so do not include any identifying information on any slides, including on your title slide. Identifying information includes:
- Firm Name or Address
- Principal or Employee Names
- Company Logo
- Corporate Tagline
This year's Design Awards celebration will be held November 7, 2027. For more information about the Design Awards, please visit the AIA Philadelphia Design Awards program page.
Submission Fees
- Built Project Categories $225
- Unbuilt Project Categories $225
- Divine Detail Submissions $75
Submission Process
Step 1: Create Profile
Create a new username and password. If you are submitting more than one entry, you will be prompted for a payment at the end of each submission. Your contact information will pre-populate in each new entry you begin. Click Save Address and Continue to begin your first entry.
Step 2: Submit Your Entry
- Check the boxes indicating you agree to and meet the eligibility requirements.
- Describe your firm's role in the project.
- Enter the names of your collaborating firms and their roles, if applicable.
- Enter your Firm Name, Contact Name, Job Title, Email Address, and Phone Number.
- Select your project subcategory.
- Check the box indicating that your project has been completed after January 1, 2019.
- Enter your Project Title.
- Enter your Project Description. If selected for an award, this description will be read aloud at the Design Awards Celebration.
- Select YES or NO from the dropdown menu indicating whether or not you would like your project to be included in the exhibition. Please note: This year we are returning to the 40x40 board template. Firms are responsible for logistics, printing, and shipping of boards. Please visit the Design Awards program page on the AIA Philadelphia website for more information.
Step 3: Uploads
- Project Submission - PDF File Only (File Size Limit 10MB). This is the file that will be reviewed by the jury. Please submit one PDF File Only. The submission file is limited to 16 pages total. Your project submission should be: 1 cover page + 12 page project submission + 3 page Framework for Design Excellence form, for a total of 16 pages in ONE PDF. All project categories will be automatically considered for the Sustainability Recognition Award.
- Project Team Information Page - PDF Files Only
- Design Awards Presentation Slide - JPG Files Only. The Design Awards presentation slide will be used during the awards ceremony. We are collecting slides from everyone, regardless of whether your project is selected for an award. Please save the PPT file as a JPG.
- Photo upload - JPG Files Only. Please upload 10 hi-res images of your project.
- Name of Photographer
Upload templates can be found here.
Step 4: Design Awards Entry Authorization
By entering your name, you agree to comply with the Design Awards submission criteria.
Additional information and FAQs can be found here.
Late entries cannot be accepted. Thank you for your cooperation!
AIA Philadelphia 2024 Design Awards
The 2024 AIA Philadelphia Design Awards program celebrates the best contemporary architecture regardless of budget, size, style, or type. These stunning projects demonstrate the range of outstanding work our members create and highlight the many ways buildings and spaces can improve our lives.
In 2019, the AIA adopted the Framework for Design Excellence as the set of guidelines and requirements to assess project performance, recognizing that Design is not just about aesthetic components, but how buildings perform for people. Along with many of our peer Chapters, AIA Philadelphia has taken the lead on incorporating the Framework into our Design Awards program over the past two years. The Framework for Design Excellence is made up of 10 measures, formerly known as the COTE Top Ten. This Framework organizes our thinking, facilitates conversations with our clients and the communities we serve, and sets meaningful goals and targets for climate action, which requires a holistic approach addressing the interdependence among people, buildings, infrastructure, and the environment. The Framework for Design Excellence provides the elements that support this vision during project evaluation. While projects submitted do not need to address all the measures included in the framework, they do need to highlight how they perform in this context and highlight relevant narratives and metrics when applicable.
The jurors will review the information provided in the Framework for Design Excellence Form in addition to the traditional Project Submission, for all projects. The jury evaluates entries based on how successfully projects have met their individual requirements and relative to the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. All projects must demonstrate design achievement, including a sense of place and purpose, of ecology and environmental sustainability, and of history. Submitted projects do not have to adhere to all measures but need to address several of them. Submitters are strongly encouraged to consider their submission materials in this context.
To adhere to AIA National's submission guidelines, built projects submitted for the design competition must have been completed within the last five years.
It is within the jury's discretion to select any built project from any built category for consideration for the Gold Medal. Likewise, it is also in the jury's discretion to select any unbuilt project for the Silver Medal.
The jury process must remain blind, so do not include any identifying information on any slides, including on your title slide. Identifying information includes:
- Firm Name or Address
- Principal or Employee Names
- Company Logo
- Corporate Tagline
This year's Design Awards celebration will be held November 9, 2023. For more information about the Design Awards, please visit the AIA Philadelphia Design Awards program page.
Submission Fees
- Built Project Categories $225
- Unbuilt Project Categories $225
- Divine Detail Submissions $75
Submission Process
Step 1: Create Profile
Create a new username and password. If you are submitting more than one entry, you will be prompted for a payment at the end of each submission. Your contact information will pre-populate in each new entry you begin. Click Save Address and Continue to begin your first entry.
Step 2: Submit Your Entry
- Check the boxes indicating you agree to and meet the eligibility requirements.
- Describe your firm's role in the project.
- Enter the names of your collaborating firms and their roles, if applicable.
- Enter your Firm Name, Contact Name, Job Title, Email Address, and Phone Number.
- Select your project subcategory.
- Check the box indicating that your project has been completed after January 1, 2019.
- Enter your Project Title.
- Enter your Project Description. If selected for an award, this description will be read aloud at the Design Awards Celebration.
- Select YES or NO from the dropdown menu indicating whether or not you would like your project to be included in the exhibition. Please note: This year we are returning to the 40x40 board template. Firms are responsible for logistics, printing, and shipping of boards. Please visit the Design Awards program page on the AIA Philadelphia website for more information.
Step 3: Uploads
- Project Submission - PDF File Only (File Size Limit 10MB). This is the file that will be reviewed by the jury. Please submit one PDF File Only. The submission file is limited to 16 pages total. Your project submission should be: 1 cover page + 12 page project submission + 3 page Framework for Design Excellence form, for a total of 16 pages in ONE PDF. All project categories will be automatically considered for the Sustainability Recognition Award.
- Project Team Information Page - PDF Files Only
- Design Awards Presentation Slide - JPG Files Only. The Design Awards presentation slide will be used during the awards ceremony. We are collecting slides from everyone, regardless of whether your project is selected for an award. Please save the PPT file as a JPG.
- Photo upload - JPG Files Only. Please upload 10 hi-res images of your project.
- Name of Photographer
Upload templates can be found here.
Step 4: Design Awards Entry Authorization
By entering your name, you agree to comply with the Design Awards submission criteria.
Additional information and FAQs can be found here.
Late entries cannot be accepted. Thank you for your cooperation!
AIA Philadelphia 2024 Design Awards
The 2024 AIA Philadelphia Design Awards program celebrates the best contemporary architecture regardless of budget, size, style, or type. These stunning projects demonstrate the range of outstanding work our members create and highlight the many ways buildings and spaces can improve our lives.
In 2019, the AIA adopted the Framework for Design Excellence as the set of guidelines and requirements to assess project performance, recognizing that Design is not just about aesthetic components, but how buildings perform for people. Along with many of our peer Chapters, AIA Philadelphia has taken the lead on incorporating the Framework into our Design Awards program over the past two years. The Framework for Design Excellence is made up of 10 measures, formerly known as the COTE Top Ten. This Framework organizes our thinking, facilitates conversations with our clients and the communities we serve, and sets meaningful goals and targets for climate action, which requires a holistic approach addressing the interdependence among people, buildings, infrastructure, and the environment. The Framework for Design Excellence provides the elements that support this vision during project evaluation. While projects submitted do not need to address all the measures included in the framework, they do need to highlight how they perform in this context and highlight relevant narratives and metrics when applicable.
The jurors will review the information provided in the Framework for Design Excellence Form in addition to the traditional Project Submission, for all projects. The jury evaluates entries based on how successfully projects have met their individual requirements and relative to the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. All projects must demonstrate design achievement, including a sense of place and purpose, of ecology and environmental sustainability, and of history. Submitted projects do not have to adhere to all measures but need to address several of them. Submitters are strongly encouraged to consider their submission materials in this context.
To adhere to AIA National's submission guidelines, built projects submitted for the design competition must have been completed within the last five years.
It is within the jury's discretion to select any built project from any built category for consideration for the Gold Medal. Likewise, it is also in the jury's discretion to select any unbuilt project for the Silver Medal.
The jury process must remain blind, so do not include any identifying information on any slides, including on your title slide. Identifying information includes:
- Firm Name or Address
- Principal or Employee Names
- Company Logo
- Corporate Tagline
This year's Design Awards celebration will be held November 9, 2023. For more information about the Design Awards, please visit the AIA Philadelphia Design Awards program page.
Submission Fees
- Built Project Categories $225
- Unbuilt Project Categories $225
- Divine Detail Submissions $75
Submission Process
Step 1: Create Profile
Create a new username and password. If you are submitting more than one entry, you will be prompted for a payment at the end of each submission. Your contact information will pre-populate in each new entry you begin. Click Save Address and Continue to begin your first entry.
Step 2: Submit Your Entry
- Check the boxes indicating you agree to and meet the eligibility requirements.
- Describe your firm's role in the project.
- Enter the names of your collaborating firms and their roles, if applicable.
- Enter your Firm Name, Contact Name, Job Title, Email Address, and Phone Number.
- Check the box indicating that your project has been completed after January 1, 2019.
- Enter your Project Title.
- Enter your Project Description. If selected for an award, this description will be read aloud at the Design Awards Celebration.
- Select YES or NO from the dropdown menu indicating whether or not you would like your project to be included in the exhibition. Please note: This year we are returning to the 40x40 board template. Firms are responsible for logistics, printing, and shipping of boards. Please visit the Design Awards program page on the AIA Philadelphia website for more information.
Step 3: Uploads
- Project Submission - PDF File Only (File Size Limit 10MB). This is the file that will be reviewed by the jury. Please submit one PDF File Only. The submission file is limited to 16 pages total. Your project submission should be: 1 cover page + 2 page project submission + 3 page Framework for Design Excellence form, for a total of 6 pages in ONE PDF. All project categories will be automatically considered for the Sustainability Recognition Award.
- Project Team Information Page - PDF Files Only
- Design Awards Presentation Slide - JPG Files Only. The Design Awards presentation slide will be used during the awards ceremony. We are collecting slides from everyone, regardless of whether your project is selected for an award. Please save the PPT file as a JPG.
- Photo upload - JPG Files Only. Please upload 10 hi-res images of your project.
- Name of Photographer
Upload templates can be found here.
Step 4: Design Awards Entry Authorization
By entering your name, you agree to comply with the Design Awards submission criteria.
Additional information and FAQs can be found here.
Late entries cannot be accepted. Thank you for your cooperation!
AIA Philadelphia 2023 Exhibition
The Annual AIA Philadelphia Exhibition will take place October 2 - 12, 2024 at Cherry Street Pier as part of the DesignPhiladelphia Festival.
Exhibition applications and submission fees are due by Friday, August 23, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Please see below regarding information about board specifications.
Exhibition Information:
- Submitting firms will: handle all logistics, printing, and courier services of all exhibit boards. Exhibit boards must be delivered to the Center for Architecture and Design (1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107) by 5 p.m. on Monday, September 23. Boards arriving after this date are not guaranteed a place in the exhibition.
- Board Specs: Boards are limited to 40" x 40" panels only, and must have 4 grommet holes in the corners, one in each corner.
- Installation & Dismantling: Installation and dismantling will be handled by AIA Philadelphia staff and volunteers. No modifications to the exhibit will be permitted during the course of the show, regardless of the reason. You must ensure that pertinent permission for exhibition and/or publication from clients is obtained prior to entry of your materials.
- Display: Location of panels within the exhibition system is strictly by random order. We will make every effort to place firm’s boards together.
Submission Process
Step 1: Create Profile
Create a new username and password.
Click Save Address and Continue to begin your first entry.
Step 2: Submit Your Entry
- Enter your Company Name, Membership Type, Contact Name, Email Address, and Phone Number.
- Enter your Project Title.
- Enter the name of the Architecture Firm and your photographer.
- Complete the submission form and check out. The submission fee is $100 per board for non-Design Awards Competition board entries. If you are submitting a project for the Design Awards Competition, one board per project is included in your submission fee.
AIA Philadelphia 2024 Young Architect Award
This year's Design Awards Celebration will be held November 7, 2024. For more information about the Design Awards, please visit: https://aiaphiladelphia.org/pages/awards
Application Process
Step 1: Create Profile
- Create a new username and password.
- There is no fee for the Young Architect Award.
- Click Save Address and Continue to begin your application.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
- Enter your Name, Firm Name, Job Title, and Date of Birth.
- List the state(s) in which you are licensed.
Step 3: Uploads
- Upload a copy of your license (PDF files only).
- Upload a copy of the Design Awards PowerPoint Template (please use one hi-res image and follow the formatting instructions on the template - PPT or PPTX files only).
- Upload a copy of your application to be reviewed by the jury (PDF files only).
About the Young Architect Award
The Fellows Committee of AIA Philadelphia annually recognizes a young architect who has demonstrated exceptional early achievement and future promise. The award is intended not only to honor the recipient, but to introduce the design community and the public to new voices within the profession and to encourage other young practitioners in their careers.
Criteria
A successful candidate must display excellent past work, authored by the candidate, as well as promise of future merit in one, two, three, or all four of the following categories:
- Design Excellence: Work that demonstrates aesthetic, technical, and functional excellence;
- Practice: Demonstrated leadership, management, and/or specialized technical expertise;
- Education: Expanding the influence of the profession through teaching, publications, and/or research;
- Service: Exemplary service and contributions to the profession and/or society.
A candidate may choose to focus on contributions either broadly or in depth.
Eligibility
Candidates must be registered architect members of AIA Philadelphia between the ages of 25 and 39 as of the due date of the application.
Application
All items listed below should be submitted as a single pdf of a maximum of twenty 8 ½” x 11” pages and no larger than 18 MB. Please title the pdf with the candidate’s name, underscore, YA (i.e., JaneSmith_YA). Each application must include:
1) A one-page summary of the basis for, and achievements that support, the nomination.
2) A brief biography of the candidate, including date of birth, that expands on the description in the one-page summary.
3) Projects: Candidates must provide examples of their work to support the basis for their application. A declaration of the candidate’s responsibility, signed by a firm principal, is required for each submitted project. The declaration should indicate:
- that the candidate was largely responsible for the project design; or
- that the project was under the candidate’s direction as project manager; or
- hat the candidate was the project architect; or
- a described level of other responsibility.
4) Three letters of recommendation. Letters should be on company letterhead and no more than one page (8 ½” x 11”) long. At least two of the letters must be from AIA members (need not be AIA Philadelphia members). Only one of the letters may be from the candidate’s current employer or co-workers. Only one letter may be from a non-AIA member. Letters of recommendation must be from those who have direct knowledge of the candidate’s work as it pertains to this application.
Schedule
Application due: Friday, August 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
Jury’s decision announced: Applicants will be confidentially notified of the jury’s decision by September 2023
Public announcement: The Young Architect Award will be publicly announced and presented to the recipient(s) at the Chapter’s Annual Design Awards Celebration in December. Successful candidates will be asked to participate in a short video interview, prepared by the Chapter, to be screened during the Design Awards Celebration.
Exhibit and Talk: Award recipients will be invited to participate in the On the Rise Exhibit that showcases their work, with that of other award winners. This program will take place at a date to be determined. Award recipients will additionally be asked to prepare a short talk about their work in concert with the exhibit.
More Information
Potential applicants or Chapter members who would like to propose applicants can obtain more information, on a confidential basis, by contacting any current member of the Chapter’s Fellows Committee.
- Joanne Aitken, FAIA – jaitken1823@gmail.com
- George L. Claflen Jr., FAIA – (215) 564-0878 gclaflen@claflenassociates.com
- Mary Werner DeNadai, FAIA, past Chair – (610) 388-0113 mwdenadai@johnmilnerarch.com
- Jules Dingle, FAIA – (215) 627-0808 jdingle@digsau.com
- Alan J. Greenberger, FAIA – (215) 895-6364 ajg42@drexel.edu
- Peter Piven, FAIA – (215) 952-2781 peter.piven@gmail.com
- Michael L. Prifti, FAIA, Chair– (215) 563-3900 x108 mlp@blta.com
- Terry D. Steelman, FAIA – (215) 446-0900 tsteelman@ballinger-ae.com
Late entries cannot be accepted. Thank you for your cooperation!
AIA Philadelphia 2024 PEAPrize Award
This year's Design Awards Celebration will be held November 7, 2024. For more information about the Design Awards, please visit: https://www.aiaphiladelphia.org/design-awards
Submission Process
Step 1: Create Profile
- Create a new username and password.
- There is a $50 fee for AIA Firm Members for the PEAPrize, $100 for non-AIA Firm Members.
- Click Save Address and Continue to begin your entry.
Step 2: Submit Your Entry
- Enter your Name, Firm Name, and Job Title.
- List the state(s) in which you are licensed.
Step 3: Uploads
- Upload a copy of your firm license (PDF files only).
- Upload a copy of the Design Awards PowerPoint Template (please use one hi-res image and follow the formatting instructions on the template - PPT or PPTX files only).
- Upload your final submission (PDF files only).
PEAPrize Eligibility Requirements
AIA Philadelphia is accepting entries for the 2024 Philadelphia Emerging Architecture Prize (PEAPrize). The PEAPrize is awarded annually to recognize an emerging architecture firm producing high-quality design and thinking within the Philadelphia region. Awarded through a juried portfolio submission, the winning firm will present their design processes and philosophies through a lecture and exhibition.
Award: The winning firm will receive the award at the 2024 Design Awards Celebration in early December. The design work of the 2024 PEAPrize winner will be the focus of the On the Rise Exhibition, along with the winner of the Young Architect Award. The winning firm will present a short lecture of their work at the exhibit opening.
Eligibility: The PEAPrize is awarded to an Architecture Firm. Eligible Firms must have been established & licensed in their respective state within the past 10 years (2014-Present). A copy of the firm’s license is required to accompany all entries. Applicants that have previously submitted but were not the prize winner are encouraged to re-submit each year.
AIA membership is not a requirement for entry, though to be eligible, firms must be located within the service area of AIA Philadelphia and be able to meet the organization’s Member Firm criteria.
Entry Requirements: Completed entry form, copy of firm license, and fee ($50 for member firms, $100 for non-member firms).
Entry PDF: Limited to 10 MB and should be titled with submitter's initials and PEAPrize (i.e. JF_PEAPrize.pdf). Maximum 13 pages of images and text (1 Title Page + 12 Project Slides). On the Title Page, please provide a brief description of your firm's working style and philosophy. On each Project Slide, please include a short description of the project and briefly describe how it reflects your firm’s philosophies.
Submitting firms are encouraged to include any type of project that they have undertaken, effectively portraying the full breadth of their design practice. Portfolios may include built and unbuilt architecture, interiors, urban design, landscape, furniture, graphics, research, etc. Only work undertaken after the date that the firm was established with the state may be submitted. Work completed previously or with other firms is not eligible.
The jury process must remain blind, so do not include any identifying information on any slides, including on your title slide. Identifying information includes:
- Firm Name or Address
- Principal or Employee Names
- Company Logo
- Corporate Tagline
Late entries cannot be accepted. Thank you for your cooperation!
Submission Requirements:
1. The Architecture Firm must make the submission and must be a member firm of AIA Philadelphia.
2. Please only submit homes that have been designed in the last 10 years. This can include new construction or renovation projects.
3. A maximum of three (3) homes/units may be submitted from any one firm. Only one home or unit per firm will be chosen to be on the Home Tours.
4. Projects must be substantially complete by the date of submission, and 100% complete by the date of the Home Tours Weekend (October 5-6, 2024).
5. Projects must be furnished and landscaped in professional photographs due by August 1, 2024.
6. Houses that are for sale at the time of submission will not be considered. AIA Philadelphia staff must be notified as soon as possible if the house is chosen and is for sale between selection and the Home Tours.
Eligibility and Authorship:
It is the goal of the AIA Philadelphia Board of Directors that the tours showcase architectural designs that demonstrate the value of hiring an architect, and the value of the collaborative process between architects, homeowners, and design professionals.
All entries must be submitted by a current member of AIA Philadelphia (firm or individual), who is ultimately responsible for the project design.
If you have any questions, please email Julianne Foley, AIA Philadelphia Director of Membership & Events at juli@aiaphila.org.