Architectural Excellence Awards

Visit the AIA Pennsylvania awards submission and nomination platform to participate in the Special Awards and Design & COTE Awards.

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• The Architectural Excellence Special Awards nomination period opens in April and closes 11:59 pm Monday, June 5, 2023.
• The Architectural Excellence Design & COTE Awards submission period opens in May and closes 11:59 pm Thursday, August 3, 2023.

REVIEW PAST ELIGIBILITY & CRITERIA

Design Awards

Architectural Excellence Design Award recipients exhibit distinguished design in the categories of Architecture, Preservation Architecture, Interior Architecture, Regional and Urban Design, Unbuilt, Impact Design, and Single Family Residential Design. 

Each year the AIA Pennsylvania Committee on Design reaches out to a notable national/international architect to lead a jury of at least two other industry leaders of their choice outside the immediate Pennsylvania architecture community. The jury evaluates all entries based on how projects have met their respective program requirements with consideration of design achievement and impact regardless of budget, size, style, or type.

The jury recognizes projects deemed worth of award with the following levels of distinction.

Silver Medal | A Silver Medal may be granted, at the jury’s discretion to the project that distinguishes itself from the rest of the submissions representing the highest level of achievement. 

Honor Award | An Honor Award may be granted, at the jury’s discretion, to projects that exemplify distinguished achievement in any category. 

Merit Award |  A Merit Award may be granted, at the jury’s discretion, to any project that either lies outside of the other categories or bears an exceptional aspect that the jury feels represents excellence which deserves recognition. 

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The Architectural Excellence Special Awards recognize significant achievements by members, non-members, civic and government leaders, allied professionals, and firms who contribute to the built environment and the advancement of the profession in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Special Awards categories include:

• Associate Award
• Emerging Professional Award
• Raymond J. Sinagra Allied Trades Award
• Contribution to the Profession by a Non-Architect Award
• Impact Designer Award
• Government Award
• Medal of Distinction
• 50 Year Timeless Architecture Award
• Architecture Firm Award

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Submissions to the Architectural Excellence COTE Awards are assessed through the lens of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence measures indicating how buildings perform for the health and wellness of the occupants, communities, and the environments they serve.

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The Student Award recognizes the exceptional scholastic achievement and future promise of a student graduating at the end of the current academic year. The student should have proven to be proficient in both academics and design, and ready to take on the challenges and responsibilities of the work environment in an architecture firm.

Recipients

2022
2021

2020

2019

2018 

2017

• Connie Lin | Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
• Sophie Nahrmann | Carnegie Mellon University, School of Architecture
• Ivan Hanson | Marywood University, School of Architecture
• Alexia Cavazos | Pennsylvania State University, Stuckeman School, College of Arts and Architecture
• Michael Penzel | Thomas Jefferson University: College of Architecture and the Built Environment
• Alexander Bahr | University of Pennsylvania, School of Design
• Jake Whitehead | Temple University, Tyler School of Art

2016

• Chandler Archbell | Carnegie Mellon University
• John Brian Fullen | Drexel University
• Matthew Wieber | Marywood University
• Shokofeh Darbari | Penn State University
• Clarissa Kelsey | Philadelphia University
• Jennifer Yun | Temple University
• Alexander Tahinos | University of Pennsylvania

2015

• Gloriana Gonzalez, Carnegie Mellon University
• Patrick Barendt, Drexel University
• Elizabeth Mae Andrzejewski, Marywood University
• Bong Hei Wong, Philadelphia University
• Katelyn Troutman, Penn State University
• Alex E. Aftuck, Temple University
• Caleb White, University of Pennsylvania

2014

• Arjumand Anjum, Temple University
• Amanda Bonelli, Philadelphia University
• Cory Clippinger, Penn State University
• Gray Garmon, University of Pennsylvania
• Jason Kim, Carnegie Mellon University
• Julie Morningstar, Drexel University

The President’s Award is presented at the discretion of the President of the Board of Directors, in recognition of special contributions and/or particular support of the profession, the business of architecture or the built environment, in Pennsylvania. The award is open to anyone, including members, non-members, architects and others.

Past Recipients

• Robert (Bob) Kelly, FAIA (2022)
• Robert (Bob) Kelly, FAIA (2021)
• Marc Mondor, AIA (2021)
• A. Stevens (Steve) Krug, AIA (2016)
• City of Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission (2012)
• Witold M. Rybczynski, Hon. FAIA (2011)
• Maureen A. Guttman, AIA (2010)