Architectural Excellence Awards

Each year, AIA Pennsylvania celebrates the best of architecture in Pennsylvania and the people behind it. Through the AIA Pennsylvania Architectural Excellence Design Awards programs, more than 50 honors are awarded annually to AIA members, allied professionals, government and civic leaders, academic leaders, and nonprofit community service organizations. Each award is given in recognition of leadership and positive contributions to a better and more sustainable built environment and advancement of the profession of architecture.

Learn more about the awards programs and view past recipients of the Design Awards, COTE Awards, Special Awards, and Student Awards below!

 

Visit the New Submission Site to Showcase Excellence

The new 2020 AIA Pennsylvania Architectural Excellence Awards submission site is accepting submissions for the Design Awards, COTE Awards, and Special Awards now through 11:59 pm Thursday, September 3, 2020.

Design Awards

The AIA Pennsylvania Architectural Excellence Design Awards awards celebrate the exemplary design achievements of members and impact of architecture regardless of budget, size, style, or type.

Meet 2020 head juror, Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA

review the call for submissions & start a submission(s)

COTE Awards

The AIA Pennsylvania Committee on the Environment (COTE) and Committee on Design (COD) formerly the Awards Committee are proud to announce the addition of the Architectural Excellence COTE Awards to the prestigious Architectural Excellence Awards program.

Projects selected for this honor will have exhibited excellence in the AIA Framework for Design Excellence measures that indicate how buildings perform for the health and wellness of the occupants, communities, and the environment(s) they serve.

review the call for submissions & start a submission(s)

Special Awards

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

review the call for nominations & start a nomination(s)

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. 

View the archive

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

View the archive

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

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

  • A. Stevens (Steve) Krug, AIA (2016)
  • City of Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission (2012)
  • Witold M. Rybczynski, Hon. FAIA (2011)
  • Maureen A. Guttman, AIA (2010)