Award Programs
DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS
AIA Chicago announced the winners for its signature architectural design award program which honors the global design achievements of Chicago architects. Winners were announced the evening of September 12 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion during Designight 2022, AIA Chicago’s first free and public architecture celebration. Award were given to projects in Architecture: XL, Large, Medium, Small, and XS categories, Interior Architecture: Large, Medium, and Small categories, along with inaugural Decarbonization and Lerch Bates People's Choice Awards, as well as the Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Awards.
CLICK HERE for the 2022 Design Excellence Awards Gallery.
CLICK HERE for more information about Designight 2022.
Designight 2022 | Photo credit: Dan Nordmeyer
Click below for award galleries from previous years:
2021 Design Excellence Awards Gallery
2020 Design Excellence Awards Gallery
2019 Design Excellence Awards Gallery
2018 Design Excellence Awards Gallery
2017 Distinguished Building Awards Gallery
2021 Small Project Awards Gallery
2020 Small Project Awards Gallery
2019 Small Project Awards Gallery
2018 Small Project Awards Gallery
2017 Small Project Awards Gallery
2017 Interior Architecture Awards Gallery
DECARBONIZATION AWARD
AIA Chicago's inaugural Decarbonization Award recognizes those projects that have gone above and beyond base level energy reduction goals. Recognizing a greater need for the built environment to use less energy in construction, material use and occupied energy consumption, the goal of this award is to showcase those project vanguards that exemplify the profession’s abilities to pursue the goals of the 2030 Commitment without compromise to the to the functional and aesthetic goals of the project.
In addition to the requirements of a Design Excellence award, projects must also be in operation for at least 12 months prior to submission deadline and must provide additional information for judging to a special jury of professional experts for this award.
CLICK HERE for a gallery of 2022 project submissions and award recipients.
LERCH BATES PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
Chicago is a city that prides itself on its extraordinary architecture. As a laboratory for innovation, Chicago’s architects never tire in their quest of creating beautiful and innovative masterpieces; buildings that contribute not just to our iconic skyline, but to the quality of life for its citizens. The winners below were selected by the public in open voting from the finalists’ designs chosen by Chicago Architecture Center’s Docents in a round one jury review from over 125 projects submitted during AIA Chicago’s Design Excellence Awards.
CLICK HERE for a gallery of project submissions and 2022 Lerch Bates People's Choice Award Winners.
This project is in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center.
ROBERTA FELDMAN ARCHITECTURE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD - AIA Chicago Foundation
The Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award was established in 2020 to honor excellence in single built project and single design program guided by the conviction that access to high quality architecture is not a privilege, it is a human right. Architecture for Social Justice is defined by the following objectives: first, to engage a broader cross-section of society, especially those not typically able to access architectural services and, second, to create innovative design solutions that address complex social and economic inequities that impact these communities.
AIA CHICAGO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Started in 2006, the AIA Chicago Lifetime Achievement Award honors those who have made a lasting impact on the practice, the profession and the built environment.
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: RALPH JOHNSON, FAIA, Global Design Director of Perkins&Will
Previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
AIA CHICAGO FIRM OF THE YEAR AWARD
The AIA Chicago Firm of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize outstanding achievements and excellence in the body of work produced by a firm over a period of time, and the ongoing contributions of the firm to the advancement of the architectural profession.
Firm principal(s) must be a member of AIA Chicago. Successor firms may be considered, as long as the collective body of work presented is that of a majority of the remaining principals.
Information on submissions coming soon.
View GUIDELINES.
Previous Firm of the Year Award winners.
AIA CHICAGO DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Since 1955, the Board of Directors of AIA Chicago has recognized individuals and organizations who have
given outstanding service to the Chicago architectural community as a whole, including service to the
profession, public service, and education.
This award is not necessarily presented every year. Individuals, associations, AIA Chicago members, and members of the Chicago community at large are eligible for this award. Past honorees have included architects, craftspersons, educators, authors, journalists, and organizations of various types.
Check back for submission guidelines and deadlines.
Previous Distinguished Service Award winners.
Dubin Family YOUNG ARCHITECT AWARD - AIA Chicago Foundation
AIA Chicago’s Young Architect Award was established in 1983 to recognize excellence in ability and exceptional contributions by Chicago area architects between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-nine OR licensed 10 years or fewer. In 2003, the Young Architect Award was renamed the Dubin Family Young Architect Award. Thanks to the generosity of the late M. David Dubin, FAIA, his family and friends, this award has been endowed with a cash prize. This award is administered by the AIA Chicago Foundation.
View Guidelines. Submissions open until September 15
View Demystifying the Dubin Family Young Architect Award PowerPoint.
Review examples of successful submissions: Chris-Annmarie Spencer, AIA - 2015; Vladimir Radutny, AIA - 2016; Anthony Viola, AIA - 2017; Matthew McGrane, AIA - 2018; Heidi Wang, AIA - 2020
Previous Young Architect Award winners.
CHICAGO AWARD IN ARCHITECTURE - STUDENT AWARD - AIA Chicago Foundation
The Chicago Award in Architecture is a juried competition of student projects. Recognition is given, at the jury's discretion, for First, Second, and Third Place and for Honorable Mentions. The project awarded First Place is honored with the the Benn-Johnck Award, in the amount of $500, Second Place is awarded $300, and Third Place is awarded $200.
MARTIN ROCHE TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP – AIA Chicago Foundation
Established in 1926 by architect Martin Roche, and administered by the AIA Chicago Foundation, the Martin Roche Travel Scholarship gives a student the opportunity to independently study architecture abroad.
A grant of $6000 is available to students enrolled in an NCARB accredited architecture program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Technology or the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
