AIA Ohio Design Awards | Program Guidelines

Entry Dates: April 1 – July 1


The design awards program seeks to focus attention on quality design, high performance design and AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. The intent is to promote AIA’s initiatives and to encourage Ohio architects to think more holistically about their design. The jury will evaluate all projects based on the aesthetic, functional, contextual, and social characteristics of the design.

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Design Submission Requirements

I. Firm

The submitting firm must be the Design Firm.

ii. Location

The design Firm must have an operating office in the state of Ohio; and the project must have been produced in an Ohio office. (project/job offices are not eligible)

iii. Submissions

The submitting designer, or at least one principal from their firm must, be a member of AIA Ohio.

iv. Entries may be in one of 6 categories

Category 1: Newly Completed Buildings
Category 2: Additions, Renovations and Restorations
Category 3: Interior Architecture
Category 4: Small Projects (Less than 5,000 sf and under $1.5M)
Category 5: Unbuilt Projects (Not built and not intended to be realized)
Category 6: 25 Year Award

In addition to the above six categories, AIA Ohio shall have two supplemental design awards available for considerations. These include:

  • The AIA Ohio Impact Award
  • The AIA Ohio People’s Choice Award

  • Entries must be completed since January 1, 2016, (dates will change annually), regardless of project size, geographical location, budget, style or building type.

v. AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence

The jury shall evaluate the submissions in Categories 1-5 based on their successful response to one or more of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. These Include:

Design for Integration
Design for Equitable Communities
Design for Ecosystems
Design for Water
Design for Economy
Design for Energy
Design for Well-being
Design for Resources
Design for Change
Design for Discovery

The jury should interpret the Framework for Design Excellence broadly to apply to the five categories of projects. (This does not include entries for the 25 Year Award.)

Submission Requirements

  • Sufficient drawings including a site plan, floor plan(s), section(s), etc. explaining the solution.
  • Exterior images of the project sufficient to completely describe the work accomplished, except for Interior Submissions.
  • For current projects, a minimum of two images shall depict the major exposed sides of the building along with the immediate environs.
  • For projects involving exterior alterations to an existing building, similar “before” and “after” images are strongly suggested.

1. Image Requirements for Categories

Newly Completed Buildings


Provide up to 15 images, including images or drawings or images of site plan(s), floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of two exterior and two interior images.

 

Additions, Renovations and Restorations


Provide up to 15 images, including images or drawings or images of site plan(s), floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of two exterior and two interior images.

Interior Architecture


Provide up to 15 images, including images or drawings of floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of four interior images.

Small Projects


Provide up to 15 images, including drawings or images of site plan(s), floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of two exterior and two interior images.

Unbuilt Projects


Unbuilt projects require up to 15 images that adequately represent the project.

2. Description Page

Each submission must include a concise description of the project.

3. Highlight Image

In addition to the category images, all submitting projects are required to upload an image that will be used on the AIA Ohio website, if the submission receives an award. The image should be 300 dpi. 

Submission Format

    • All entries shall be submitted electronically via the AIA Ohio online awards submittal portal.
    • Project images shall be submitted in a jpeg, png, or PDF format.
    • Project authorship will remain concealed throughout the jury process.

Revealing authorship on any photos, plans or narrative shall disqualify the entry.

Selection

The jury may select as many Design Award recipients as it deems appropriate each year.

Cost

$250/per submission

Winning Submissions

Winning entries will be announced on September 15 at VASO Rooftop in Dublin, at the AIA Ohio Conference.

Supplemental Design Awards

AIA OHIO IMPACT AWARD

The AIA Ohio Impact Award is aimed at recognizing a project that exemplifies the power of design to create a better world. Impact Awards can be given for initiatives, research, products, or projects specifically designed to positively impact the social, environmental, and economic fabric of communities. Any project submitted for an AIA Ohio Design Award is eligible for consideration by the jury for this recognition, including projects recognized with awards in any of the other categories.

Selection
The jury may select projects at its discretion when it determines a project meets the criteria established herein.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Aimed at increasing firm/project/client visibility, voting for this award will be conducted on the AIA Ohio website and shared on social media. All projects submitted for AIA Ohio Design Awards will be entered into this award. Voting for this award will open on the due date of submissions and will run for a period of not less than four weeks. The People’s Choice Awards will be recognized based on the number of votes received. A minimum of the top three projects, ranked by votes cast, shall be recognized.

AIA OHIO DESIGN AWARDS

2024 Program Guidelines
Submission Dates: April1 – July 1


The AIA Ohio Design Awards Program promotes those projects that have distinguished themselves, through attention to high quality design, performance, and commitment to AIA’s 10 principles of livable communities.  These awards recognize some of the best of Ohio Architecture.

Design SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

I. FIRM

The submitting firm must be the Design Firm.

II. LOCATION

The design Firm must have an operating office in the state of Ohio; and the project must have been produced in an Ohio office. (project/job offices are not eligible)

III. SUBMISSIONS

The submitting designer, or at least one principal from their firm must, be a member of AIA Ohio.

IV. ENTRIES MAY BE IN ONE OF 6 CATEGORIES

Submissions shall be made in one of six categories:

    • Category 1: Newly Completed Buildings
    • Category 2: Additions, Renovations and Restorations
    • Category 3: Interior Architecture
    • Category 4: Small Projects (Less than 5,000 sf and under $1.5M)
    • Category 5: Unbuilt Projects (Not built and not intended to be realized)
    • Category 6: 25 Year Award

Entries must be completed since January 1, 2016, (dates will change annually), regardless of project size, geographical location, budget, style or building type.

    In addition to the above six categories, AIA Ohio shall have two supplemental design awards available for considerations. These include:

      • The AIA Ohio Impact Award
      • The AIA Ohio People’s Choice Award

    V. AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence

    The jury shall evaluate the submissions in Categories 1-5 based on their successful response to one or more of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. These Include:

      • Design for Integration
      • Design for Equitable Communities
      • Design for Ecosystems
      • Design for Water
      • Design for Economy
      • Design for Energy
      • Design for Well-being
      • Design for Resources
      • Design for Change
      • Design for Discovery

    The jury should interpret the Framework for Design Excellence broadly to apply to the five categories of projects. (This does not include entries for the 25 Year Award.)

      SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

        • Sufficient drawings including a site plan, floor plan(s), section(s), etc. explaining the solution.
        • Exterior images of the project sufficient to completely describe the work accomplished, except for Interior Submissions.
        • For current projects, a minimum of two images shall depict the major exposed sides of the building along with the immediate environs.
        • For projects involving exterior alterations to an existing building, similar “before” and “after” images are strongly suggested.

      I. IMAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR CATEGORIES

      Category 1
      NEWLY COMPLETED BUILDINGS
      Provide up to 15 images, including images or drawings or images of site plan(s), floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of two exterior and two interior images.
      Category 2
      Additions, Renovations and Restorations
      Provide up to 15 images, including images or drawings or images of site plan(s), floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of two exterior and two interior images.
      Category 3
      Interior Architecture
      Provide up to 15 images, including images or drawings of floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of four interior images.
      Category 4
      Small Projects
      Provide up to 15 images, including drawings or images of site plan(s), floor plan(s), section(s), and a minimum of two exterior and two interior images.

      Category 5
      Unbuilt Projects
      Unbuilt projects require up to 15 images that adequately represent the project.

       


      II. DESCRIPTION PAGE

      Each submission must include a concise description of the project.

      III. HIGHLIGHT IMAGE

      In addition to the category images, all submitting projects are required to upload an image that will be used on the AIA Ohio website, if the submission receives an award. This image should be 300 dpi.

      SUBMISSION FORMAT

      • All entries shall be submitted electronically via the AIA Ohio online awards submittal portal.
      • Project images shall be submitted in a jpg, png, or PDF format.
      • Project authorship will remain concealed throughout the jury process.

      Revealing authorship on any photos, plans or narrative shall disqualify the entry.

      Cost

      $250/per submission

      WINNING SUBMISSIONS

      Winning entries will be announced on September 15 at VASO Rooftop in Dublin, at the AIA Ohio Conference.

      AIA OHIO IMPACT AWARD

      The AIA Ohio Impact Award is aimed at recognizing a project that exemplifies the power of design to create a better world. Impact Awards can be given for initiatives, research, products, or projects specifically designed to positively impact the social, environmental, and economic fabric of communities. Any project submitted for an AIA Ohio Design Award is eligible for consideration by the jury for this recognition, including projects recognized with awards in any of the other categories.

      Selection
      The jury may select projects at its discretion when it determines a project meets the criteria established herein.

      PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

      Aimed at increasing firm/project/client visibility, voting for this award will be conducted on the AIA Ohio website and shared on social media. All projects submitted for AIA Ohio Design Awards will be entered into this award. Voting for this award will open on the due date of submissions and will run for a period of not less than four weeks. The People’s Choice Awards will be recognized based on the number of votes received. A minimum of the top three projects, ranked by votes cast, shall be recognized.