Architectural Excellence Awards
The AIA Pennsylvania Architectural Excellence Awards program is part of the annual Architects Day, Tuesday, April 3, 2012. During the week of Architects Day, entries will be exhibited through the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, serving as a fitting backdrop to our legislative discussions.
Project Eligibility
Awards can be given for a project in any geographic location if the project's Architect of Record is a member of AIA Pennsylvania and the project was completed within the last five years.
Award Types
Silver Medals may be granted, at the jury’s discretion to the project that distinguishes itself from the rest of the submissions and may be given in any category.
Honor Awards may be given at the jury’s discretion for projects that exemplify the highest design quality in any category.
Citation of Merit Awards may be given to reward a project that either lies outside of the other categories or bears an exceptional aspect or detail that the jury feels represents excellence which deserves specific honor.
Award Categories
Architecture: built projects including new buildings of all types including additions and alterations to existing buildings.
Interior Architecture: large or small in scope and may involve new construction, renovation, or preservation/restoration.
Historic Preservation: projects including historic restoration, historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse.
Regional and Urban Design: urban design projects, planning programs, civic improvements, campus plans, regional plans, environmental programs, or redevelopment projects.
Special Initiatives: planning, research, conceptual, unbuilt projects, policy development and implementation and community initiatives. The project must have been completed within the last five years.
Associate: recognizes the contributions and creativity of AIA Pennsylvania Associate Members. Work submitted may include projects that the member has had significant participation in at the firm where the associate is affiliated or an individual effort at the conceptual level that is recognized for its inventiveness and/or originality. The project must have been completed within the last five years.
Deadlines
Electronic Submissions, including the Payment Form and the Project Credit Form(s), are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012. Submissions will be made online (not CD). In the subject line, please use the project name. If you have any problems, please contact Rebekah Waddell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Presentation Boards (optional) are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 23, 2012. Boards may be delivered (and picked up) to (at) AIA Pennsylvania, AIA Philadelphia and AIA Pittsburgh.
Electronic Submission Requirements
The submission requirements for all categories are the same. This year, there will be electronic submissions instead of the traditional binders. Each firm must complete an Payment Form, including the payment for the submissions ($135 per project), as well as a Project Credit Form.
Presentation Boards
Please note that board submissions are optional (except for winners). The electronic submission will be used for judging. The boards will be used for display at the Capitol Building.
Each board shall be presented on a 40” x 40” x ½” with finished edges (no frames). Grommets (such as required by AIA Philadelphia) are encouraged. Each board may be comprised of drawings, photos, prints, and other information to describe the project. Firm identification should be included on the board.
AIA Pennsylvania and the State of Pennsylvania assume no liability for original drawings and other submission materials or loss or damage to any part of the submission. AIA Pennsylvania retains the right to reproduce any of the submission materials in its publications, educational programs, and website.
