Award Categories

The AIAOC Design Awards celebrates exceptional, innovative solutions to the architectural challenges facing Orange County and our built environment – regardless of building type, size, or budget.  Please submit your work based on the category groupings below.  These "categories" are meant as a way to assist the jurors in reviewing entries with other projects of similar type.  However, there are no specific awards for a category, nor are there a minimum or maximum number or level of awards given in each category.

• Commercial
• Commercial interiors
• Commercial unbuilt
• Residential Custom
• Residential Custom unbuilt
• Inspire 
• C.O.T.E/Building Decarbonization 

Entrants should keep the following in mind as it relates to the "categories" and the judging criteria:

• Each entry is judged and awarded on its own merit, based solely on the narrative descriptions and images submitted.  Entries are not judged against one another in competition for an award.  
• Jurors have the freedom to award as many or as few projects as they wish within each "category" (including no awards if they feel no project deserves recognition).
• Jurors have the freedom to determine the level of recognition for each award.  
• Jurors may also choose to move an entry from one category to another if they deem it appropriate, or to select a specific part of a project for recognition with an award. 
• Jurors review entries blind, meaning no firm names or logos are included in the submission. 
• Jurors consider how the project complies with The AIA Framework for Design Excellence and can award based on one of the Frameworks ‘Principles’.
• The Design Awards Committee does not participate in jury deliberations.

Residential Category – Separate Jury

Residential Custom

 All residential entries related to custom homes and additions –

 Built and unbuilt submissions are welcome and will be reviewed separately for award consideration.

Residential Development

All residential related to mass housing, including single-family, affordable, special needs, and master-planned developments, homes under 2,500 sq. ft.

All residential related to mass housing, including single-family, affordable, special needs, and master-planned developments, homes over  2,500 sq. ft.

You will be prompted to select your category as you submit your submission criteria.

Built and unbuilt submissions are welcome and will be reviewed separately for award consideration.

Multifamily/Mixed-Use Development

All low density attached product including duplexes, townhomes, multifamily and affordable without structured parking.                                                                                                                                                                                   
All high density attached product including podiums, wraps and high rise with structured parking.

You will be prompted to select your category as you submit your submission criteria.

Built and unbuilt submissions are welcome and will be reviewed separately for award consideration.

Commercial Category (all non-residential) – Separate Jury

Commercial 

All commercial entries related to office, educational, industrial, institutional, healthcare, retail, ecclesiastic, etc. –

Built and unbuilt submissions are welcome and will be reviewed separately for award consideration.

Commercial Interiors

All commercial entries related to office, industrial, institutional, healthcare, retail, ecclesiastic, etc. –

Built and unbuilt submissions are welcome and will be reviewed separately for award consideration.

INSPIRE Award

An award for ideas of tomorrow, the Inspire category is focused on innovative solutions to the challenges facing the built environment. Previous award winners include a creative vision for the library of the future, a mobile housing concept that paired a trailer park with a mass transit hub, and a revamp the camp. Actual projects, built or unbuilt will not be considered for an Inspire Award. Those projects shall be submitted under the categories noted above.

Solutions of all shapes and scales will be considered.  Submit your vision for tomorrow.  Students, and Emerging Professionals (associates and those individuals licensed up to 10-years) are highly encouraged to participate.

C.O.T.E/Building Decarbonization Award in Partnership with SCE

Sustainability and resiliency have been measured for years within the AIAOC Design Awards program. With the urgency of climate action needed to sustain our communities, AIAOC is now using the Common App developed by National AIA as part of the Framework for Design Excellence to measure and record the metrics needed to submit for a COTE award.  Applying for a COTE/Building Decarbonization award is not required as part of your submission.  It is an option at no additional cost if you feel your project merits consideration for a COTE/Building Decarbonization award.

To learn more about the Framework for Design Excellence click here

To learn more about the Common App click here 

To learn how to complete the common app and submit for the Design Awards program click here.

To access the Common App click here

Thank you to our COTE/Building Decarbonization award partner Southern California Edison.

Important Note: The COTE/Building Carbonization award is provided as a partnership with Southern California Edison. For this reason, the energy (operational carbon) and materials (embodied carbon) sections will be weighted particularly high in the evaluations.  Applicants should pay special attention to ensuring a cohesive narrative on those areas, with metrics to support their justifications.

Committee on the Environment (COTE) Program Partner

Southern California Edison