2025 Excellence in Design Awards

Rural: Projects in cities with a population of< 50,000 and counties with < 75,000
Urban: Projects in urban cities with a population of> 50,000
 

Celebrates completed new construction that successfully responds to the needs of a program, site, context, environment, and other factors, the jury may determine positions the design as a notable architectural work. Buildings may be of any building type and located anywhere in the world. 

Recognition of a notable renovation, adaptive reuse, and/or preservation of an existing building (historically identified or otherwise). Submissions must involve additions, interventions, restorations, and/or replacements to a building exceeding the design of interiors (see Interior Design Award).

Recognition of any interior design that may include innovative uses of building components, materials, and architectural products.

Highlighting innovative or creative use of material, constructional assembly, building technology, and/or detail on a completed project of any scope or type. A detail from a project submitted for recognition in another category may also be submitted in this category if the submission highlights a specific detail.

Recognition of new construction completed for a budget under $750,000 and represents the highest level of achievement in Design Excellence.

Architectural design work that remains unbuilt to date but is scheduled to be built in the next decade is eligible. Unbuilt architectural designs of any project type, including unbuilt client-sponsored projects such as buildings, interiors, transportation infrastructure, or monuments, are eligible.

Celebrates projects that were completed > 20 years ago, but are still utilized and serving the original purpose. Old construction that successfully responds to program, site, context, environment, and other factors the jury may determine positions the design as a notable architectural work. Buildings may be of any building type and located anywhere in the world, but still meet the criteria of being built in Kansas and/or designed by an architect or firm based in Kansas.

All submissions will be submitted and judged by ALL AIA Kansas members in this category virtually from August 6-12. The top 10 will be judged by ALL AIA Kansas members virtually August 20-27.  The top 5-7 winners will be voted on in person, at the annual AIA Kansas Conference, in Wichita on September 10. Everyone who has a ticket to the Awards Dinner will get to vote for their favorite. There will be the People's Choice Winner and Runner Up. This category is meant to allow architects to recognize the excellent work of their peers and celebrate the achievements of the profession as a whole. There will be three rounds of voting; two rounds will be open to the entire membership, and the final round will be judged on the first day of the conference by those who have bought tickets to the Awards Celebration.  

Built: (for academic credit or otherwise, in a Kansas architecture program) Recognizing contributions of a student or combined group effort, this award is open to any single constructed project (design-build or otherwise), of any type, size, and scope. 

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Unbuilt: (for academic credit or otherwise, in a Kansas architecture program) Recognizing contributions of a student or combined group effort, this award is open to any single theoretical or unbuilt project of any type, size, and scope.  

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This category is meant to recognize young student designers, not companies, therefore, entries submitted under company names will not be considered.
All team members should be students or academic staff, and should be included in the submission. Duration of the project/year level of the student should be included.

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**Up to the submitter if the work should go to a professional category