Design Awards Schedule:

Friday, June 5th - Notice of June 12 Registrations open
Friday, June 12th - Registration opens at 9:00 am
Friday, August 7 - first deadline for Registrations - at midnight
Friday, August 21 - Final deadline for Registrations
September 15th - Final Submission - Uploads Due
September 21 – the submissions go to the jury
September 28 – the results come back from the jury
October 23rd - Design Awards Celebration

How to Enter:

Step 1

Register for the projects you plan to submit. Pay for them. If you are entering as an AIA Member, you MUST provide your AIA Member number.

NOTE: The RIVA Prize is the only category that is open for AIA Members from any chapter in the US. The rest of the submissions are for Miami-Dade and Monroe county architects and students.

Step 2

Once you register, you will receive an email from marilyn@aiamiami.org which will contain the template, the link for your submittals and a unique code/number for each project you are submitting.

Step 3

Upload your projects. Remember to put the code for each project on every page of the submission. Use the correct unique code for the correct project. 10mb is the size limit. ONLY upload PowerPoint documents. NO PDFs or other formats are accepted.

Step 4

Buy your tickets for the 2026 Design Awards Celebration here:

General Requirements:

Submissions must be architectural projects designed by licensed architects at the time of design. Projects must be submitted by architects of record, design architect or architect in a contractual relationship with the client in the case of unbuilt design. If there is more than one architect involved in the project, permission must be obtained by both the architect of record and design architect to submit the project or design for consideration.

Projects submitted may be located anywhere in the world. Projects submitted in all categories other than Unbuilt and Urban /Landscape Design must be built and have been completed within the immediate past five calendar years.

Completion means issuance of a certificate of occupancy, whether temporary or otherwise, that allows for occupancy or use of the entire building or improvement, or an equivalent authorization issued by the governmental body having jurisdiction. In jurisdictions where no certificate of occupancy or equivalent authorization is issued, the term means substantial completion of construction, finishing, and equipping of the building or improvement according to the plans and specifications.

Entries should consider sustainable design practices that improve energy conservation, and the health and resilience of its community, and the measures of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.

Award recipients should maintain the highest ethical standards including (1) full compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations, (2) demonstrate a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion in their operations and activities, and (3) demonstrate professionalism, integrity and competence.

No unpaid labor shall have been used.

Award recipients are subject to verification.

The jury shall be made aware of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence.

Submissions may include answering the AIA's Framework for Design Excellence questions linked below.
- 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

Projects submitted in previous years that were not selected to receive an award may be updated and resubmitted.

There are no refunds for any reason.

Registration - 26 Design Awards