Submissions to the AIA CPA 2023 Excellence in Design Awards are now OPEN.

Submit Online – The submission period for 2023 has now closed 

Submission Requirements

You are invited to enter the 2023 Central Pennsylvania Excellence in Design Awards Program. Registered Architects and Intern/Associate Architect members of the section are highly encouraged to submit their best built and unbuilt work for review by a jury of peer architects. Eligible members must be current members in good standing of the Central Pennsylvania section. Eligible work includes architecture, interior architecture, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, renovation, and restoration projects as well as planning and urban design efforts. Built and unbuilt projects completed after January 2018 which have not previously received an award from the AIA Central Pennsylvania section are eligible. Awards may be given by the jury recognizing Honor, Merit and Citation levels of achievement.

Winners will be announced and all work celebrated at the Excellence in Design Awards event, to be held on Thursday September 14, 2023.  Event details are on our conference, expo and design awards page.  

The cost per entry is $100. The section would like to encourage new firms and firms who have not submitted projects in the past five years to submit one (1) project free of charge.

FIRM ENTRY FORM – The Submission period for 2023 has now closed 

The 2023 Design Award Submission Deadline is Wednesday, June 28th at 5:00 pm

PROJECT CREDIT FORM

Complete the Project Credit Form for each submission and submit with your electronic submission. All credits in publications will be based on this information. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the entrant.

Please mark on the Project Credit Form if you would like your project to be considered for the Good Design is Good Business Award. To be considered for this award, your project shall utilize Good Design to achieve important objectives for an organization. This award is intended to recognize projects in which design excellence elevated the resulting benefit of a project to the business, institution, or community, which it serves. Past recipients of similar awards at the national level include a library, preschool, container-shipping facility, bridges, universities, healthcare facilities, and corporate and retail operations. *Limit one project for consideration per firm. 

Please specify if you would like your project to be included in the running for our Members’ Choice Award*. Limit one project for consideration per firm.

*The AIA Central PA Membership will be solicited for the digital vote in late July early August. Members will be advised to vote for a project that was not submitted by their respective firms as they will not be counted.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submission Components

Each project submission should include the following:

• Firm Entry Form (one per company)
• Project Credit Form (one per project) – Each project credit form shall include principal consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and photographers.
• Project Upload File (more information below)
• Project Image(s) Upload (more information below) – Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the Design Awards & Expo day, ranked in preference (in addition to submission)

Project Upload File

• PDF format bundled for upload to the Project Upload File(s) field must include First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction, Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description,  Photographs, and Drawings as specified in the criteria below
• No more than 20 pages/slides (including the two title slides)
• Minimize the file size to the best of your ability.
• This presentation is what the jury will see; it must be completely anonymous (firm name and/or logo cannot appear).
• Reference to previous awards, project publications or company name will automatically disqualify the project from consideration.

First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction

• Project Name
• Project Completion Date
• Construction Costs (if appropriate)

Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description

• Key information such as program requirements, size, and site issues.
• Brief explanation of project background and design concept.
• Brief descriptions of advancements in design made by the project such as technical, societal and environmental.
• This slide should be one page.

Photographs to be included in the Project Upload File

Photographs may be black-and-white or color. Do not submit magazine reprints. Multiple images per page are permissible. Photography credits and captions need to be included for each photograph (on the Project Credit Form).

Include the following photos (as relevant to the project submitted):

• One image showing each exposed side of the building or environment.
• One additional image showing the context of each exposed side of the building (may be omitted if the project’s relationship to its context is defined in other images).
• For a group of buildings, one image of the project sufficient to illustrate the complete project, including its relationship to its environs.
• For projects involving exterior alterations one image of each altered (exposed) side together with one image of the same side before alteration (unless evidence is submitted on the unavailability of the latter)
• One image showing context of interior.
• For Historic Preservation projects, include before and after photos.
• For interior projects, submit at least five images (four interior photos and one exterior photo of the building in which the interior is located).

Drawings to be included in the Project Upload File

Provide a site plan, at small scale, showing the project and its context. Also provide a floor plan or plans and one or more sections sufficient to explain the solution. For interior projects provide floor plan(s) with furniture, fixture and lighting information and any other drawings necessary to explain fully the project’s use.

Feature Photos to be submitted in the Project Image(s) Upload

Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the pre-roll of the Virtual Design Awards, ranked in preference (in addition to submission). If the project is selected for an award, the firm must provide all images used in the submission (300 dpi resolution). These images are not seen by the jury, but will be used in the awards presentation and/or publication of the awards.

EVENT PRESENTATION

Liability

AIA Central 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 Central Pennsylvania retains the right to reproduce any of the submission materials in its publications, educational programs, and website.

Please check all information for correct spelling and accuracy since it will be used for publication. By making a submission, the entrant agrees that the information contained in this form is correct and complete, and that the entrant will hold harmless AIA Central Pennsylvania for any and all damage arising out of the use of the information contained herein. Any errors or omissions are the complete responsibility of the entrant.

The entrant further certifies that permission has been obtained from the owner, developer, and photographer of the project to publish photographs, images, drawings, and other information included in the submission (and releases and authorizes AIA Central Pennsylvania to use all such materials).

JUDGING CRITERIA

Each entry in the program is judged for the success with which the project has met its individual requirements. Entries are weighed individually, not in competition with each other. While all the submissions are judged together in one category, the submission requirements differ in order that the project can be shown in a manner that best describes it.

The judging criteria for Architecture/Interior submissions are as follow:

• Citations will be given for projects illustrating a high level of design conceptualization and implementation
• Merit Awards may be given for projects illustrating a higher level of design achievement.
• Honor Awards may be given for projects that exemplify the highest design quality at the Jury’s discretion.
• The Jury will consist of three or more architects outside of the Central Pennsylvania region.

Submit Online – The submission period for 2023 has now closed

Susan T. Rodriguez, FAIA made a presentation titled “Overlay: Current Work” on November 3rd for the 2022 AIA Central PA Fall Lecture. Susan T Rodriguez Architecture is a decorated 5 year old firm based in New York City – she was a founding Partner and Design Principal at Ennead Architects (formerly Polshek Partnership & she noted the profound impact Jim Polshek had on her both in terms of empowering her but also informing her design sensibilities). 

Susie presented 14 projects from her diverse portfolio that ranged from federal courthouses to school buildings to museums to housing to recreational centers with the aspiration of creating extraordinary places. She presented the projects through the lens of her rich historical analytical process in an effort to improve the communities and places where she works by focusing on who the buildings are for.

The work was compelling without fail which is impressive particularly given the range of scales and building types. The historic images, design sketches, conceptual diagrams, material collages, and “x-ray” sections thoroughly explained the building designs. 

I took her presentation as not only an overview of her body of work and what informs it but also a call to action. Susie spoke of the architect’s responsibility to not only realize our clients’ visions and aspirations but also sustain and improve our communities and respect the natural environment.  View the lecture here. 

Event Photos:

Thank You to all the Sponsors – 16 sponsors made the lecture possible – and all the Attendees – we had another strong turnout. Special thanks to Armstrong for being such tremendous hosts

Lancaster, PA: The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Pennsylvania recently named Tippetts/Weaver Architects of Lancaster as the recipient of the 2022 Architecture Firm Award.  This is the first time since its inception in 2013 that the prestigious award has been given to a firm with a female founder. Wendy H. Tippetts is one of the two founding partners of Tippetts/Weaver Architects, and for over thirty years has led the design direction and culture of the firm.

“T/Wa creates beautiful architecture for everyone, crafted with deep thought and care, constructed with materials choreographed in logical but poetic ways, that moves us in its power to reimagine the building stock of Lancaster, PA and the surrounding communities,” wrote Chris Dawson, AIA LEED AP BD+C, one of eight architects from across the state to serve on this year’s nomination committee.

The Architecture Firm (of the Year) Award recognizes a Pennsylvania firm whose passion and practice have produced notable architecture for at least a decade. Deserving firms have demonstrated excellence in design and leadership through any combination of the following criteria: the breadth and/or depth of their portfolio, a healthy firm culture, influence on the practice of architecture, and exemplary outcomes for clients and/or society.

Tippetts/Weaver Architects was chosen from a pool of four nominees submitted to the committee by the nearly 3,000 members of AIA Pennsylvania. Tippetts/Weaver is not only the first firm from Central Pennsylvania to have been chosen for the award, but also the smallest.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized among our peers across the state for our design excellence, breadth of experience, and community contributions,” said Wendy Tippetts. “Since founding the firm in 1987 with Gary Weaver, we have sought to create timeless architectural solutions that satisfy and delight. Our success comes from collaboration, from being good listeners, and from a commitment to make Central Pennsylvania a great place to live.”

Working in the small cities, towns and rural places of Central Pennsylvania, T/Wa mixes a modern aesthetic with historical context to create timeless spaces that lift the spirit and make people feel good about where they live, work, and play. Their projects include the Fulton Theatre expansion and Actor’s Housing, the Lancaster Science Factory, the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Lancaster Conservancy in Lancaster; Historic Fairmount affordable housing, Keystone Kidspace, and St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in York; Newville Town Center mixed use housing/commercial in Newville; Bucknell University Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Lewisburg; and numerous residences (including new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse) across the area. In their 35-year history, T/Wa has been recognized with more than fifty awards, including design awards from the Central Pennsylvania AIA Chapter and from 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, multiple Annual Awards from Preservation Pennsylvania for historic and adaptive reuse projects, and many awards from the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, Historic Trust of Cumberland County, and Historic York, among others.

The firm of 10, including 6 registered architects, strives to make a positive and transformative impact. Their work is informed by sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, and they have pursued projects to address issues of inequity, including affordable housing, public access to health care, and minority-based community enterprises. In the last five years, $300k in-kind services have been donated to nonprofits. As individuals, the team participates in volunteer activities and events, assists local nonprofits, and serves on boards and committees. In addition, T/Wa members are active in the Central Pennsylvania AIA Chapter, including two team members who have served as president of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter Board of Directors.

ABOUT AIA PENNSYLVANIA  The Pennsylvania chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), AIA Pennsylvania, represents nearly 3,000 members across the Commonwealth working at the forefront of a nearly $17 billion construction industry. AIA Pennsylvania advocates for the value of architecture and policies that promote economic prosperity and the health, safety, and welfare of the public. As a membership organization, the chapter provides architecture professionals with the statewide community, advocacy, and knowledge to affect positive outcomes through the power of design.

The Pennsylvania chapter of the American Institute of Architects is proud to announce the 2022 Architectural Excellence Awards, first revealed on November 17, 2022, with the premiere of the annual broadcast and return of the accompanying viewing parties hosted across the state. Nearly 75 honors were presented to firms and individuals across Pennsylvania for excellence in design, contributions to the profession of architecture, and commitment to the quality of the built environment. The broadcast premiere showcased honorees in five programs, including the Design Awards, Special Awards, Committee on the Environment (COTE) Awards, and Student Awards. Twenty-nine (29) architecture firms were honored with the 2022 EPiC Firm Recognition for their support and development of emerging professionals.

Twelve (12) Architectural Excellence Special Awards were presented, including the prestigious Medal of Distinction honoring Susan Maxman, FAIA, a pioneering force for women and sustainability in architecture. Tippetts/Weaver Architects was honored with the 2022 Architecture Firm Award. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based firm of 10 full-time staff is the smallest to receive the award in its 10-year history. The firm is also the first recipient of the award to lay claim to a female founder – Wendy Tippetts, AIA. 

Read all about the 2022 AIA PA Architectural Excellence Awards here.

Photos from the AIA Central PA Viewing Party Hosted at Tippetts Weaver Architects:

 

Submissions to the 2022 Excellence in Design Awards are now OPEN.

Submission Requirements

You are invited to enter the 2022 Central Pennsylvania Excellence in Design Awards Program. Registered Architects and Intern/Associate Architect members of the section are highly encouraged to submit their best built and unbuilt work for review by a jury of peer architects. Eligible members must be current members in good standing of the Central Pennsylvania section. Eligible work includes architecture, interior architecture, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, renovation, and restoration projects as well as planning and urban design efforts. Built and unbuilt projects completed after January 2017 which have not previously received an award from the AIA Central Pennsylvania section are eligible. Awards may be given by the jury recognizing Honor, Merit and Citation levels of achievement.

Winners will be announced and all work celebrated at the Excellence in Design Awards event, to be held on Wednesday September 28, 2022.  More event details to follow. 

The cost per entry is $100. The section would like to encourage new firms and firms who have not submitted projects in the past five years to submit one (1) project free of charge.

FIRM ENTRY FORM

The Firm Entry Form is now closed must be completed and returned with the digital submissions. Please label the file as the project name. 

The 2022 Design Award Submission Deadline HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO Friday, August 19th at 5:00 pm

PROJECT CREDIT FORM

Complete the Project Credit Form for each submission and submit with your electronic submission. All credits in publications will be based on this information. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the entrant.

Please mark on the Project Credit Form if you would like your project to be considered for the Good Design is Good Business Award. To be considered for this award, your project shall utilize Good Design to achieve important objectives for an organization. This award is intended to recognize projects in which design excellence elevated the resulting benefit of a project to the business, institution, or community, which it serves. Past recipients of similar awards at the national level include a library, preschool, container-shipping facility, bridges, universities, healthcare facilities, and corporate and retail operations. *Limit one project for consideration per firm. 

Please specify if you would like your project to be included in the running for our Members’ Choice Award*. Limit one project for consideration per firm.

*The AIA Central PA Membership will be solicited for the digital vote in September. Members will be advised to vote for a project that was not submitted by their respective firms as they will not be counted.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submission Components

Each project submission should include the following:

• Firm Entry Form (one per company)
• Project Credit Form (one per project) – Each project credit form shall include principal consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and photographers.
• Project Upload File (more information below)
• Project Image(s) Upload (more information below) – Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the Design Awards & Expo day, ranked in preference (in addition to submission)

Project Upload File

• PDF format bundled for upload to the Project Upload File(s) field must include First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction, Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description,  Photographs, and Drawings as specified in the criteria below
• No more than 20 pages/slides (including the two title slides)
• Minimize the file size to the best of your ability.
• This presentation is what the jury will see; it must be completely anonymous (firm name and/or logo cannot appear).
• Reference to previous awards, project publications or company name will automatically disqualify the project from consideration.

First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction

• Project Name
• Project Completion Date
• Construction Costs (if appropriate)

Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description

• Key information such as program requirements, size, and site issues.
• Brief explanation of project background and design concept.
• Brief descriptions of advancements in design made by the project such as technical, societal and environmental.
• This slide should be one page.

Photographs to be included in the Project Upload File

Photographs may be black-and-white or color. Do not submit magazine reprints. Multiple images per page are permissible. Photography credits and captions need to be included for each photograph (on the Project Credit Form).

Include the following photos (as relevant to the project submitted):

• One image showing each exposed side of the building or environment.
• One additional image showing the context of each exposed side of the building (may be omitted if the project’s relationship to its context is defined in other images).
• For a group of buildings, one image of the project sufficient to illustrate the complete project, including its relationship to its environs.
• For projects involving exterior alterations one image of each altered (exposed) side together with one image of the same side before alteration (unless evidence is submitted on the unavailability of the latter)
• One image showing context of interior.
• For Historic Preservation projects, include before and after photos.
• For interior projects, submit at least five images (four interior photos and one exterior photo of the building in which the interior is located).

Drawings to be included in the Project Upload File

Provide a site plan, at small scale, showing the project and its context. Also provide a floor plan or plans and one or more sections sufficient to explain the solution. For interior projects provide floor plan(s) with furniture, fixture and lighting information and any other drawings necessary to explain fully the project’s use.

Feature Photos to be submitted in the Project Image(s) Upload

Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the pre-roll of the Virtual Design Awards, ranked in preference (in addition to submission). If the project is selected for an award, the firm must provide all images used in the submission (300 dpi resolution). These images are not seen by the jury, but will be used in the awards presentation and/or publication of the awards.

EVENT PRESENTATION

Liability

AIA Central 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 Central Pennsylvania retains the right to reproduce any of the submission materials in its publications, educational programs, and website.

Please check all information for correct spelling and accuracy since it will be used for publication. By making a submission, the entrant agrees that the information contained in this form is correct and complete, and that the entrant will hold harmless AIA Central Pennsylvania for any and all damage arising out of the use of the information contained herein. Any errors or omissions are the complete responsibility of the entrant.

The entrant further certifies that permission has been obtained from the owner, developer, and photographer of the project to publish photographs, images, drawings, and other information included in the submission (and releases and authorizes AIA Central Pennsylvania to use all such materials).

JUDGING CRITERIA

Each entry in the program is judged for the success with which the project has met its individual requirements. Entries are weighed individually, not in competition with each other. While all the submissions are judged together in one category, the submission requirements differ in order that the project can be shown in a manner that best describes it.

The judging criteria for Architecture/Interior submissions are as follow:

• Citations will be given for projects illustrating a high level of design conceptualization and implementation
• Merit Awards may be given for projects illustrating a higher level of design achievement.
• Honor Awards may be given for projects that exemplify the highest design quality at the Jury’s discretion.
• The Jury will consist of three or more architects outside of the Central Pennsylvania region.

Submit Online

AIA Central PA has been selected for the fifth straight year as a recipient of a Scholarship Program Grant Award from AIA National, this year in the amount of $1,500!  The recipients of the 2021 AIA National Scholarship Grant Award are Nina Markle (Marywood University) and Hazel Pfarr (Thaddeus Stevens College).

Since 2005, AIA National has been awarding the scholarship grant to local and state components with established scholarship programs.  A huge thank you to the founding members of the Central PA Architects Foundation Scholarship program which has made the receipt of this grant possible, AIA National for supporting this grant program and the members and friends of AIA Central PA who continue to invest in the future of the architectural profession.

To contribute to the Central PA Architects Foundation Scholarship click here https://aiacentralpa.org/emerging-professionals/scholarship/

Submissions to the 2021 Excellence in Design Awards are now OPEN.

Submission Requirements

You are invited to enter the 2021 Central Pennsylvania Excellence in Design Awards Program. Registered Architects and Intern/Associate Architect members of the section are highly encouraged to submit their best built and unbuilt work for review by a jury of peer architects. Eligible members must be current members in good standing of the Central Pennsylvania section. Eligible work includes architecture, interior architecture, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, renovation, and restoration projects as well as planning and urban design efforts. Built and unbuilt projects completed after January 2016 which have not previously received an award from the AIA Central Pennsylvania section are eligible. Awards may be given by the jury recognizing Honor, Merit and Citation levels of achievement.

Winners will be announced and all work celebrated at the Excellence in Design Awards event, to be held on Wednesday September 29, 2021. More event details to follow. 

The cost per entry is $100. The section would like to encourage new firms and firms who have not submitted projects in the past five years to submit one (1) project free of charge.

FIRM ENTRY FORM

The Firm Entry Form must be completed and returned with the digital submissions. Please label the file as the project name. 

The 2021 Design Award Submission Deadline has been extended to Monday August 16th at 5:00 pm

PROJECT CREDIT FORM

Complete the Project Credit Form for each submission and submit with your electronic submission. All credits in publications will be based on this information. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the entrant.

Please mark on the Project Credit Form if you would like your project to be considered for the Good Design is Good Business Award. To be considered for this award, your project shall utilize Good Design to achieve important objectives for an organization. This award is intended to recognize projects in which design excellence elevated the resulting benefit of a project to the business, institution, or community, which it serves. Past recipients of similar awards at the national level include a library, preschool, container-shipping facility, bridges, universities, healthcare facilities, and corporate and retail operations.

Please specify if you would like your project to be included in the running for our Members’ Choice Award*. Limit one project for consideration per firm.

*The AIA Central PA Membership will be solicited for the digital vote in September. Members will be advised to vote for a project that was not submitted by their respective firms as they will not be counted.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submission Components

Each project submission should include the following:

• Firm Entry Form (one per company)
• Project Credit Form (one per project) – Each project credit form shall include principal consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and photographers.
• Project Upload File (more information below)
• Project Image(s) Upload (more information below) – Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the Design Awards & Expo day, ranked in preference (in addition to submission)

Project Upload File

• PDF format bundled for upload to the Project Upload File(s) field must include First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction, Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description,  Photographs, and Drawings as specified in the criteria below
• No more than 20 pages/slides (including the two title slides)
• Minimize the file size to the best of your ability.
• This presentation is what the jury will see; it must be completely anonymous (firm name and/or logo cannot appear).
• Reference to previous awards, project publications or company name will automatically disqualify the project from consideration.

First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction

• Project Name
• Project Completion Date
• Construction Costs (if appropriate)

Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description

• Key information such as program requirements, size, and site issues.
• Brief explanation of project background and design concept.
• Brief descriptions of advancements in design made by the project such as technical, societal and environmental.
• This slide should be one page.

Photographs to be included in the Project Upload File

Photographs may be black-and-white or color. Do not submit magazine reprints. Multiple images per page are permissible. Photography credits and captions need to be included for each photograph (on the Project Credit Form).

Include the following photos (as relevant to the project submitted):

• One image showing each exposed side of the building or environment.
• One additional image showing the context of each exposed side of the building (may be omitted if the project’s relationship to its context is defined in other images).
• For a group of buildings, one image of the project sufficient to illustrate the complete project, including its relationship to its environs.
• For projects involving exterior alterations one image of each altered (exposed) side together with one image of the same side before alteration (unless evidence is submitted on the unavailability of the latter)
• One image showing context of interior.
• For Historic Preservation projects, include before and after photos.
• For interior projects, submit at least five images (four interior photos and one exterior photo of the building in which the interior is located).

Drawings to be included in the Project Upload File

Provide a site plan, at small scale, showing the project and its context. Also provide a floor plan or plans and one or more sections sufficient to explain the solution. For interior projects provide floor plan(s) with furniture, fixture and lighting information and any other drawings necessary to explain fully the project’s use.

Feature Photos to be submitted in the Project Image(s) Upload

Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the pre-roll of the Virtual Design Awards, ranked in preference (in addition to submission). If the project is selected for an award, the firm must provide all images used in the submission (300 dpi resolution). These images are not seen by the jury, but will be used in the awards presentation and/or publication of the awards.

EVENT PRESENTATION

Liability

AIA Central 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 Central Pennsylvania retains the right to reproduce any of the submission materials in its publications, educational programs, and website.

Please check all information for correct spelling and accuracy since it will be used for publication. By making a submission, the entrant agrees that the information contained in this form is correct and complete, and that the entrant will hold harmless AIA Central Pennsylvania for any and all damage arising out of the use of the information contained herein. Any errors or omissions are the complete responsibility of the entrant.

The entrant further certifies that permission has been obtained from the owner, developer, and photographer of the project to publish photographs, images, drawings, and other information included in the submission (and releases and authorizes AIA Central Pennsylvania to use all such materials).

JUDGING CRITERIA

Each entry in the program is judged for the success with which the project has met its individual requirements. Entries are weighed individually, not in competition with each other. While all the submissions are judged together in one category, the submission requirements differ in order that the project can be shown in a manner that best describes it.

The judging criteria for Architecture/Interior submissions are as follow:

• Citations will be given for projects illustrating a high level of design conceptualization and implementation
• Merit Awards may be given for projects illustrating a higher level of design achievement.
• Honor Awards may be given for projects that exemplify the highest design quality at the Jury’s discretion.
• The Jury will consist of three or more architects outside of the Central Pennsylvania region.

Submit Online

Distinguished Service Award

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

CLICK HERE FOR NOMINATION  FORM

The AIA Central Pennsylvania Board requests nominations for the 2020 Distinguished Service Award.  This award is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves through their exceptional commitment and service to the AIA Central Pennsylvania Chapter and the profession of architecture.

Given the exceptional nature of this award, it is only awarded on warranted occasions, but may not be awarded more than one time each calendar year.

All nominations will be reviewed by the Awards Committee and they will make a recipient recommendation to the AIA Central Pennsylvania Board of Directors.  Recipients must be approved by a 2/3rds vote of the sitting Board members.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to receive the Distinguished Service Award nominees must:

1. Maintain membership in the AIA Central Pennsylvania Chapter
2. Display exceptional service to the chapter and the profession of architecture over the duration of their career.

Nomination Procedure

Candidates must be nominated by a registered AIA member.

Include the following:

• A one page letter with a description of the nominee and why the award is merited
• One reference letter from another AIA member
• Five signatures of AIA Central Pennsylvania Chapter Members in support of the nomination (see second page)
• Additional supporting background material as appropriate

SCHEDULE

Submission Deadline           September 17, 2020

Awards                                   November 5, 2020

Please submit all information online at www.aiacentralpa.org.

Liability

AIA Central 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 Central Pennsylvania retains the right to reproduce any of the submission materials in its publications, educational programs, and website.

Submissions to the 2020 Excellence in Design Awards are now CLOSED.

Submission Requirements

You are invited to enter the 2020 Central Pennsylvania Excellence in Design Awards Program. Registered Architects and Intern/Associate Architect members of the chapter are highly encouraged to submit their best built and unbuilt work for review by a jury of peer architects. Eligible members must be current members in good standing of the Central Pennsylvania chapter. Eligible work includes architecture, interior architecture, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, renovation, and restoration projects as well as planning and urban design efforts. Built and unbuilt projects completed after January 2015 which have not previously received an award from the AIA Central Pennsylvania Chapter are eligible. Awards may be given by the jury recognizing Honor, Merit and Citation levels of achievement.

Winners will be announced and all work celebrated at the Virtual Design Awards event, to be held on the evening of Thursday, November 5th. More event details to follow. 

The cost per entry is $100. The chapter would like to encourage new firms and firms who have not submitted projects in the past five years to submit one (1) project free of charge.

FIRM ENTRY FORM

The Firm Entry Form must be completed and returned with the digital submissions. All submissions must be received no later than 5:00 pm EST, September 17, 2020 to be eligible for judging. Please label the file as the project name. 

PROJECT CREDIT FORM

Complete the Project Credit Form for each submission and submit with your electronic submission. All credits in publications will be based on this information. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the entrant.

Please mark on the Project Credit Form if you would like your project to be considered for the Good Design is Good Business Award. To be considered for this award, your project shall utilize Good Design to achieve important objectives for an organization. This award is intended to recognize projects in which design excellence elevated the resulting benefit of a project to the business, institution, or community, which it serves. Past recipients of similar awards at the national level include a library, preschool, container-shipping facility, bridges, universities, healthcare facilities, and corporate and retail operations.

Please specify if you would like your project to be included in the running for our Members’ Choice Award*. Limit one project for consideration per firm.

*The AIA Central PA Membership will be solicited for the digital vote in September. Members will be advised to vote for a project that was not submitted by their respective firms as they will not be counted.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submission Components

Each project submission should include the following:

• Firm Entry Form (one per company)
• Project Credit Form (one per project) – Each project credit form shall include principal consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and photographers.
• Project Upload File (more information below)
• Project Image(s) Upload (more information below) – Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the Design Awards & Expo day, ranked in preference (in addition to submission)

Project Upload File

• PDF format bundled for upload to the Project Upload File(s) field must include First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction, Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description,  Photographs, and Drawings as specified in the criteria below
• No more than 20 pages/slides (including the two title slides)
• Minimize the file size to the best of your ability.
• This presentation is what the jury will see; it must be completely anonymous (firm name and/or logo cannot appear).
• Reference to previous awards, project publications or company name will automatically disqualify the project from consideration.

First Title Page/Slide: Project Introduction

• Project Name
• Project Completion Date
• Construction Costs (if appropriate)

Second Title Page/Slide: Project Description

• Key information such as program requirements, size, and site issues.
• Brief explanation of project background and design concept.
• Brief descriptions of advancements in design made by the project such as technical, societal and environmental.
• This slide should be one page.

Photographs to be included in the Project Upload File

Photographs may be black-and-white or color. Do not submit magazine reprints. Multiple images per page are permissible. Photography credits and captions need to be included for each photograph (on the Project Credit Form).

Include the following photos (as relevant to the project submitted):

• One image showing each exposed side of the building or environment.
• One additional image showing the context of each exposed side of the building (may be omitted if the project’s relationship to its context is defined in other images).
• For a group of buildings, one image of the project sufficient to illustrate the complete project, including its relationship to its environs.
• For projects involving exterior alterations one image of each altered (exposed) side together with one image of the same side before alteration (unless evidence is submitted on the unavailability of the latter)
• One image showing context of interior.
• For Historic Preservation projects, include before and after photos.
• For interior projects, submit at least five images (four interior photos and one exterior photo of the building in which the interior is located).

Drawings to be included in the Project Upload File

Provide a site plan, at small scale, showing the project and its context. Also provide a floor plan or plans and one or more sections sufficient to explain the solution. For interior projects provide floor plan(s) with furniture, fixture and lighting information and any other drawings necessary to explain fully the project’s use.

Feature Photos to be submitted in the Project Image(s) Upload

Submit (4) full resolution jpeg images to be included in the rolling slideshow shown throughout the pre-roll of the Virtual Design Awards, ranked in preference (in addition to submission). If the project is selected for an award, the firm must provide all images used in the submission (300 dpi resolution). These images are not seen by the jury, but will be used in the awards presentation and/or publication of the awards.

EVENT PRESENTATION

Liability

AIA Central 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 Central Pennsylvania retains the right to reproduce any of the submission materials in its publications, educational programs, and website.

Please check all information for correct spelling and accuracy since it will be used for publication. By making a submission, the entrant agrees that the information contained in this form is correct and complete, and that the entrant will hold harmless AIA Central Pennsylvania for any and all damage arising out of the use of the information contained herein. Any errors or omissions are the complete responsibility of the entrant.

The entrant further certifies that permission has been obtained from the owner, developer, and photographer of the project to publish photographs, images, drawings, and other information included in the submission (and releases and authorizes AIA Central Pennsylvania to use all such materials).

JUDGING CRITERIA

Each entry in the program is judged for the success with which the project has met its individual requirements. Entries are weighed individually, not in competition with each other. While all the submissions are judged together in one category, the submission requirements differ in order that the project can be shown in a manner that best describes it.

The judging criteria for Architecture/Interior submissions are as follow:

• Citations will be given for projects illustrating a high level of design conceptualization and implementation
• Merit Awards may be given for projects illustrating a higher level of design achievement.
• Honor Awards may be given for projects that exemplify the highest design quality at the Jury’s discretion.
• The Jury will consist of three or more architects outside of the Central Pennsylvania region.

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