About the 2025 Design Awards Program
Every two years since 1968, the AIA Long Beach/South Bay Chapter has celebrated outstanding architecture through its Biennial Design Awards Program. Our Design Awards Program recognizes achievements for a broad range of architectural works that elevate the general quality of architectural practice, establish a standard of excellence against which all architects can measure performance, and inform the public of the breadth and value of architectural practice.
To emphasize the important role that the built environment can play in mitigating the effects of climate change, our chapter’s Committee on the Environment (COTE) will recognize projects that successfully integrate design excellence with environmental performance.
Design Awards will be presented on May 15, 2025, at a gala held at the Rancho Los Alamitos – tickets are now available
2025 JURY
AWARDS
The jury will review the entries and will select projects for Honor, Merit, or Citation award recognition. The jury shall have the sole authority to determine which and how many awards are justified in each category. Each entry is considered individually and is judged on the success with which it has met its individual requirements — not in competition with other entries. Jury decisions will be based solely on the materials submitted. There will be no site visits. The jury’s decisions shall be final and not subject to review. No minimum or maximum number of awards has been established. Entered projects may also be eligible for additional accolades including excellence in sustainability.
AIA MEMBER ELIGIBILITY
Projects entered:
- May be submitted by any member of the AIA LBSB Chapter that had lead responsibility for the design of the project. The project may be located anywhere in the world. Affiliate members of one year or more are also eligible.
- May be submitted by members of other AIA Chapters for projects that are within the boundaries of the AIA LBSB Chapter. (View AIA LBSB boundary map)
- Must be completed or designed after January 1, 2020.
- Entrants are encouraged to re-enter projects previously submitted if they did not win an award.
Categories:
The Design Awards Program seeks to recognize achievements for the broad range of architectural works that AIA members are engaged. In that regard, awards are open to built and unbuilt works of Architecture, Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Sustainable Design, as well as those Architectural Details that exhibit exceptional architectural thought. Projects may be submitted in one or more of the following categories:
- Single-Family Residential
- Multi-Family Residential
- Commercial
- Historic Preservation
- Interiors
- Small Projects
- Detail
- Unbuilt / Non-Commissioned (chapter members only)
- Optional COTE (view and download the 2025 updated Excel spreadsheet)
- More resources on the Common App, including the AIA CA Guide and webinar trainings
- The COTE Award is juried by Dave Intner, AIA, of Southern California Edison’s Building Electrification and Codes & Standards team
Early Bird Registration: January 13 – February 20
- $195 AIA Long Beach / South Bay Members, $295 Other AIA Members
Late Registration: February 21 – March 3 – – EXTENDED TO MARCH 10, 11:59 PM
- $295 AIA Long Beach / South Bay Members, $395 Other AIA Members
Last Day to Submit: March 7 – – EXTENDED TO MARCH 14, 11:59 pm
VIEW AND DOWNLOAD SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
SPONSOR THIS PROGRAM
Increase visibility for your organization – become a Platinum sponsor of the AIA LBSB and Design Awards 2025. Contact us to learn about the benefits.