AIA East Tennessee Design Award Winners
What are the Design Awards?
To recognize excellence in architecture, AIA East Tennessee conducts an annual juried Design Awards Program. This program seeks to honor built and unbuilt works of distinction designed by AIA members in East Tennessee and to serve as a catalyst for local participation in the AIA Tennessee Awards Program. The program also brings public attention to outstanding examples of architecture, cultivating an ongoing public interest in architectural excellence. This year’s program winners will be announced and celebrated at the 2026 Design Awards Gala on October 1st at Jackson Terminal, displayed on the website, and in the membership newsletter. This competition is open to all members of AIA East Tennessee.
2026 Design Awards Jury
Kim Yao, FAIA, will chair the 2026 AIA East Tennessee Design Awards. Kim will be joined this year by Hilary Sample, FAIA, Arthi Krishnamoorthy, AIA, and Mark Gardner, AIA
We look forward to the thoughtful discernment, depth of experience, and regionally informed perspectives this distinguished jury will bring to the 2026 Design Awards review of our Chapter’s work.
2026 AIA East Tennessee Design Awards Jury Coordinator
Andrew Newman, AIA
– 2026 Jury Coordinator
How to Enter
Just like last year, our submission template is in a 16×9 format, in partnership with AIA Tennessee. The electronic format facilitates a submission in which all images support the program statement. Each visual should have a purpose as it relates to the larger idea. The photos should contain some compelling information to make the statement readily understood from a quick scan. Be sure to label plans clearly, indicating a north arrow. Within each square, you can layer images and plans or place images side-by-side. Keep in mind the impact the image will make once projected on a large screen.
Submission Templates: (You must use one of these templates to submit your project for the 2026 AIA East TN Design Awards.)
Dates and Deadlines
1. Submit the Submission Fee Form at the bottom of this page by July 24th at 11:59 PM.
2. Once all Fee Forms have been received and the July 24th deadline has passed, you will receive a project number that you will use on all project slides. Expect this the week of the 27th.
3. Once you have received your project number, visit the Design Awards Submission Portal and submit your project. Multiple entries from one firm are assigned random code numbers to ensure fairness.
4. All electronic submission materials must be received by August 7th at 5 PM. Entries not following the submission guidelines outlined below will not be accepted.
4. The jury will view your submission during the week of September 7th.
Eligibility
Any architectural project completed since 2021 produced by, or in collaboration with, an AIA East Tennessee Chapter member is eligible for submission. Projects may have been executed anywhere in the United States. Firms are encouraged to submit previously submitted non-winning projects and those that have won awards in other programs. The Design Awards Program is open to architectural projects of all types, including unbuilt work. An entry may consist of one building, a related group of buildings forming a single project, or an interior design project. “Building” includes any new architectonic composition and the remodeling, rehabilitation, and/or preservation of existing structures. Unbuilt work prepared for academic purposes may not be submitted, unless you are a student submitting for the Student Award.
Awards
Awards will be designated by a jury of architects whose work and reputations have been nationally established.
Each project will be judged according to its own merit and how well it resolves the problem(s) addressed. Projects should also demonstrate the AIA national commitment to sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity as detailed in the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. Projects will not be judged in competition but by measuring the architect’s performance against each project’s potential. Design Awards can be given in three degrees: Honor, Merit, and Citation. Honor Awards, the top honor, will be granted to built projects for overall design excellence. Merit Awards will be granted to built projects worthy of recognition because of their design quality. Citation Awards will be granted at the discretion of the jury.
The COTE Award
Highlighting the importance of sustainable design excellence, the Jury will consider selection of a project to receive the 2026 AIA East TN Committee on the Environment Award, recognizing innovative projects integrating exemplary performance with compelling design. This award is not a category; rather, it will be given to any existing submissions that the Jury feels meets the criteria for the award.
The Community Impact Award
The Jury will also consider projects of community impact for the new Community Impact Award. Similar to the COTE Award listed above, this award is not a category; rather, it will be given to any existing submissions that the Jury feels meets the criteria for the award. Projects can impact community in many ways, from improvement to the housing stock, neighborhood rejuvenation, and providing services that weren’t present prior, as just some examples. Further, the context of community is project specific and the submitting firm shall provide definition of that context through their Community Impact Summary. Sustainability, community engagement, inclusivity, and site sensitivity are just some of the principles to consider for submitting firms. When submitting the Fee Form, make sure to check the box for consideration for this award for your individual submissions. The Community Impact Summary of 500 words or less (explaining the project’s impact on the community per the evaluation criteria) will be part of the Project Submission Form that goes live mid-Summer.
The Student Project Award
The Student Project Award recognizes outstanding academic design work by architecture students and recent graduates within the AIA East Tennessee region. Eligible submissions must be completed by either a current student enrolled in an accredited architecture program or a recent graduate within the AIA East Tennessee chapter area (“recent” meaning this calendar year). The competition is open to architectural projects of all classifications, scales, and typologies, including academic, speculative, research-based, and built work. Project location is not restricted. Submissions will be evaluated on the overall quality of the design solution, clarity of concept, innovation, technical resolution, and responsiveness to program, context, sustainability, and human experience. The jury will also consider the strength of the presentation materials and the applicant’s ability to clearly communicate design intent through drawings, imagery, models, and written narrative.
Classifications
For clarity, please designate the general classification of the submitted project from the following list (descriptions below):
- New Construction
- Renovation/Restoration
- Residential
- Architectural Interior Design
- Emerging Professionals
- Temporary/Exhibition/Visionary (formerly “Unbuilt”)
When multiple classifications can describe a project, the entrant must make the most appropriate choice. Jurors are not obligated to provide awards for each classification.
New Construction: Non-residential, permanent projects that demonstrate design achievement in architecture regardless of budget, style, or type and of any gross square footage.
Renovation/Restoration: Projects dealing with masterful renovation, preservation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, adaptive-reuse and restoration.
Residential: Projects of single-family, multi-family, and mixed-use residential design.
Architectural Interior Design: Projects showcasing spectacular interior spaces that demonstrate design achievement, including a sense of place and purpose, ecology and environmental sustainability, and history.
Emerging Professionals: To be eligible for this classification, project entries must be led by an Emerging Professional. This classification intends to encourage participation and acknowledge the contributions of our members who have completed their academic studies up to the point of licensure or up to 10 years after completion of their academic studies. Project entries may be permanent or nonpermanent/nonbuilt projects. This classification offers a discounted entry fee.
Temporary/Exhibition/Visionary (formerly Unbuilt): Projects not yet or never to be constructed, as well as architectural exhibits or temporary structures should be submitted to this category. This includes projects on the boards, conceptual/theoretical in nature, and competition entries. If later constructed, projects entered in this classification may be submitted for future consideration by the Design Awards Program even if they have previously won an award in this classification.
Emerging Professionals and T.E.V. projects will only be eligible for Merit Awards.
Submission Guidelines
Submittal guidelines are detailed completely in the Submittal Instructions above, but the following are required for integration into the PowerPoint template:
PROJECT INFORMATION: Include program statement, program summary, area and cost per square foot, construction cost, completion date, project code number and classification.
PLANS AND DRAWINGS: Include site plan, floor plan(s), or details describing special features, construction systems, “before” views, etc.
PHOTOGRAPHY/IMAGES: Include exterior views showing major elevations, interior views (one or more), other views or details describing special features, nighttime images, construction systems, “before” views, etc. It is the responsibility of the entrant to obtain all clearances for use.
2026 Design Awards Submission Fee
Please indicate what type of project you are submitting below. A separate entry form must be filled out for each entry. A separate code number will be assigned to each entry. Please identify all submittal materials with this number. Multiple entries from one firm are assigned random code numbers to ensure fairness. Submission fees must be paid by July 24th so that a project # can be assigned to you prior to creating your project presentation.
People’s Choice Award
Every project submitted for the 2026 Design Awards will automatically be entered into the annual People’s Choice Award. Voting for that award will be live here from September 1st through the 30th.
