Since 1956, the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) has functioned as an intercollegiate network and representational voice for architecture students. The AIAS is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to linking its student constituents to the diverse academic, social, and creative opportunities that are critical in their development as design professionals.
At the heart of all AIAS activities is a cooperative effort designed to transform today’s students into the architect and design professionals of tomorrow. This includes not only an active and involved student membership but also a close and mutually supportive role for faculty, professionals, the design community, and the corporate community who contribute to the advancement of the art and science of architecture.
Each year the AIAS honors individuals and groups for their exemplary work in areas such as leadership, collaboration, scholarship, and service. The AIAS Honor Awards were developed to publicly recognize outstanding achievements by students, educators, and practitioners who have exhibited an exemplary commitment to the education and development of architecture students.
Know someone who should apply for an honor award? Nominate them today!
Schedule
June 2023 – Application via Google Forms will open Early July 2023 – Jury is announced! September 30, 2023 – ALL materials must be submitted via Google Form October/November 2023 – Awards Jury deliberation facilitated by the Past Vice President FORUM 2023 (January 4th – 7th) – In-Person AIAS Honor Awards Ceremony
Instructions
Hit Apply
Fill out basic contact information
Select the 2023 Honor Award for which you are submitting (you can submit more than once if necessary for different awards)
Upload your PDF of all materials- max 10MB. Please ensure you are including ALL requirements for each award you are submitting to, which can be found in the 2022-2023 AIAS Honor Awards submission guidelines and below.
Hit submit
NOTE: If anyone writing a Letter of Support does not wish to share their letter with the submitting applicant to include in the PDF, they can email a PDF to pastvp@aias.org
Submissions for the Alumni Emerging Professional Honor Award are judged on exemplification of outstanding performance in areas such as (but are not limited to):
Mentorship (Heavily favored)
Continued involvement within the AIAS or allied organizations (Heavily favored)
Professional practice advancement
Advocacy for the future of the profession
Excellence in design practice
Special accomplishments, local or national awards
All supporting documents (letters of support exempted) have high graphic quality
Each submission should contain the following requirements:
Letters of Support from:
The Applicant (Written as a Cover Letter)
At least two letters of support from individuals familiar with work and accomplishments of nominee (student, colleague, faculty, employer, etc)
Supporting Materials:
Curriculum vitae or resume of nominee
Portfolio of work that conveys impact of nominee as an alumni related to the above judging criteria like pictures, drawings, renderings, research, etc.
Each submission will also require:
Headshot
Photo at an AIAS/AIA/NOMA/ACSA/Other Conference (optional).
Submissions for the Chapter Honor Award are Judged on the following criteria:
Chapter in Good Standing in 2022-2023
Outstanding accomplishments in the conception, development and delivery of creative programs for its membership, students at large, school faculty, school administration, practicing professions and the public
Exemplary involvement with campus, community and professional organizations, as well as local businesses, the design and construction industries and others
Active, consistent and involved membership throughout the year
Effective chapter executive committee, providing consistent leadership and chapter representation on issues affecting architecture at the campus, community and national AIAS levels
All supporting documents (letters of support exempted) have high graphic quality
Each submission should contain the following requirements in one pdf:
Letters of Support from:
The AIAS Chapter President
Dean, Department Chair, or equivalent
The AIAS Chapter Faculty Advisor
Local AIA Component representative (optional)
Supporting Materials:
Chapter Executive Board names, years, and titles with descriptions of duties and responsibilities.
PDF of example of board meeting agenda/minutes, copy of chapter budget, and calendar of chapter programs.
Any support materials depicting a positive effect on learning teaching culture through professional development, events, programs, and initiatives, i.e. Examples of chapter graphics and posters for events; photos and videos.
Faculty Advisor Impact Award Honor Award (Previously Educator Impact)
Submissions for the Faculty Advisor Impact Award Honor Award are judged on the following criteria:
Outstanding contributions to the education, career counseling, or mentorship of architecture students at any post-secondary institution
Exemplary support and consistent involvement in the chapter’s activities
Inspires an understanding of the importance of practicing architecture for the public interest
Facilitates and provides space for larger conversations about society, architectural education, issues facing students, or other topics
Champions a healthy Learning and Teaching Culture at the institution
An underlying alignment to the AIAS mission: to advance leadership, design, and service among architecture students
NOTE: This award should be able to be filled out be a nominating student(s) with assistance by the educator they are nominating
Each submission should contain the following requirements:
Letters of Support from:
The Educator (Written as a Cover Letter)
Current or past student(s)
AIAS Chapter Leader or Member
Dean, Department Chair, or equivalent
Additional letter from student if desired (optional)
Supporting Materials:
Curriculum vitae or resume of educator nominee
Sample of a course taught, program administered, mentorship, and/or counseling by the educator nominee with a brief summary, and any supporting material that displays the impact of the Educator (teaching evaluations, syllabi, student work, image of engagement, testimonials)*
**All nominees for Faculty Advisor Award should have been a Faculty Advisor for an active AIAS chapter in 2022-2023.
Outstanding Freedom by Design Project Honor Award
Submissions for the AIAS Outstanding Freedom by Design Project Honor Award is judged on the following criteria:
Project completion (project must be complete at the time of submission)
FBD project demonstrates the mission of the AIAS and embodies the spirit of Freedom by Design
Consistency in project design and execution
Client engagement and internal collaboration
Community engagement if applicable
Ability to teach/learn from process
Economic use of materials if applicable
Successful fundraising and/or successful management of funds
Impact and outcomes of design advocacy
All supporting documents (letters of support exempted) have high graphic quality
Each submission should contain the following requirements in one pdf:
Letters of Support from:
The FBD Director or Chapter President (Written as a Cover Letter)
Student participant in the FBD Program
Freedom by Design Program Design Mentor, Construction Mentor, Community leader or impacted client, or faculty advisor (two max)
Supporting Materials:
Freedom by Design Program leader names with titles and list of responsibilities
PDF of Freedom by Design program budget (can be a compilation of project budgets), information about fundraising efforts to execute projects, etc. (Project Binder(s) can be submitted).
Freedom by Design Project Binder that contains all of the following: project budget, information about fundraising efforts to execute project, presentation highlighting thorough process and product of the project, sketches, charrette pictures, and final project.
Each submission will also require:
Freedom By Design Team Photo
Photo(s) of the design and construction process of project(s)
(NEW!) Portfolio Honor Award (Previously Design Excellence and Student Research)
Submissions for the Portfolio Honor Award are judged on the following criteria:
The project(s) must have been completed within the 2022-2023 academic year
Clear communication of intent
Presentation graphics and composition (heavily favored)
Well-crafted and holistic portfolio
All supporting documents (letters of support exempted) have high graphic quality
Nominated work must represent a sensitivity to some of the following categories:
Use and understanding of precedence like design research
Site context (cultural, climate, historical)
Concerns and design of sustainability and public interest
User and community experience
Understanding of forms and relationship of forms
Each submission should contain the following requirements in one pdf:
Letters of Support from:
The Applicant (Written as a Cover Letter)
At most two additional letters of support from individuals familiar with work and accomplishments of nominee like a faculty member who oversaw the work of the nominee (optional)
Supporting Materials:
Project brief / studio project outline with concise description of project expectations for two projects of your choosing shown in the portfolio
Any support materials that present the project in a holistic fashion
Work may be submitted in a format as landscape or portrait and as large as 11”x16”
NOTE: Should this attachment exceed 10MB, please fill out google form AND email PDF to pastvp@aias.org
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