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The annual AIA Wisconsin Design Awards competition recognizes architects, building owners, and contractors for excellence in architectural design and construction and represents the highest recognition given for excellence in architectural design by the state's professional society of architects.
All completed submissions must be received by AIA Wisconsin no later than 6:00 pm on Monday, June 30, 2025.
Awards + Gala
The Design Awards Presentation will take place at the AIA Wisconsin Design Awards Gala on Friday, October 10, 2025 at Jan Serr Studio in Milwaukee, where a display of the winning projects will be featured. Winners will also receive coverage on AIA Wisconsin’s website and social media platforms. Please plan to have at least one representative from the project team present to accept the award if chosen. The Architect, Owner, and Contractor of each winning entry will each receive an award certificate (total of 3 certificates), so all members of the project team are encouraged to attend.
Awards may be presented in the following categories:
- Honor Awards: Highest acknowledgment of overall design excellence.
- Merit Awards: Acknowledgment of outstanding achievement in a specific area(s) of design.
- Special Recognition Awards: Jurors may choose to recognize exceptional projects in the areas of:
Eligibility + Authorship
Jury
The jury is comprised of distinguished architects from outside of Wisconsin. The projects are not judged in competition with each other, but rather by measuring the architect’s performance against each project’s potential. Thus, projects of ordinary program or modest budget can receive an award based on the architect’s skill in optimizing the design opportunity. AIA Wisconsin seeks to encourage a broad range of projects and firms that highlight the great work of AIA Wisconsin members.
STEP 1: Pay Entry Fee & Receive a Concealed Identification Number
Click here to complete the preliminary entry and concealed identification information and pay the submission fee ($250).
Once fees are received, you will be assigned a seven-digit Concealed ID number to be used for all submission materials as directed below. If you are submitting more than one project, you will need to submit payment for the total # of submissions you plan to make and will receive a different Concealed ID # for each project.
STEP 2: Complete Entry Forms
Review the Submission Instructions document carefully to ensure your submission is properly prepared. Find the downloadable submission materials below. These files must be included in your submission(s); please make sure the forms are filled out in their entirety:
STEP 3: Save and Title Submission Materials Using Concealed ID Number
Save your Concealed Identification Form, Framework for Design Excellence Worksheet, One-page Project Description, Special Recognition Criteria Forms (optional), Media Release Form, and display image & photos according to the naming guidelines provided in the Submission Instructions. This allows for strict anonymity throughout the jury process.
STEP 4: Submit Your Final Entry
All completed submissions must be received by AIA Wisconsin no later than 6:00 pm on Monday, June 30, 2025.
Submit your electronic files together using the AIA Wisconsin Hightail uplink: https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/AIAW. Do not upload files separately or email files.
AIA Wisconsin will compile the submission materials for juror consideration. AIA Wisconsin will not accept responsibility for errors in submitted material. By submitting, each entrant certifies that the statements and information contained in these documents are true, accurate, and complete, and permission has been obtained from the photographer(s) to publish the submitted photographs and electronic images for publicity.
Questions?
Email AIA WI Programs Director, Mary Orella, at mary@aiaw.org.
2024 Design Award Winners
From a field of 52 project entries designed by AIA Wisconsin architects statewide, three projects were awarded the Honor Award for overall design excellence, which is the highest honor given. Additionally, six projects were given Merit Awards, recognizing exceptional work in a focused area of design, and five projects received Special Recognition awards for outstanding achievement in specific elements of design such as Brownfield Transformation, and Exterior Detailing. The award-winning project locations were not limited to Wisconsin.
A distinguished jury from outside of Wisconsin selected the winners. Members of the 2024 Design Awards jury included nationally and internationally recognized architects Margaret Cavenagh, AIA, of Studio Gang in Chicago, Paul Lewis, FAIA, of LTL Architects in New York City, and Corey Squire, AIA, of Bora Architecture & Interior in Portland, Oregon.
Each Design Award submission was evaluated using AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence, which considers the impact of social and environmental factors and the aesthetic qualities of a design.
