Foundation Welcome Panel

WAF Research Grants

An initiative to support architectural investigation through projects or programs that increase public awareness of the importance of design in the environments in which we live, work, play and learn. Submissions need to address one of the following contemporary architectural issues: diversity, resilience, wellness and/or future of architectural practice.

WAF Grant Initiative applications, with supporting materials, must be submitted by January 15. Grant awards will be announced by the WAF Board of Directors in February. Grant recipients must submit deliverables within one year of the award.

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Application Information

The Wisconsin Architects Foundation (WAF) Grant Initiative supports architectural research, inquiry and investigation through projects and programs that increase public awareness of the importance of design in the environments in which we live, work, play and learn. Persons or firms proposing ideas relevant to architectural issues – history, diversity, sustainability, resilience, wellness, practice, management, technology – and those interested in improving the built environment are invited to apply.

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Who May Apply

Applications are welcome from individual architects, architectural and industry related firms, university and technical college students, faculty and groups, nonprofit organizations, artists, art centers and educators.

The WAF Grant Initiative funds grants up to $5,000. Final ideas, outcomes and deliverables will be published online and made available by the Wisconsin Architects Foundation.

Timeline

WAF Grant Initiative applications, with supporting materials, must be submitted here by January 15.

Grant awards will be announced by the WAF Board of Directors in February. Grant recipients must submit deliverables within one year of the award.

Project Submissions

All project submissions will be completed online and include.

Project Title
Abstract
Detailed Project Budget
Summary of Proposed Outcomes
Architectural issues: Diversity, Resilience, Wellness, Sustainability, History, Practice, Management, Technology, Improving the Built Environment.
Resume(s) of Principal Researchers
Two references including contact information

Details of Funding

What is funded:

Projects that elevate public awareness of Architecture and Architects
Projects that examine the future of architectural practice
Projects that consider sustainability, resilience, wellness, ingenuity, creativity
Projects that focus on cultural, economic, ethnic or racial diversity
Projects that focus on issues of sustainability
Projects that provide new insight through an examination of architectural history
Projects that explore issues of practice, management, and technology
Projects that investigate issues related to improving the broader built environment

What is not funded:

Capital expenditures
Endowments or building programs
Purchase of public art
Travel
Website development or software purchase
Archival projects

Selection Criteria

The jury, comprised of members of the Wisconsin Architects Foundation Board of Directors, will evaluate each submission and award grants based on:

Relevance of research to the stated architectural issues
Applicability to the architectural profession and/or the broader design and building industry
Innovation of the subject matter
Quality of stated approach, methodology, rigor and deliverables
Validity of research methods

Research should focus on architectural knowledge that can be readily applied and conveyed within the profession. The research and investigation will result in a final written work, design project, research paper, video or another form of deliverable

Questions? Please contact us at AIA Wisconsin