Design Excellence Awards

AIA Chicago’s Design Excellence Awards honor the outstanding work of AIA Chicago members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight members’ contributions in designing equitable and sustainable places and spaces. These awards are given based on project square footage: Architecture: XL, L, M, S, and XS, and Interior Architecture: L, M, and S categories.

The highest possible honor, the Honor Award, recognizes projects that exemplify excellence in architectural design on all levels and embrace the highest standards to which AIA members aspire. One Honor Award is given for each of the project categories and must be selected by a unanimous vote from the jury.

Granted to projects which display a high standard of architectural quality and design, the Citation of Merit is a project deemed unanimously or by consensus of jury members. The number of Citation of Merit awards is given at the discretion of the jury.