Calendar

PURPOSE
The 2025 Unbuilt Washington Awards Program recognizes excellence in unbuilt projects both non-commissioned and commissioned projects. This competition is conducted by AIA|DC independently of other awards programs sponsored by the national American Institute of Architects and other AIA components.

Winners of this year’s competition will be exhibited on AIA|DC website.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Washington UNBUILT design Awards program has a unique role to play in supporting a vibrant intellectual discourse within the design community in the DC metro region. This program bridges the academic and professional communities by providing a forum for recognizing the contributions of both younger and established practitioners alike. Accordingly, the objective of the Awards program is to engage and recognize the broadest possible range of research, conceptual exploration and innovation in design thinking represented in the DC Metro region.

ELIGIBILITY
The program is open to all registered architects, landscape architects, planners, interior designers, associate architects and students in the Washington metropolitan area. The individual(s) submitting a given project must be (a) member(s) of the design team responsible for the work, though not necessarily the head of the team. Projects that have won this award in previous years are not eligible for resubmission.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
The awards program is divided into two categories:

Unbuilt Non-Commissioned Projects:
Work without a client commission; e.g. design competitions, student work, hypothetical projects and research-oriented projects.

Unbuilt Commissioned Projects:
Work commissioned by a client: Planning, public space, urban design, buildings, interiors, transportation infrastructure, monuments, public art, or any other project type. There are no typological or geographical restrictions. Projects must not have begun construction by the submission deadline.

JURY
There shall be at least three jurors, which may include practicing and academic architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and members of (local or federal) commissions, boards, governing agencies, and members of the Washington building community. The jurors shall be selected and/or approved by the Executive Committee of AIA|DC. The composition of each jury is at the Chapter’s discretion and shall not be subject to review. The jury shall have the sole authority to determine whether and how many awards shall be awarded.

SCREENING COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of AIA|DC may appoint a committee to screen all entries and verify their compliance with the requirements specified herein. The Executive Committee may also appoint impartial individuals to assist the jury throughout the examination of submissions. No screening committee member or jury assistant shall participate or cast a vote during the jury proceedings. The Chapter staff shall assist in the screening of entries and may assist the jurors as needed during its deliberations.

AWARDS
The jury shall have the sole authority to determine which and how many awards are justified in each category, bearing in mind the objectives of the Mission Statement, which encourages a representative recognition of the breadth and depth of architectural design thinking in the DC Region.

Projects shall be considered on their own merits, regardless of size or scope. The jury’s decisions shall be final and not subject to review.