AIASF Design Awards 2026
Competition Brief
The 2026 AIASF Design Awards are held by the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter and are aimed at bringing to light the transformative achievements in the fields of architecture, interior design, and unbuilt work in the Bay Area. The programme shows off the projects which have raised the standards of the design,, and the projects which have been the most responsible in environmental terms, and the most philanthropic too. It is not just the members of the AIA that can enter, but also non-members provided their projects are in the area specified.
Intent
The awards want to focus their spotlight on those architectural works that influence the lifestyle of the community, create new ideas, and elevate the quality of the environment being created through good design practices.
Purpose
The primary goal here is to award design excellence in all categories such as built and unbuilt, and at the same time to challenge the architects and designers for the sustainability, the human experience, and the social impact issues.
Requirements
- Eligibility is extended to architects and designers who have their projects within San Francisco, Marin Counties, or within a 30-mile radius of San Francisco.
- Works completed within five years of the final submission deadline are allowed in the built category; the unbuilt category will be recent projects that are conceptually strong.
- Submissions should be in English, and materials should be made in such a way as to not identify the submitting firms so as to enable a fair evaluation.
- The work of the firms whose partners are jury members or organizers is usually not eligible.
Jury
An expert jury panel with architecture and design skills has been invited to review the awards. The names of the jury members for the 2026 program are typically disclosed by the organizers around the time of the jury discussions; the intention behind the panel is to introduce various professional viewpoints into the evaluation process. (Note: the official jury names are not made public at the time this article is published.)
Fees Table
| Submission Phase | AIASF Member | General | Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Submission Deadline (Feb 13) | $230 | $420 | $10 |
| Final Submission Deadline (Mar 6) | $285 | $475 | $40 |
| Fees are non‑refundable and apply per entry submitted. |
Rewards Table
| Award Category | Recognition |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Citation, Merit, or Honor recognition |
| Interior Architecture | Citation, Merit, or Honor recognition |
| Unbuilt Design | Citation, Merit, or Honor recognition |
| Special Recognitions (optional) | Acknowledgements for historic preservation, social responsibility, technology, or urban design focus |
Winners are recognised at the awards ceremony and gala, with awarded work often featured in exhibitions and design publications.
Dates Table
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Early Submission Deadline | 11 February 2026 |
| Final Submission Deadline | 4 March 2026 |
| Jury Deliberations & Review | March 2026 (month) |
| Design Awards Ceremony & Gala | Spring 2026 (date TBA) |
Deadlines are fixed and submission materials must be complete by each deadline.
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects organizes the 2026 AIASF Design Awards, and the jury’s limited transparency is a consequence of the fact that the names of jurors are not publically disclosed. The contest is a professional one and is limited to built, interior, and unbuilt works in the San Francisco Bay Area. Awards may include citations or honors which correspond to submission requirements, but in general they offer limited direct financial gain, thus making the participation basically for the purposes of portfolio enhancement and professional visibility rather than actual project implementation. The jury is anticipated to be comprised of experienced professionals, thus adding to the credibility of the process, but the lack of published criteria for evaluation is a drawback as it obscures the participants’ understanding of the priorities in the assessment.
Critical Conclusion
The 2026 AIASF Design Awards are still emphasizing design excellence in the Bay Area’s architectural context. The competition has constructed its categories in such a way that they encompass built, interior, and unbuilt works, thus acknowledging the entire range of contributions to the discipline. The requirement of geographic eligibility does confine participation which can be a factor resulting in lack of international representation but at the same time strengthens the relevance of local design. The optional focus areas for special recognition not only invite but also challenge participants to think deeply about and be part of the solution to contemporary issues such as social responsibility and sustainability. For now, the lack of a published jury list poses a challenge for participants in terms of predicting the evaluators’ viewpoints, but the intention of the organizers to bring together a varied panel is evident. All in all, the awards serve as a means to showcase both the quality of design and the impact on the community while also facilitating professional dialogue within the region.
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