Modernism in America Awards 2026
Competition Brief
The 2026 Modernism in America Awards is the 13th annual edition of the national awards programme organised by Docomomo US, the American chapter of Docomomo International, the global documentation and conservation organisation for buildings, sites, and neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement. The awards celebrate the documentation, preservation, and reuse of modern buildings, structures, and landscapes built in the United States or on US territory, and recognise building owners, design teams, advocacy and preservation organisations that have made significant efforts to retain, restore, and advocate for the aesthetic and cultural value of modern architectural heritage.
Nominations are currently open. The early nomination deadline is 7 May 2026 at 11:55 p.m. Eastern and the final nomination deadline is 11 June 2026 at 11:55 p.m. Eastern. Projects will be reviewed over the summer and notifications will be made in mid-August 2026.
Intent
The awards are the only national programme in the United States dedicated exclusively to recognising work on modern architectural heritage. They cover three distinct categories: Design, which recognises informed and creative design efforts to preserve, restore, or adapt modern buildings; Documentation, which recognises exceptional efforts to document modern resources; and Advocacy, which recognises outstanding efforts to preserve and advocate for threatened modern sites. The programme seeks to advance preservation efforts, increase appreciation for the Modern Movement period, and raise awareness of ongoing threats against modern architecture and design.
Eligibility
All projects must have been completed between 1 January 2021 and the date of submission, with an allowance for ongoing advocacy efforts. Buildings, structures, and landscapes must be located in the United States or US territory and must have originally been completed between 1940 and 1980. Projects outside these date parameters may contact awards@docomomo-us.org to discuss eligibility. Nominations must be the work of architectural design teams or preservation and advocacy organisations and persons located in the United States or its territories. All submissions must demonstrate significance if the site is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places or recognised by local landmarking laws. Preservation must be a core component of the treatment, design concept, or strategy.
Award Categories
The Design Award recognises preservation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of modern buildings and is sub-categorised as Residential, Commercial, and Civic/Institutional. Original construction materials and design intent must have been retained and/or restored; significant loss of such may cause a submission to be deemed ineligible. The Documentation Award recognises exceptional documentation efforts including inventories, surveys, historic structure reports, conservation plans, design guidelines, exhibitions, books, publications, student thesis projects, mapping projects, apps, and documentaries. Book submissions and student research projects are each considered separate subcategories judged only against other books or student projects. The Advocacy Award is presented by the Docomomo US Board of Directors and recognises outstanding preservation and advocacy efforts for threatened modern sites. Collective and collaborative advocacy by multiple partners is encouraged. Students involved in research or advocacy are encouraged to nominate in the appropriate category.
Awards Committee 2026
The 2026 Awards Committee is chaired by Meredith Arms Bzdak (architectural historian and Partner, Mills + Schnoering Architects; Associate Graduate Faculty, Rutgers University). Committee members include Belmont Freeman FAIA (founding principal, Belmont Freeman Architects, New York), Tonia Moy (Vice President and Director of Preservation, FAI; co-founder Docomomo US/Hawaii), Theodore Prudon (founding President, Docomomo US; practicing architect and preservation educator at Columbia University and Pratt Institute), and Richard W. Southwick FAIA (Partner Emeritus, Beyer Blinder Belle). The 2026 Awards Jury will be announced in the coming weeks.
Nomination Fees
| Fee Type | Deadline | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Early Nomination Fee | 7 May 2026, 11:55 p.m. ET | $125 USD |
| Regular Nomination Fee | 11 June 2026, 11:55 p.m. ET | $175 USD |
Fees can be paid online through the Docomomo US nomination form or by cheque payable to Docomomo US, PO Box 230977, New York, NY 10023. The project name must be included on the cheque.
Prizes and Rewards
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| Design Award (Residential, Commercial, Civic/Institutional) | National recognition + publication on Docomomo US website and communications + institutional endorsement from the leading US modern preservation organisation |
| Documentation Award (incl. Book and Student sub-categories) | National recognition + publication + institutional endorsement |
| Advocacy Award | Presented by Docomomo US Board of Directors + national recognition + publication |
There are no cash prizes at any level. All awards are recognition-based with institutional backing from Docomomo US. The awards carry significant professional credibility in the US preservation and architectural community given Docomomo’s established international standing.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Early nomination deadline ($125) | 7 May 2026 at 11:55 p.m. ET |
| Final nomination deadline ($175) | 11 June 2026 at 11:55 p.m. ET |
| Jury review period | Summer 2026 |
| Notifications to nominees | Mid-August 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The Modernism in America Awards is one of the most credible and institutionally grounded preservation recognition programmes in the United States. Its organiser, Docomomo US, is the American chapter of Docomomo International, which has been the primary global institution dedicated to the documentation and conservation of Modern Movement architecture since its founding in 1988. The 13-year track record of the awards, the quality of its past jury members, and the specificity of its focus on buildings completed between 1940 and 1980 give it a disciplinary rigour that distinguishes it sharply from general design awards platforms. The three-category structure covering Design, Documentation, and Advocacy is thoughtful and inclusive: it recognises that preservation is not only a design act but also an intellectual, research, and political one. The inclusion of student submissions in the Documentation category is a genuine access point for emerging professionals engaging with modern heritage. The requirement for project completion between 2021 and the submission date maintains the awards’ currency, ensuring the programme reflects current practice rather than historical achievement. The nomination fee of $125 at the early deadline is reasonable for a professional preservation award of this standing. The primary limitation is geographic: eligibility is restricted to US-based buildings and teams, making it a national rather than international programme. For practitioners, researchers, educators, and advocacy organisations working in the field of American modern architectural heritage, this is the most significant and appropriate recognition programme available nationally.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Modernism in America Awards is the leading national US recognition programme for the preservation, documentation, and advocacy of modern architectural heritage (1940-1980). Early nominations at $125 close 7 May 2026 and final nominations at $175 close 11 June 2026. Submit at docomomo-us.org/events/modernism-in-america-awards or contact awards@docomomo-us.org.
Registration Deadline
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