DESIGN AWARDS
We strongly encourage submissions that reflect a broad and inclusive definition of design excellence. As submissions are subject to varying degrees of opportunity, constraint, and budget, each entry is judged for the success with which it has met its individual requirements. Submissions must exhibit design achievement that demonstrates exemplary skill and creativity in the resolution and integration of formal, functional, and technical requirements, including ecological stewardship and social responsibility. Submissions should also reflect a strong sense of place, history, or purpose as an integral part of its demonstrated design excellence.
AWARD LEVELS
BUFFALO/WNY ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Jurors will select a single entry from among all submissions, non-dependent of category, to receive this unique recognition as the best submission of that year’s Architecture Awards. This project will be a focus of the Chapters awards and design marketing for the following year and if desired by the submitting architecture firm, will be submitted for AIANYS award consideration.
DESIGN AWARD
Jurors will select up to three submissions from among all the entries, non-dependent of category to be recognized at a level of achievement that warrants special recognition.
MERIT AWARD
Jurors will select a single project in each category for recognition of distinguished achievement from all submissions within that category. Merit awards will be awarded to submission categories that do not have a recipient of either a Design Award or the Buffalo/WNY Architecture Award.
SMALL PROJECT AWARD
Jurors will select a single project, non-dependent of category to be recognized for not only its design excellence but also scale, or more preciously lack thereof. What defines a small project will be at the discretion of the jury based on the scale of projects submitted.
COMMUNITY AWARD
Selected by a jury from the Buffalo Architecture Center, this award will recognize a single project non-dependent of category, which represents both good design and has had a positive impact of the vitality of the Buffalo/WNY region. Design Award or the Buffalo/WNY Architecture Award winners will not be given consideration in the category.
STUDENT PROJECT AWARD
The Student Project Award is open to an unbuilt project designed by a student within the last two semesters, which includes Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. The project cannot be affiliated with an architecture firm. Projects must successfully demonstrate design solutions that exhibit innovation, skill, and sensitivity in the resolution of functional and technical requirements.
Please note that Awards are recognized at the discretion of that year’s Jury.
Note: Entries for the Student Project category are limited to students attending an architecture program at a university or college. The project must have been completed during the junior, senior, or master years of study.
The applicant must be a resident of the AIA Buffalo/WNY Chapter area while attending a university or college outside the area or be a non-resident but attending a university or college in the chapter area. The AIA Buffalo/WNY chapter area includes the counties of Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Orleans, and Wyoming.
COTE AWARD
AIA Buffalo/WNY Committee on the Environment (COTE) is accepting submissions for the inaugural Buffalo/WNY COTE Design Award. Recognizing that sustainability is essential for good design, the award celebrates outstanding innovative projects integrating exemplary performance with design excellence, emphasizing sustainable, resilient, and inclusive design. Built projects of any design category and scale can be submitted for consideration for the COTE Award. Unbuilt projects are not eligible for the COTE Award.
A separate, technical jury will evaluate projects that elect to be considered for the COTE Design Award, by including the AIA Common App in their submission. Technical jury members have been invited to participate based on their depth of expertise and experience in architectural design and sustainability. A minimum of two (2) jury members and a Technical Advisor will review the submissions and make award recommendations to AIA Buffalo/WNY COTE. This jury reserves the right not to recommend any projects for an award in a given year.