Honorary Fellowship

Below is high-level information about the program criteria to help you determine if you are a good fit for the Honorary Fellowship. For full criteria and guidelines, please refer to the submission guide in the Resources tab.

Eligibility

“An architect of esteemed character and distinguished achievements who is not entitled to practice architecture in any state of the United States, is not a resident of the United States, and does not primarily practice architecture within the domain of the Institute, may be admitted to Honorary Fellowship.”
—AIA Bylaws, section 2.51.

Honorary Fellowship is open to architects:

• Not licensed to practice architecture in any U.S. state.
• Do not primarily live or practice in the U.S.

Nomination

Any AIA member may nominate qualified individuals for Honorary Fellowship. Your nominator may also serve as your sponsor, if eligible.

2027

Submissions will open in June, 2026. 

Submission guide & forms 

The 2027 AIA Honorary Fellowship Application PDF contains the full criteria and guidelines for the program. 

Nomination signature form

The DQ checklist includes potential criteria that can result in disqualification. Use it to cross-check your materials before you hit the submit button.

Examples of successful applications

Each year jurors and staff identify exemplary submissions to guide you in preparing your own materials. Ultimately, your submission should be unique to you, but it can be helpful to see visual examples of how previous candidates have told their stories. 

To request a copy of a submission not listed here, you can email our archivist. While the criteria are not identical, it can be helpful to review best examples of Fellowship submissions as well.

Fellowship Objects

The Objects of Nomination can be thought of as categories of achievement. Candidates must apply under one of these categories to organize their submission. Each Object has specific criteria and requirements associated with it, which the Jury will use to evaluate each submission. The Objects are identified in the AIA Rules of the Board (see: Section 2.5).

Candidates should select the Object and one of that Object’s related Sub-Objects, that best highlight how their achievements have benefited and impacted the profession beyond their own firm, community, or region. It is important to select the Object that aligns best with the candidate’s achievements for a successful submission. 

Objects are the reference frames through which the candidate’s achievements are reviewed, and candidates may need to consider multiple relevant Objects. If the candidate is having difficulty deciding amongst different Objects, it is recommended they weigh the options with their Sponsor or another trusted advisor. Selection of a chosen Object does not preclude the candidate from including career achievements that may be better aligned with other Objects. However, those achievements should be presented, where relevant, for how they support the candidate’s themes in the selected Object. 

Note: Candidates must select one of their chosen object’s related sub-objects and cannot mix and match.

• Object One: To promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession. 
  Sub-Objects: Design | Urban Planning & Design | Preservation

  Fellowship in this Object is granted to architects who have produced an extensive body of distinguished work that has been broadly recognized for its design excellence by their peers, the media, and/or through publications that have had a significant effect on the trajectory of architectural design. Work should exhibit excellence through a holistic approach that integrates creativity, functionality, sustainability, human experience, context sensitivity, and cultural relevance to create meaningful and impactful built environments that enrich the lives of people and communities. Works submitted may be of any size, for any client, of any scope, and reflecting any type of architectural design service. This may be accomplished through individual or collaborative effort with the applicant playing a significant role in the design. Demonstrating application of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and resulting impacts should be part of the submission. 

  Design may include design of a building or project. 

  Urban Design and Planning may include work related to a city, district, or campus. 

  Preservation may include design related to the restoration, conservation, and/or the rehabilitation of a culturally significant work (this differs from the Sub-object of Technical Advancement in Preservation of Object 2). 

• Object Two: To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of practice.
  Sub-Objects: Practice management | Practice Technical Advancement

  Fellowship in this Object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions to the profession through their work and how it has broadly impacted/is impacting others’ practice of architecture beyond their organization. Demonstrating integration of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and resulting impacts should be part of the submission.

  Practice Management may include firm leadership, management, administration, or project management if the candidate can demonstrate their impact on other firms’ practices, preferably with a broad ripple effect.  

  Practice Technical Advancement may include widely sharing specific building type innovations and best practices such as Education, Healthcare, etc., and/or technical expertise such as building performance, envelope design, etc. (for example, practice technical advancement of preservation projects might be based on the architect’s strong commitment to historical research and implementation of unique preservation techniques, coupled with their strong focus on the actual construction implementation to enhance our physical heritage). 

• Object Three: To coordinate the building industry, and the profession of architecture.
  Sub-Objects: Led the Institute | Led a Related Organization

  Fellowship in this Object is granted to architects who have actively, efficiently, and cooperatively led the Institute or a related professional organization over a sustained period of time and have gained widespread recognition for the results of their work. Architects applying in this Object should include information to show how they:

  Elevated the role of the profession and the Institute (or related organization) in the eyes of the community. 

  Enhanced the visibility of the Institute (or related organization). 

  Directly impacted members’ engagement with the Institute (or related organization), that through their actions members are more invested/engaged with the Institute (or related organization) and its mission; make note if the value of the Institute (or related organization) to members has been improved, and how. 

  Created or enhanced initiatives that empower members to be more active in the Institute (or related organization) and/or their community; how members have been affected by these initiatives. Show if these initiatives have been replicated or have inspired others to create new initiatives in their regions, and how initiatives sustain themselves once candidate is no longer involved. 

  Show impact and influence beyond their region and geographic location, i.e., your ripple effect on the profession or society. 

• Object Four: To ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment.
  Sub-Objects: Public service | Government | Industry Organizations

  Fellowship in this Object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions in public service, government, or industry organizations by providing transformative leadership in architecture, planning, and design of an organization’s unique built environment. Architects applying in this Object will have clearly raised the standards of professional practice within the organizations they are part of, by leading positive change that advances the mission, impact, visibility, and effectiveness of organizations. Significant improvements can include such elements as conservation, beautification, and expansion of buildings, landscape, infrastructure, land-use regulation, transportation infrastructure, removal or transformation of blighted areas. Demonstrating integration of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence should be part of the submission. 

  Public Service may include providing leadership as an architect within the public service sector, including areas such as transportation infrastructure, energy and environmental industry, public libraries, public art, and public institutions.

  Government may include providing leadership as an architect within the military, regional, national, or international government service areas such as embassies, government-funded programs such as the Peace Corps, or the Army Corps of Engineers. 

  Industry Organizations may include providing leadership as an architect within areas such as healthcare, education, higher education, community development, and cultural institutions or systems. 

• Object Five: To make the profession of ever-increasing service to society.
  Sub-Objects: Alternative Career | Volunteer Service 

  Fellowship in this Object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions to society that have benefited and impacted the profession beyond their own practice, community, or region through one of the following: 

  Alternative Careermay include a career related to architecture that illustrates outstanding achievements that support society and the architectural profession. 

  Volunteer Service may include extensive volunteer work—either related to architecture or with organizations not directly connected to the built environment—that transcends customary architectural practice and demonstrates wide-reaching impact as a national model. 

• Object Six: To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education and training.
  Sub-Objects: Education | Research | Literature

  Fellowship in this Object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions to one of the following:

  Work in Education may include teaching, academic research, administration, or writing, and should have a lasting impact, be widely recognized, and provide meaningful contributions to academic thought and scholarship, including a commitment to intellectual curiosity, rigor, integrity, and the pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of society. 

  Work in Research may include building codes and standards, specifications, new material applications, or inventions. Research should include work that has advanced the profession, informed design practice, or has addressed pressing global issues related to sustainability, urbanization, health, technology, and social justice. 

  Work in Literature may include writings that have inspired critical thinking, fostered innovation, and contributed to the ongoing dialogue about the role of architecture in shaping the world we inhabit.

• Demonstrating Impact: The Ripple Effect
• Candidates for Honorary Fellowship in the AIA are required to submit an application that includes documentation of work that demonstrates the "ripple effect" they have had on the profession. This term is essentially shorthand for the significant impact candidate's work has made on the field of architecture and on society, extending beyond their daily practice or their immediate geographic area. For example, ripple effect should be demonstrated by public speaking, contributions to national and regional publications, mentoring, teaching, service to the profession, broad geographic influence, or legacy through others.
• AIA Values
• Throughout the submission, candidates are encouraged to highlight any aspects of their work as an architect or life experience that has reflected contributions to or influence of areas of special interest to AIA, its members, and the architecture profession. These include, but are not limited to, the Public Policies and Position Statements of the AIA. Contributions or influences might include such areas as diversity, sustainability, or the mentoring of emerging professionals, to the degree the candidate has had the opportunity to address them, or as these topics may enhance the presentation.
• AIA Framework for Design Excellence
• While Fellowship submissions are not required to fit comprehensively within the Framework principles, candidates are strongly encouraged to consider their submission in this context. For additional information visit the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. 

Submissions

For more information on opening and deadline dates, please see AIA Awards FAQ.

Meet the AIA Honorary Fellows 2026—recognized for their exceptional contributions on an international level.

The following individuals have been recognized as Honorary AIA Fellows for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society on an international level.

Fernanda Canales, Hon. FAIA
Mexico City, Mexico
Fernanda Canales Arquitectura
Object One

Minsuk Cho, Hon. FAIA
Seoul, South Korea 
MASS STUDIES
Object One

Alex Ely, Hon. FAIA
London, England
Mae
Object One

Frida Escobedo, Hon. FAIA
Mexico City, Mexico
FRIDA ESCOBEDO STUDIO
Object One

Lina Ghotmeh, Hon. FAIA
Paris, France
Lina Ghotmeh - Architecture
Object One

Rossana Ju-Shan Hu, Hon. FAIA
Shanghai, China
Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
Object One

Yansong Ma, Hon. FAIA
Beijing, China
MAD
Object One

Dorte Mandrup, Hon. FAIA
Copenhagen, Denmark
Dorte Mandrup A/S
Object One

Carlo Ratti, Hon. FAIA
Turin, Italy 
CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
Object Six

Dan Stubbergaard, Hon. FAIA
Frederiksberg, Denmark
Cobe
Object One

Takaharu Tezuka, Hon. FAIA
Setagaya, Japan
Tezuka Architects
Object One 

Visit the AIA College of Fellows directory to see all members elevated. 

For demographic information on Fellows and other membership categories, please refer to the AIA Membership Demographics Report. 

• Submissions open: June 24, 2026
• Submission deadline: October 1, 2026 at 5pm ET
• Notification to candidates: Early-February 2027
• Public announcement: Early- February 2027
•  

Fee: $450; You will not be asked to pay until your submission is complete.

Contacting the Jury

To protect the integrity of the awards process, active candidates are prohibited from contacting members of the Jury during the submission process. Communication with any of the above, from the time of submittal to completion of the jury process, by the candidate or anyone acting on their behalf is cause for immediate disqualification.  

Recognition for this program typically includes the following elements, but may be subject to change. Elevated candidates will receive additional information about this cycle's recognition benefits with their selection notification.

• •    Promotional recognition in AIA communication channels.
  •    Complimentary AIA26 Conference on Architecture & Design registration.
• New Fellows will receive an invitation to participate in the AIA College of Fellows Investiture ceremony, Fellows Reception, and other COF events at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design. For more information about these events, contact cof@aia.org.