AIA Award for Excellence in Public Architecture
Recognizes architects, public officials, & others who design notable public facilities and/or advocate for design excellence in public spaces.
Questions about program policies, application requirements, or how to submit online? Please see the AIA Awards FAQ for more information on the awards submission process.
Recognizing excellence in public architecture
Great public architecture embodies the identity and values of a society. The Award for Excellence in Public Architecture recognizes architects in the public and private sectors who design distinguished public facilities and public officials, or other individuals, who advocate for the design excellence of public spaces.
Questions? Email AIA Awards
AIA members in good standing can apply to one of the following categories:
- Category One: U.S. licensed, private sector architects with a portfolio of public facilities
- Category Two: U.S. licensed, public service architects
- Category Three: Public officials or other individuals
Nomination
Any AIA Member in good standing, AIA Components, and AIA Knowledge Communities may make nominations for the Award for Excellence in Public Architecture.
Nominator responsibilities
If your nominator is an individual, they must affirm that neither they nor their firm employs unpaid intern architects, including working students (as defined in Section 11.0 of the AIA Rules of the Board).
Nominators are required to write a letter of support for the candidate that introduces the submission. Nominators also assist the candidate by acting as a point of contact for the reference writers and providing guidance as needed.
2026
Submissions open July 18, 2025.
Specific information regarding program policies (i.e., applicant eligibility, nominator options, etc.), required application components (i.e., letters of reference, candidate/project information fields, etc.), and other elements relevant in the 2026 iteration of the program will be available in the online application portal once the award begins accepting materials. All materials must be submitted via the online portal (i.e., cannot be accepted via email, phone, shared online drive, fax, post, etc.) by the prescribed deadline(s): deadline extension or exception requests will not be granted. Applicants and interested parties are encouraged to seek award assistance well in advance of application deadlines to minimize the risk for ineligibility and/or application noncompliance rendering the entry removed from review.
Fee: There is no fee for this program.
Application Components
Extensive information on the materials required to submit an application is housed in the AIA online application portal. Please reference the information in this portal when the program is receiving materials for the 2026 season.
Recognition
Recognition for this program typically includes the following elements but may be subject to change. Recipients will receive additional information about this cycle’s recognition benefits with their selection notification.
- Promotional recognition in AIA communication channels.
- Invitation for the recipient or a recipient representative to attend selected AIA Awards event celebrations, commonly held during the annual AIA Conference on Architecture.
Recipients of this award from 2025 to 2023 can be found at AIA award winners. For previous recipients please contact AIA Archives.
Kelly Hayes-McAlonie, FAIA, is a visionary leader in public architecture, known for transforming university campuses, championing educational design, and advancing gender equity. She directed $2.4
A dedicated civil servant, Paula Loomis, FAIA has also worked for the three federal agencies with the largest facility portfolios and has advanced the government’s sustainability and resilience
David M. Powell, FAIA, is the recipient of the 2023 AIA Award for Excellence in Public Architecture. His music-inspired designs of Nashville’s public spaces have nurtured the city’s remarkable growth