Education Facility Design Award
Celebrates state-of-the-art learning environments
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.
Celebrating state-of-the-art learning environments
As education continues to evolve, we must evaluate and measure our successes, and have an arena in which to test ideas. The Education Facility Design Award provides an opportunity to engage in critical evaluation and experimentation, not as an end in itself, but in the context of our clients and their needs.
Recognized projects represent state-of-the-art learning environments, including early childhood, K-12, alternative, community and technical colleges, schools of higher education, corporate or other specialized training centers, and non-traditional learning environments such as community centers, museums, libraries, nature centers, and interpretive centers.
Questions? Email AIA Awards
All entries must meet the following requirements:
- Projects may include new construction, additions, and renovations.
- Entries are limited to projects that have been completed since January 1, 2019.
2026
Submissions open September 12, 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.
Fees: Single project submissions are $450 each. Submitting the same project to additional award categories costs an extra $100 per category.
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.
Review Criteria
Awards of Excellence will be given to registered architects whose projects represent exemplary practice in all five of the following areas of educational facility design:
- Enhances the client's educational program.
- Integrates functional needs and aesthetic considerations while respecting the surrounding community and context.
- Represents the planning and design process.
- Shows an understanding of the connection between the built and natural environment.
- Demonstrates an integrated and holistic approach to sustainability.
Awards of Merit may be given to other registered architects for superior quality projects.
Recognition
This design awards program will offer architects, designers, and educational planners an opportunity to be nationally recognized. Recipients' works will be displayed through a variety of channels, reaching an audience of school boards, private and public school administrators, facilities managers, and other client groups.
- A recipient-designed project board will be displayed at AIA and partner conferences, such as the fall CAE conference at EDspaces.
- Award-winning projects will be showcased on AIA online spaces.
- Some projects may also be featured in a number of publications, presentations, and conferences, or included in other CAE-sponsored media presentations.
- Recent coverage includes Fast Company, Business Insider, Building Design + Construction, Bustler, and ARCHITECT magazine.
For information on 2025 recipients of this award program visit our awards management portal.
Recipients of this award from 2024 and 2023 can be found at AIA award winners. For previous recipients please contact AIA Archives.
The award-winning design for Walker Hall Graduate Student Center in Davis, California illustrates the importance of adaptive reuse projects and how in this example created a vibrant connection space
