Fellowship

Architect members may be nominated either by:

• The governing board of any chapter (state or local)
• A minimum of five (5) Fellows or ten (10) Architect members residing anywhere.

Fellowship objects

The objects of nomination are categories of achievement. Candidates apply under one of these categories to organize their submission. Each object has specific criteria and requirements associated with it. The objects are identified in the AIA Rules of the Board (see: Section 2.5)

Candidates are required to select an object and one of that object’s related sub-objects, to best highlight how their achievements have benefited and impacted the profession beyond their own firm, community, or region. It is important to select an object that is a good fit for the candidate’s achievements because the jury will be using that criteria to review the candidate’s submission.

Objects are the reference frames through which the candidate’s achievements are reviewed, and there may be 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 for the submission.

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. 

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

  Practice Technical Advancement may include sharing widely 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, implementation of unique preservation techniques, and 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 can initiatives sustain themselves once candidate is no longer involved. 

  Show impact beyond their chapter’s 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 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 a correlation to 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, public foundations. 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 the Peace Corps or Army Corp of Engineers. Industry Organizations may include providing leadership as an architect within areas such as healthcare, education, higher education, community foundations, and cultural institutions or systems. 

• Object Five: To make the profession of ever-increasing service to society.
  Sub-objects: Alternative career | Service to Society | Volunteer work with organizations not directly connected with the built environment

  Fellowship in this Object is granted to architects who have made notable contributions that have benefited and impacted the profession beyond their own practice, community, or region through one of the following: Alternative Career may include a career related to architecture that illustrates outstanding achievements that support the architectural profession. Service to Society may include extensive volunteer work related to architecture with organizations not directly connected with the built environment. Work with Organizations not directly connected with the Built Environment may include service that transcends the customary architectural practice that have wide reaching impacts that serve 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, 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, 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 Fellowship in the AIA are required to submit an application that include documentation of work that demonstrates the “ripple effect” they have had on the profession. This is shorthand for the impact you and your work have had on the profession of architecture and on society, beyond the day-to-day work of your practice or outside your geographic region. For examples, ripple effect could be demonstrated by public speaking, national and regional publications, mentoring, teaching, service to the profession, geographic impact, 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, you are strongly encouraged to consider your submission in this context. For additional information visit the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. 

Candidates for fellowship must:

1. Be an AIA architect member in good standing. This also applies to Architect Emeritus members.
2. Have at least ten (10) cumulative years of architect membership prior to the submission deadline.

You can verify your membership tenure with your local chapter or by emailing our Archivist at aiamembershiphistory@aia.org. 

For the purposes of this program, candidates are considered “returning” only if they apply in consecutive cycles. Candidates for fellowship may apply three consecutive times before they must take a year off.  

• You are a First-year candidate if you did not apply in the previous cycle, whether it’s your first time applying, or you just took a year off.
• You are a Second-year candidate if you applied as a First-year in the immediate past cycle.
• You are a Third-year candidate if you applied as a Second-year in the immediate past cycle.

The benefit of applying as a second- or third- year is you have the ability to rollover references and other materials from the previous cycle. You also have the option to include more reference letters. 

More information on this is available in the application guide (under Resources).

• Submissions open: June 25, 2025
• Submission deadline: October 8, 2025 at 5pm ET
• Notification to candidates*: Mid-February 2026
• Public announcement: Late February 2026
• Investiture ceremony at AIA26: For more information, contact the AIA College of Fellows.

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

2026 Jury

Sanford Garner, FAIA, Jury Chair, RG Collaborative, Indianapolis, IN
 

Contacting the Jury

To protect the integrity of the awards process, active candidates are prohibited from contacting members of the jury or board during the submission process.  Communication with the jury and/or Board of Directors 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.  

Serving on the Jury of Fellows

Jurors serve staggered three-year terms to ensure continuity of the jury from year to year. Prior to the jury meeting, each juror typically reviews around 40 submissions, excluding submissions from their state and other recusals. It is the juror's responsibility to read all of their assigned submissions in sufficient detail to make a brief presentation to the remainder of the jury when the group convenes. In February of the submission year, the jury will convene for six days to review all of the submissions and decide on elevation. 

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.
• New fellows will receive an invitation to participate in the AIA College of Fellows Investiture ceremony, AIA Awards Gala, and other COF events at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design. For more information about these events, contact cof@aia.org.