2025 Design Awards

The 2025 AIAWS Design Awards are here!

The AIA Winston-Salem Design Awards acknowledge the design expertise and excellence of architects within our AIA Chapter. Our awards will recognize firms and projects of all shapes and sizes.

Project Submission Sequence:

Read the 2025 Design Awards Submission Requirements.
Submit the 2025 Registration Form (Deadline Extended! Due 3PM, October 31) by emailing us at aiawinstonsalem@gmail.com. Please title your email “2025 Design Awards Registration Form.”
AIA Winston-Salem will email back a link to a Shared Google Folder to each registrant with concealed identification numbers, instructions, and forms required for submission. All of your entries and accompanying information will be submitted into this folder.
Submit project entries according to the Design Awards Submission Requirements to the shared folder. (Due 5PM, November 14)

If you have questions regarding your submission, please contact Veronica Grant at aiawinstonsalem@gmail.com

In addition to our Design Awards, the AIA Winston-Salem Board presents three Section Awards:

Emerging Professional Award

This award is presented for outstanding community engagement and chapter involvement by an emerging professional/young architect (unlicensed or licensed <10 years). This individual has demonstrated exceptional design talent, leadership, and promise in the early stages of their career. The recipient has made significant contributions to the field through innovative projects, community engagement, or advocacy, reflecting a strong commitment to shaping the future of architecture.

If you know a standout young professional, please email us with the following information:

Their Name
Their Workplace
A short description detailing their accomplishments and why you think they should be given this award

Educator Award

This award is presented to honor an educator who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to architectural education through innovative teaching, mentorship, and academic leadership. The recipient has made a lasting impact on students and the broader academic community, inspiring the next generation of architects through excellence in pedagogy and a deep dedication to the advancement of the discipline.

If you know a standout educator, please email us with the following information:

Their Name
Their Workplace
A short description detailing their impact and why you believe they deserve this award

Advocate Award

This award is presented for advocacy of the built environment by a member of the community. This individual has upheld the value of architecture through advocacy, policy, education, or public engagement. The recipient has significantly advanced public awareness and appreciation of the built environment, demonstrating a sustained commitment to promoting architecture’s role in shaping vibrant, inclusive, and resilient communities.

If you know of an influential person who fits these criteria, please email us with the following information:

Their Name
Their Workplace
A short description of their impact on the built environment, influence on the local community, and why you believe they deserve this award

Timeline for the 2025 Design Awards:

Registration Deadline

Submission Deadline

Design Awards Gala

Friday, October 31

Friday, November 14

Thursday, December 4

View our 2023 Winners <here!>

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Design Awards Registration is OPEN! These awards acknowledge the design expertise and excellence of architects within our AIA Chapter. Our awards will recognize firms and projects of all shapes and sizes. There will be a $50 entry fee per project that is due at time of registration. Student and section awards will not have an entry fee.Check out the registration portal here: www.aiawinstonsalem.org/design-awards-2025/Dates to Remember:Registration Opens: Monday, October 20thRegistration Deadline: Wednesday, October 29th(Registration Fee + Intent to Submit Form Due)Documentation Submission Deadline: Friday, November 14th (Full Submissions Due)Design Awards: Thursday, December 4th ... See MoreSee Less

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Only 27% of registered architects in the U.S. are women, and AIA Winston-Salem is working to change that. On May 17th, the 4th annual Girls’ Lego Day welcomed 37 girls from local schools to the WFU Center for Private Business. With support from parents, sponsors, and a record number of volunteers, participants explored architecture and design, created their own projects, and took home sketchbooks, pencils, and LEGOs—all at no cost.This year’s prompt, “What if Kids Ruled the World?” guided students through the design process. Sketches were made, ideas exchanged, and some groups naturally collaborated to form mini “communities.” During a snack break, volunteers transformed the room into a LEGO workshop and shared their roles in architecture, highlighting what they love most about the profession.With tables full of LEGO bricks, the girls brought their visions to life—golden houses, banks, vet clinics, and more. Volunteers encouraged creativity, offered suggestions, and helped find the perfect pieces to complete the girls’ designs. At the end, students proudly presented their imaginative communities and shared the stories behind them.According to National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the number of women in the architect population has shown a continuous trend toward greater gender parity. Events like these undoubtedly work to engage our communities’ young women & provide a space for their creativity to flourish. With ongoing support, growth, & endorsement from our communities, the built environment can better reflect the diversity of those who live in it. For those already in the field, the event offers a refreshing glimpse into the unfiltered creativity of youth. As Kellie Overberg shared in her interview with WSFCS, “Every idea proposed at the event might not be feasible, but they’re always full of inspiration.”Special thanks to our sponsors: Davie Construction Co. provided sketchbooks, pencils, and hardhats to get attendees in builder mode. Bricks & Minifigs Kernersville, a woman-owned business, donated LEGOs, go-bags, and a gift card for future visits. Their generosity—and that of our volunteers—was key to the event’s success.Can’t wait to see what next year brings! ... See MoreSee Less