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2026 AIA LOWCOUNTRY DESIGN AWARDS
INTRODUCTION
AIA Lowcountry’s Design Awards program is designed to encourage and recognize distinguished architectural achievement; to honor the architectural team, their clients, and consultants who work together to improve the built environment; to demonstrate the breadth of services architects provide; and to raise public consciousness of the Architect’s role in shaping the quality of life through design excellence.
DESIGN AWARDS CATEGORIES
Projects can be submitted under any of the following categories:
· Residential New Construction Award
o Under 3,500 SF
o Over 3,500 SF
· Residential Renovation Award
· Commercial Construction Award
o Under 5,000 SF
o Over 5,000 SF
· Small Project/Design Detail Award
· Interior Architecture Award
· Unbuilt Project Award
Residential New Construction Award
Projects submitted in this category will include single-family residential projects or multi-family projects of no more than (4) units. Larger multi-family projects will be categorized under Commercial New Construction.
Submissions in this category will be entered into two subcategories based on project gross square footage:
· Projects under 3,500 SF
· Projects over 3,500 SF
Residential Renovation Award
Projects submitted in this category will include single-family residential projects or multi-family projects of no more than (4) units. This category is limited to renovation and addition projects, but the project scope must be clearly and accurately presented through graphics and written descriptions.
Commercial Construction Award
Projects submitted in this category will include a broad range of types, such as Commercial, Educational, Multifamily, Housing, Institutional, Faith-based Architecture, and renovations of buildings of these types.
Submissions in this category will be entered into two subcategories based on project gross square footage:
· Projects under 5,000 SF
· Projects over 5,000 SF
Small Project/Design Detail
Projects submitted in this category include architectural details, furniture, objects, works of environmental art, or designs under 1,000 SF. New construction, renovations, additions, and projects that are within the scope of a larger project are eligible, but the project scope must be clearly and accurately presented through graphics and written descriptions. Projects in this category are eligible for Honor and Merit Awards.
Interior Architecture
Projects submitted in this category should illustrate outstanding building interiors created by architects. These projects may include new construction or renovations of existing construction. Multiple entries may be submitted, but individual rooms or spaces within the same project shall be considered as one project.
Unbuilt Project
Projects submitted in this category may be unbuilt architectural designs of any project type or conceptual design studies that investigate a specific topic or project type for research purposes. Unbuilt client-sponsored projects (commercial or residential buildings, interiors, transportation, infrastructure, monuments, etc.) are eligible for recognition. Projects under construction or otherwise apparently assured of construction are not eligible. Project descriptions for Unbuilt Projects shall include a brief statement on the purpose of the project (competition, unrealized project for a client, theoretical investigation, etc.), and for client-sponsored projects include information describing why the project will remain unbuilt (lack of funding, change of design direction, etc.). All client-sponsored projects must submit a release from the owner. Projects cannot have been undertaken for academic credit or as a non-commissioned design competition entry.
**Sustainability Award
Projects are not submitted directly to this category. Projects that excel at one or more of the ten measures that make up the Framework for Design Excellence are automatically eligible for this award. A project can be awarded both an award in the category in which it was submitted and the Sustainability Award in the same year.
FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE (Optional—but must be completed for Sustainability Award consideration)
Developed by members of the AIA, the Framework for Design Excellence represents the defining principles of good design in the 21st century. It’s intended to be accessible and relevant for every architect, every client, and every project — regardless of size, typology, or aspiration. The 10 measures that make up the Framework are intended to inspire progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment.
To be considered for the Sustainability Award, entrants in the AIA Lowcountry Design Awards are required to provide a description of how their project addresses at least 1 of the 10 measures, listed below with optional prompts, in no more than 800 words.
1. Design for Integration: What is the big idea behind this project and how did sustainability inform the design concept?
2. Design for Equitable Communities: How does this project contribute to creating a walkable, human-scaled community inside and outside the property lines?
3. Design for Ecosystems: In what ways does the design respond to the ecology of its place?
4. Design for Water: How does the project relate to the regional watershed?
5. Design for Economy: How does the project efficiently meet the program and design challenges and provide “more with less”?
6. Design for Energy: Is the project energy-efficient and sustainable while improving building performance, function, comfort, and enjoyment?
7. Design for Wellness: How does the design promote the health of the occupants?
8. Design for Resources: How did the design team optimize the amount and makeup of material used on the project?
9. Design for Change: Is the building resilient, and able to easily accommodate other uses in 50-100 years?
10. Design for Discovery: What lessons for better design have been learned through the process of project design, construction, and occupancy, and how have these been incorporated in subsequent projects?
ELIGIBILITY
All entries shall be projects executed and designed by AIA Lowcountry members, or project teams consisting of at least one AIA Lowcountry member in good standing. Projects may have been executed anywhere in the United States or abroad and must have been substantially completed after January 1, 2021. The number of entries submitted by a firm or individual is not limited. Projects that have previously won an AIA Lowcountry award are not eligible in that category. All projects, regardless of size, budget, style, building type, or location, are eligible. The jury may, at their discretion, move a project entry from one category to another. Entries are welcomed and encouraged from both established and new practitioners at any size firm.
DESIGN AWARDS JURY
The 2026 AIA Lowcountry Awards Jury Chair will be shared by Jane & Michael Frederick of Frederick + Frederick Architects.
Awards will be presented during the AIA Lowcountry Gala on October 8th See below for additional details.
RECOGNITION
Jurors from previous AIA Lowcountry awards programs have traditionally recognized three classifications of awards:
• Citation Award(s)
• Merit Award(s)
• Honor Award(s)
It is the liberty of the jury to present awards as they rule appropriate. Thus, some awards categories may receive more than one award while other categories may receive no awards.
DATES & FEES
Schedule
August 27, 2026 Awards portal opens
September 17, 2026 Submissions must be completed no later than 11:59 p.m. ET
October 8, 2026 Awards Celebration. Professional Design Award Winners will not be announced prior to the Awards Celebration, and all entrants are expected to attend this exciting event.
Design Awards Fees
$50 per submission
No refunds will be issued for Design Awards submission fees.
REGISTRATION & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Registration, payment, and file upload will all be handled through OpenWater, an online awards management software that will help to streamline the submission process. OpenWater will host a gallery of all submissions for review by the jury.
There are two parts, or "rounds", to entering your project in the OpenWater system. The first part is registering and paying for your entry. If you haven't yet created an OpenWater account, you will be prompted to do so when you register your first entry. The second part is the submission round where you will enter detailed information and upload image files and release forms for your project.
Registration
The registration form will ask for a project name. You will have an opportunity to provide a project name on the submission form if you want to change it to an anonymized name for the jury.
After completing the registration form, click on "add to cart" to proceed to the "review and checkout" payment page. If you are paying by check, follow the instructions on the payment page and please note we must receive your payment no later than September 17. You will receive an email confirming that your registration has been received.
Submission
After you've registered and paid for your entry, you can continue to submit project information and file uploads by clicking on the "Click to Continue" link at the top of the page - or return to your submission at any time before the entry deadline.
Compile each entry with the following:
· Short Project Description. Provide a short description of the project in 100 words or less. This description will serve as the introduction to your project during the first round of jury deliberations.
· Architect’s Statement. Provide a narrative of the project concerning the design program and solution in 800 words or less. This statement will give the jury a more detailed description of your project and may be referred to during the second round of judging.
· Framework for Design Excellence Narrative. In no more than 800 words, provide a description of how your project addresses any of the 10 measures of the Framework. See above in the Summary section for a list of optional prompts for each of the 10 measures. Required for consideration of the Sustainability Award(s).
· Project Plates. A maximum of twelve (12) JPG “plates”, 10MB max. each, that are 16:9 and at least 300 dpi. Plates may have more than one image—e.g. an architectural drawing + photo(s), or wide photo(s) + detail photo(s). Plates should be well considered for legibility and organized so as to provide the most complete understanding of the project’s intent and execution for the jury. Prior to uploading, name each plate file with the project title and plate number (for example, “Project X – Plate 1”)
· Jury Image. One (1) JPG image, 10MB max., that will be used as a reference to your project during jury deliberations.This file should be labeled with the project title and "Jury Image" (for example, "Project X - Jury Image”). (16:9, 300dpi)
· Public Display Image. One (1) JPG image, 10MB max., that will be used when publicizing Design Awards winners and entrants. This file should be labeled with the project title and "Public Display Image" (for example, "Project X - PublicDisplay Image"). This is the ONLY image that may show your firm name and/or logo. (16:9, 300dpi)
· Photo Release Form. Required for all categories except Unbuilt Design Awards. Each photographer per submission should have their own release. (You can download this form during the submission process.)
· Client Release Form. Required for the Unbuilt project category only. Each project should have their own release. (You can download this form during the submission process.)
Notes on Submission Content
This is an architectural design awards submission juried by architects. Project photographs are vital and encouraged, but please remember architectural drawings (diagrams, site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, etc.) are fundamental for understanding contextual queues, spatial organizations, and the many influences that shape the specific forms of the buildings we work so hard to see materialized. Please include them.
Copying a Submission from One Program to Another
Entrants are able to copy a submission from one of our awards programs to the other. If you've entered a submission in the 2026 AIA South Carolina awards program, you can now copy it into the 2026 AIA Lowcountry awards program by following these instructions:
1. Click here to copy an entry from the AIASC awards (original program).
2. Enter the name of the entry you want to copy to the AIA Lowcountry awards (destination program).
3. Click on "Use This Entry" under the Action tab.
4. A copy of your submission will be generated and you can make any edits before submitting it into the AIA Lowcountry program.
5. Please note the system adjusts the copy of your submission in the original program to align with the fields (questions) in the destination program's submission forms.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
· All information will be used as entered in the submission form on the website gallery and for publication. Please be thorough and consistent in completing your field entries and double-check for spelling errors.
· No logos or any other information that identifies the architect/firm is to appear anywhere in the Project Information section (Short Project Description, Architect’s Statement, Framework for Excellence Narrative) or the Uploads Materials for Jury Review section (Jury Presentation File and Jury Image) - with the exception of the Public Display Image.
· Please be sure to confirm the exact wording of firm (including all associated architecture firms), owner, contractor and/or consultant names and titles.
· Use "N/A" or other appropriate text in required fields on the submission form if there is no info or it's not pertinent to your project.
Questions
Please contact Andrew Brown, AIA at andrew@abrown.studio.
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