2026 Design Excellence Awards – Call for Entries
The AIA Central Oklahoma Design Excellence Awards showcase the best of built work by members of AIA Central Oklahoma. Entrants must be members of The American Institute of Architects, Central Oklahoma Chapter. Award winners will be announced during the AIA Central Oklahoma Awards Banquet on Friday, November 13 at Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City.
Eligibility
- Eligible projects must be designed by an AIA member of AIA Central Oklahoma built anywhere in the world.
- Residential Projects can be designed by an AIA or Associate AIA member of AIA Central Oklahoma.
- Only AIA Central Oklahoma members in good standing with The American Institute of Architects Central Oklahoma Chapter may submit entries.
- An individual submitting an entry must have designed the project or been a member of the project team who executed the project.
- The architect of record of the project must agree to entering the project in these awards.
- An entry executed by a Joint Venture shall be eligible if any member the Joint Venture is an AIA or Associate AIA member of AIA Central Oklahoma.
- Only projects completed after January 1, 2020 are eligible.
- Previously honored projects in other AIA state or regional, or national awards are eligible, but projects previously honored in an AIA Central Oklahoma Awards program are not eligible..
Entry Categories
Large Architecture (above 25,000 sf)
Any new build or addition / renovation project above 25,000 sf
Architecture
Any new build or addition / renovation project below 25,000 sf.
Interior Architecture
Projects focusing on interior architecture.
Adaptive Reuse
The renovation and reuse of an existing structure for new purposes.
Excellence in Craft
This category recognizes installations, details, and placemaking elements and honors a specific architectural feature or detail demonstrating exceptional design impact and craftsmanship. Eligible entries may include pavilions, streetscape features, adaptive interventions, environmental art and crafted details.
This year’s specialty categories:
Historic Preservation
This category recognizes outstanding projects that protect, revitalize, and enrich the historic built environment through preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, or thoughtfully designed new construction within designated historic districts. This category honors work that balances respect for architectural heritage with current needs by preserving significant historic fabric, extending the life of existing buildings or introducing compatible new architecture that responds sensitively to its context thought scale, massing, materials, craftsmanship and design.
Residential Architecture
Eligible projects are single family and may include new construction, renovations, additions, or adaptive reuse projects that exemplify the transformative power of residential architecture.
Submission Requirements
AIA Central Oklahoma uses a paperless, digital submission entry.
All entries must include:
- A PDF presentation derived from a template provided by AIA Central Oklahoma that includes up to 16 pages (including the cover page) showcasing the project to the jury. Slide 1 is the cover slide, Slide 2 is a narrative addressing how your project addresses the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence.
2. If submitting for the COTE Award, include a completed COTE Award form.
3. Identification forms in Word format.
4. Up to 6 high resolution project images, a selection of which may be used during the Awards Ceremony and / or for publication and publicity.
5. One slide of the project in PowerPoint format to be used during the Awards Banquet.
People’s Choice participation is optional.
6. People’s Choice entry form in Word format.
7. Two images (less than 2MB in size) to be used in promotion of the People’s Choice Competition.
Final submission details and files will be sent to entrants on or before August 7, 2026.
Jury
The AIA Central Oklahoma Design Excellence Awards jury will be comprised of four noted architectural professionals representing different states of practice- experienced, mid-career, and emerging. Along with a fourth juror with experience with AIA COTE and AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
Judging Criteria
The jury may make any interpretations necessary to carry out the intent of the competition: to recognize the highest quality and achievement in architectural design and honor the creativity of Central Oklahoma architects. Entries will be judged on the success with which the project has met its individual requirements, overall design quality, and its achievement of excellence.
Framework for Design Excellence represents the defining principles of good design in the 21st century. Comprised of 10 principles and accompanied by searching questions, the Framework seeks to inform progress toward a zero carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. These are to be thoughtfully considered by designer and client at the initiation of every project and incorporated into the work as appropriate to the project scope. The Framework is intended to be accessible and relevant for every architect, every client, and every project, regardless of size, typology, or aspiration.
Awards
Honor Award
The Honor Award is AIA’s highest level of award. It acknowledges a project with distinctive character and outstanding merit.
Merit Award
The Merit award recognizes projects that clearly demonstrate a level of design that exemplifies superior achievements.
Citation Award
The Citation Award is awarded to projects of notable accomplishment and excellent design qualities.
COTE Award
The COTE Award is awarded to the project that best addresses the sustainability as presented in the sustainability scorecard and the overall submission.
Awards Celebration
The AIA Central Oklahoma Awards Banquet will take place on Friday, November 13 in downtown Oklahoma City at the Petroleum Club. Cost to attend the awards dinner is separate from the registration fee for entering the Design Excellence Awards competition.
Fees & Deadlines
- A non-refundable registration fee of $175 is required for each entry into the AIA Central Oklahoma Design Excellence Awards.
- Entry form and fees must be received by the Chapter Office no later than August 7, 2026.
- Detailed Submission Requirements will be sent to entrants no later than August 7, 2026.
- Final submissions will be due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026.
Questions regarding the AIA Central Oklahoma Design Awards Program should be submitted in writing to melissa@aiacoc.org
As a reminder, AIA Kansas is hosting the Central States Design Awards this year.
Submission Portal is open until August 3, 2026. Here is the link.
Central States Design Chair: Colleen Healey, AIA – Colleen Healey Arch.
Categories:
- Architecture
- Preservation/Adaptive Reuse
- Interior Design
- Small Project
Guidelines:
The Central States Excellence in Design Awards celebrates outstanding work in the Central States region of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
- Entries must be designed by licensed architects located within the Central States region, or must be projects located within the Central States region designed by licensed architects located anywhere.
- Highest quality design, informed by The AIA Framework for Design Excellence, progresses the profession toward a zero-carbon, healthy, just, resilient, and equitable built environment.