Submissions are now CLOSED for our 2025 Design & Honor Awards Program! Good luck to all!
AIA Central New York, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, has recognized outstanding works of architecture through its annual design awards program. The purpose of the program is to celebrate achievements in design excellence by Architects in the Central New York Region; and to honor the architects, clients and consultants who work together to create and enhance our built environment.
AIA Central New York empowers our members and the architectural profession in service to our community.
New This Year!
AIACNY is proud to announce the following changes to our awards program:
Award Notifications
In a departure from previous years, we will unveil the winning projects live during the Celebration of Architecture. This change is intended to elevate the sense of anticipation and recognition, making the awards ceremony a truly special moment for all involved. By announcing the winners in real time at the event, we aim to create a more engaging and celebratory experience for our design community as well as also allow all entries to be eligible for the People’s Choice Award.
IIDA NY Interiors Awards
In partnership with IIDA NY Syracuse City Center, AIACNY has introduced a new Interiors Award category. Design projects submitted in the Interiors category will also be reviewed by a separate, interiors-focused jury. This jury will present additional awards recognizing outstanding interior architecture and design that demonstrate innovative solutions to enhance functionality, aesthetics, health, and safety. These awards aim to celebrate projects that elevate the human experience and promote well-being within the built environment.
COTE Certificates
AIACNY’s COTE Committee has created a new COTE Certificate program. Awarded for the design’s consideration of one or more of the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence principles, these certificates recognize projects that meaningfully advance the pursuit of sustainable, equitable, and resilient environments and honors design teams whose work demonstrates a thoughtful integration of environmental performance, social impact, and long-term value.
Step 1: Awards Registration
Registration Due: July 18th, 2025
Projects and Honor Award Nominees must first be registered in order to be eligible to submit. Please download the following files to register. Forms and registration fees must be electronically submitted or postmarked by due date.
Required Forms and Documents:
Design Award Registration Form
Entry Fees:
Non-Members: $400.00 per entry
Members of AIA Central New York : $125.00 per entry
Step 2 Awards Submissions
Project Submission Deadline: September 12, 2025
Once submissions are registered, you will be sent a link to upload your Final Project Submissions. All documents for each submission must be uploaded by this date.
Design Award Submission Requirements Click Here: Submission Requirements 2025
Required Forms and Documents:
COTE Award Common Application (for projects applying for COTE Award submission only)
Eligibility
Honor Award Submission Requirements:
All nominations for honor award candidates must be submitted by an AIA CNY member in good standing for an AIA CNY member in good standing. Candidates for the AIA Associate category do not require membership, but must work in CNY.
AIA CNY Members:
For a design project to be eligible for consideration for the AIA CNY Design Awards, the architect must be a registered, licensed architect in New York State. Works of Architecture may be located anywhere in the world by AIA CNY members.
Non-Members of AIA CNY:
Design projects by architects who are not member of AIA CNY are eligible for consideration for the AIA CNY Design Awards. The architects must be licensed, registered architects in New York State. Projects must be located within New York State.
Timeline:
All submitted design projects must have been completed since January 1, 2020. Each entrant may submit any number of entries.