Program
Design Awards
Deadline extended! Submit by September 27!
The BSA Design Awards program celebrates exemplary innovation in the built environment, investment from committed clients, and the unique power of architecture to design buildings and spaces that transform communities and shape the way we live. The BSA honors projects that embody the values of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and the BSA’s vision of building a just and sustainable Boston, together.
The 2024 BSA Design Awards program invites visions of various scales and resources that challenge practice, lead sustainability progress, and broaden conversations about resilience in design.
Recipients are recognized at three different levels (from highest): Honor Awards, Merit Awards, and Commendations. All submitters have until September 27 September 13 to submit entries.
To see galleries of the past award-winning projects, visit designawards.architects.org.
Timeline
June 12, 2024 – Award Submissions Open.
June-August 2024 – Awards overview program, Common App and awards office hours and awards resources available.
July 10, 2024 – What Submitters Need to Know Webinar, 08:15AM EST-9:30AM.
September 27, 2024 September 13, 2024 – Submission deadline. All Awards submissions must be uploaded and completed online with payment by 11:59pm EST.
October-November 2024 – Jury reviews, deliberations & award selection.
December 2024 – Award notifications & announcements.
February/March 2025 – BSA Awards Gala (Date TBD).
How to Submit
Use the following links to produce your submission:
Fees
BSA Firm Members |
Non-BSA Members |
Assoc. AIA or Student |
|
Built Design Excellence |
$280 |
$560 |
Not eligible |
Small Firms |
$180 |
$360 |
Not eligible |
Unbuilt Planning & Design |
$150 |
$300 |
$85 Assoc. AIA $50 Student (with ID) |
Program Overview
- All building typologies are welcome in BUILT DESIGN EXCELLENCE, SMALL FIRMS, or UNBUILT PLANNING & DESIGN divisions – However, awards may not be bestowed for every typology.
- The SMALL FIRMS category division is eligible to firms of 10 or fewer employees.
- JURIES will review metrics, narratives, and design based on a range of topics, including accessibility, social responsibility, technology advancements, sustainability and more.
- The BSA Design Awards emphasize the AIA’s Design Excellence criteria that are highlighted in the COMMON APP to evaluate zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built projects.
- Innovation can be demonstrated at multiple levels. We encourage emerging ideas and theoretical projects that demonstrate the AIA’s Design Excellence criteria from professionals and students for UNBUILT PLANNING & DESIGN.
The Harleston Parker Medal celebrates the most beautiful piece of architecture, building, monument or structure within the city of Boston.
The Design Jury
The 2024 Design Jury consists of:
- Allison Anderson, FAIA, founding principal of Unabridged Architecture
- Andrew Bernheimer, FAIA, architect and Associate Professor of Architecture at the Parsons School of Design
- Shannon Gathings, AIA NOMA, architect at Duvall Decker Architects
- Douglas Ito, FAIA, managing member of SMR Architects
- Maija Kreishman, AIA IIDA, Managing Principal at Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
- Chandra Robinson, Principal, Lever Architecture
Professional bios of these esteemed jurors can be found in the BSA News page here.
The Technical Jury
Fifteen accomplished professionals will comprise the 2024 BSA Design Awards Technical Jury, focusing on Common App metrics and project narratives.
This Technical Jury will carefully evaluate submissions in the Built Design Excellence and Small Firms categories by reviewing Common App metrics and narratives within project categories and types.
A complete roster of the Technical Jury can be found in the BSA News page here.
Questions
Review our FAQ page for common questions. Please also see our 2024 Common App FAQ sheet.
You may also view our webinar, 2024 BSA Design Awards: What Submitters Need to Know, below or on our YouTube channel, and download the webinar presentation PDF.
For general questions about submitting or about the Awards Program, please email [email protected] or call 617-391-4019.
Questions may not be directed to or answered by the jurors.
