BKLYN Design Awards

AIA Brooklyn’s annual Brooklyn Design Awards program (BKDA) encourages excellence in architectural design through recognition of outstanding projects in Brooklyn and beyond.

Continuing our initiatives formed for our 2022 program, the BKDA program will continue to integrate the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence, not only as performance criteria during the jury review, but also as an educational source for our members. This year we will require responses in the Performance Statement for all submissions.

Beyond this, the BKDA program seeks to highlight the borough of Brooklyn, with its design community serving as a creative hub for innovation, and its diverse neighborhoods as a dynamic network and unique urban fabric. Although projects will continue to be organized for review based on submission categories, multiple entries within a particular typology may be eligible for an award. Entries will be judged in light of the success with which the project has met its individual requirements, and each will be evaluated individually, not in competition with others. The goal is to highlight outstanding projects by Brooklyn firms and exceptional design work within the borough, whatever form it may take.

It is a priority for the AIA Brooklyn chapter to promote the work of its members, and winning entries will be publicized both within and beyond the local community. Additionally, the Awards committee is currently exploring opportunities to provide representation for all entries on the chapter’s website.

Submission Requirements 

The entire entry process is ONLINE using a Design Award Platform called Award Force. The submission process requires entrants to submit information into fields within the online submission portal and upload files. Once a login has been created, entrants can modify submissions until the deadline.

Design Awards Platform

For questions, contact BKDA@aiabrooklyn.org

2026 BKDA Schedule & Submission Fees

Schedule

  • Call for Entries (Registration Opens): September 1, 2026
  • Submissions Due: September 30, 2026
  • Technical Review: Week of October 12th-16th
  • Jury Deliberation: Week of October 19th
  • Winners Announced: Week of October 26th
  • Awards Presentation: December 7th in Brooklyn

Submission Fees

Submission Fees are non-refundable. Participants can submit multiple projects, but the fees listed cover only one project submission. An entry fee is required for each project submitted for the Awards program.

  • $225 AIA Brooklyn Architect Members
  • $125 Associate AIA Members
  • $525 Other registered Architects
  • $50 Students

Eligibility Requirements

Projects must be submitted in the name of the firm that executed the commission. If that firm has been dissolved or its name has been changed, an individual or successor firm may enter projects under the name of the firm at the time the project was executed. Multiple entries of the same project by successor individuals or firms will not be accepted. For projects that involve multiple buildings, the architect submitting the project (or a portion thereof) must designate authorship of each portion of the project.

Past Recipients

In 2025 nine projects have been recognized with distinctions of “Excellence,” “Merit,” or “Commendation” for their exceptional contributions to design, innovation, environmental responsiveness, technical skill, and social impact.

VIEW 2025 DESIGN AWARDS WINNERS HERE

VIEW 2024 DESIGN AWARDS WINNERS HERE

VIEW 2023 DESIGN AWARDS WINNERS HERE

VIEW 2022 DESIGN AWARDS WINNERS HERE

 

 

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