A highly anticipated annual chapter event, AIA San Antonio’s People + Place Awards recognize outstanding architectural projects by AIA members that promote public awareness of the value of design.

New in 2026:

• Awards season is earlier this year
• Unbuilt project category submissions do not count against the four maximum allowable built projects.
• Jury PDF total page count has increased to twenty-two pages maximum, and the allowable file size has increased to 25MB maximum.
• See submission requirements for specific content on pages 1, 2, and the Final Page.
• The Place Awards Exhibit is going virtual this year. A printed exhibition board is no longer required.

Submissions are due on Monday, June 1, 2026. 

For additional criteria, download the SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Congratulations on your nomination. 

AIA San Antonio’s People Awards recognize leadership achievement at significant stages in an individual’s professional development. The award categories include:

• RISING STAR - Salutes young professional leadership.   
• YOUNG LEADER – Honors a licensed architect whose early career is distinguished by strong leadership, initiative and a commitment to advancing the profession through meaningful contributions to practice, service or the community. (NEW in 2026)
• TRAILBLAZER - Recognizes a mid-career licensed architect who has made significant contributions to the profession of Architecture. 
• LEGACY - Honors a member for a lifetime of AIA leadership and service to the profession and the community.
• COMMUNITY PARTNER - Honors an individual or organization outside the practice of architecture whose vision and influence are evidenced in significant urban, environmental or neighborhood impacts.

To complete the nomination process for review and selection by our awards committee and AIA San Antonio Board of Directors, you will need to provide the required documentation for the award category you were nominated for.

NOMINATION PACKET REQUIREMENTS

Friday, May 29 - Nomination Packets Due (Step 2)

SUBMISSION ASSISTANCE 

Please direct any questions regarding submissions or procedures to: 

BELINDA SANCHEZ, MANAGING DIRECTOR

AIA San Antonio | belinda@aiasa.org | 210.544.0898 (CELL, TEXT ONLY PLEASE) 

STUDENT DESIGN AWARDS 

Call for Entries

The AIA San Antonio Design Awards program recognizes outstanding built and unbuilt architectural projects by local architectural professionals and students and promotes public awareness on the value of Design Excellence. Student Entries will be judged on the merit of quality of design, resolution of the program, conceptual clarity, innovation, thoughtfulness, and execution.

The People + Place Awards Celebration will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

STUDENT AWARDS

Entry is open to currently enrolled students or recent graduates from UTSA’s School of Architecture and Planning or the San Antonio College Architecture program. Students may submit assigned studio projects, theoretical projects, independent research projects or competition entries completed in the last two academic years (beginning Fall 2024) while enrolled at UTSA or SAC. Each entry will be judged solely on a PDF presentation and a written project description. Online submission is required. See Entry Form for instructions .

For additional criteria, download the SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

FEES

There are no entry fees for students. The winning submission will receive complimentary reservations for two to the People + Place Awards Celebration to accept the award .

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

Submissions are due by 11:59 pm, Monday, June 1

INQUIRIES

Please contact AIA San Antonio (210) 226-4979 with any questions about the submission process.