2025 People Award Call for Entry A CELEBRATION OF PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR SAN ANTONIO. AIA San Antonio’s People Awards recognize leadership achievement at significant stages in an individual’s professional development.
- RISING STAR AWARD - Salutes young professional leadership.
- TRAILBLAZER AWARD - Recognizes a mid-career professional who has made significant contributions to the profession of Architecture.
- LEGACY AWARD - Honors a lifetime of AIA leadership.
- COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD - honors an individual outside the practice of architecture whose vision and influence are evidenced in significant urban, environmental or neighborhood impacts.
NOMINATION PROCEDURE
There is no limit to how many years a nominee may be submitted for an award; however, a recipient may receive a specific award only once. Awards are not given posthumously. Chapter members may self-nominate.
THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE FOR PEOPLE NOMINATIONS.
PLEASE NOTE: People Award Nominations are now a 2-Step Process:
STEP 1. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Monday, May 5 – Monday, June 2 EOD
- Nominee & Nominator's Name, Firm and contact information are submitted under the appropriate category along with a brief description of the nominees’ qualifications for consideration.
STEP 2. NOMINATION PACKET DUE
Monday, July 7, 2025.
- Nominees are notified and invited to prepare a nomination packet to complete the process.
NOMINATION PACKET REQUIREMENTS
The information submitted should specifically demonstrate how the nominee’s achievements, work, contributions, and experiences meet the purpose and criteria of the specific award.
Nominees will be notified of their nomination within 1 week of nomination.
This notification will include all required materials required to complete the entry.
All nominations must be entered via Submittable.
- Nomination materials are to be uploaded as PDF or Image files, and within the limits listed in the individual award nomination guidelines.
- Black text on a light/white background is preferred. Provide succinct narratives and descriptive statements with images. A page is defined as 8.5” x 11”.
- Digital images contained in the PDF file are to be of low resolution.
- PDF files must be smaller than 15MB. PDF Optimizer and the Save As feature of Acrobat Professional will help make files compact without compromising integrity.
SELECTION PROCESS
Nominees are reviewed and scored independently by members of the People + Place Awards Committee. Their recommendations are forwarded to the AIA San Antonio Board of Directors for a secondary review and final confirmation. Once approved both the nominators and recipients will be notified and asked to provide additional materials to be used for website and media announcements and award presentations.
PEOPLE AWARD CATEGORIES
RISING STAR
The Rising Star Award is awarded to a member of AIA San Antonio who has shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession in the early stages of his or her architectural career.
ELIGIBILITY
AIA Member or Assoc. AIA Member who has been practicing or licensed fewer than 10 years by the submission deadline.
CRITERIA
- High qualities of leadership
- Service to AIA San Antonio
- Evidence of exceptional leadership and contributions to the profession and/or the community
SUBMITTAL
Complete the 2025 Submittable Nomination Form to include:
- A one-page nomination letter written summarizing the nominee’s contributions
- A biography of the nominee, professional offices and positions held, honors, and activities that relate to the purpose of the award, to include a bulleted list of contributions (not to exceed two pages)
- Exhibits of a maximum of 6 pages with images and/or other materials that best demonstrate the nominee’s outstanding accomplishments. Please identify all work done by a firm, and the nominee’s role for any projects listed in exhibits.
- Up to 3 one-page letters of support that are specific in their recommendation and reasons for support. Nomination letters should be addressed to Justin Ford, AIA – Chair, AIA People Awards Committee.
- A photograph of the nominee
TRAILBLAZER
The Trailblazer Award recognizes an AIA San Antonio member who, at mid-career, has made significant contributions to the profession of Architecture. This individual’s endeavor, whether specific or broad in nature, will have identified them as a Trailblazer willing to take risk and focused on exceeding all expectations to make an impact.
ELIGIBILITY
- AIA Member licensed 10 or more years
CRITERIA
- High qualities of leadership in a specific or broad area of the profession
- Service to AIA San Antonio
- Evidence of exceptional leadership and contributions to the AIA San Antonio Chapter and/or the architectural community
SUBMITTAL
Complete the 2025 Submittable Nomination Form to include:
- A one-page nomination letter written summarizing the nominee’s contributions. This letter should be addressed to Justin Ford, AIA – Chair, AIA People Awards Committee
- A biography or resume of the nominee, to include professional offices and positions held, honors, and activities that relate to the purpose of the award, and a bulleted list of contributions (not to exceed two pages)
- Exhibits of a maximum of 6 pages with images and/or other materials that best demonstrate the nominee’s outstanding accomplishments. Please identify all work done by a firm, and the nominee’s role for any projects listed in exhibits.
- Up to 3 one-page letters of support that are specific in their recommendation and reasons for support.
- A photograph of the nominee
LEGACY AWARD
The Legacy Award recognizes an AIA San Antonio member for a lifetime of distinguished leadership and dedication to architecture, the profession, and the community. The award, our chapter’s highest honor, recognizes members who, by their example and service, have made significant contributions to the advancement of the profession and their community.
ELIGIBILITY
- Professional members of AIA San Antonio are eligible for this award; however, as this award recognizes lifetime achievement, nominees should be in the latter phase of their career.
CRITERIA
- Evidence of nominee’s contribution of great depth and breadth, having an individual and collective effect and influence on the profession of architecture
- Aspects of the nominee’s work or life experience that may have reflected contributions or sensitivity concerning areas of special interest to AIA San Antonio, its members, and the architecture profession
- Significant contributions to the practice of architecture
- Significant contributions to the architectural profession
- Significant contributions to the community
SUBMITTAL
Complete the 2025 Submittable Nomination Form to include:
- A one-page nomination letter written by the nominating member summarizing the nominee’s contributions and fit to the criteria above
- A biography of the nominee (not to exceed four pages). A graphic timeline may be included.
- A statement/list of the nominee’s achievements and awards
- May include up to 10 pages of exhibits, with descriptive statements and images, demonstrating the nominee’s work
- A maximum of 3 letters of support explicit in their recommendation
- A photograph of the nominee
COMMUNITY PARTNER
The Community Partner Award recognizes an individual who is not an Architect or organization for their extended commitment to community service and/or significant contributions to the community as evidenced in a positive impact on urban, environmental, or neighborhood issues.
ELIGIBILITY
Members of the San Antonio community who are not practicing architects are eligible for this award.
CRITERIA
- Work that has made a difference through leadership, or the singular effort of an individual that has positively impacted the community
- Demonstration of an extended commitment to community service
- Evidence of a significant, positive impact on urban, environmental, or neighborhood issues
SUBMITTAL
Complete the 2025 Submittable Nomination Form to include:
- A one-page nomination letter summarizing the nominee’s contributions
- A biography of the nominee, including professional history, offices and positions held, honors, and activities, to include a bulleted list of contributions (not to exceed two pages)
- Exhibits of a maximum of 6 pages with images and/or other materials that best demonstrate the accomplishments or effect of the nominee’s contributions
- Up to 3 one-page letters of support that are specific in their recommendation and reasons for support. Nomination letters should be addressed to Justin Ford, AIA – Chair, AIA People Awards Committee.
- A photograph of the nominee
CEREMONY & RECEPTION
The 2025 PEOPLE + PLACE Awards Celebration will be announced on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00PM
PEOPLE AWARDS SCHEDULE
5-May-25 People Call for Nominations (Step 1)
2-Jun-25 Call for Nominations Closes
7-Jul-25 Nomination Packets Due (Step 2)
25-Jul-25 Winners Notified
28-Jul-25 People Award Recipients Announced
19-Aug-25 People + Place Award Ceremony
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)
The Emerging & Young Architects Network focuses on programming for Emerging Professionals of the Architecture Profession. One focus area is ARE Study programming to help build communities of test takers and study groups that will help you on your path. This year EYA held it's third Annual Mini Golf Tournament and raised $4381 to help fund ARE Study programming and financial assistance.
Funds raised will be allocated as follows:
-$2250 Young Architects (Three $750 ARE Assists) - Reward THREE $750 ARE Assists for the Young Architect's Bootcamp - To be considered for the assistance, applicants will need to submit additional information and justification as to why you should be considered to receive this award.
Additional Prize Give Aways Provided by The Young Architect
- TWO- 3 months free membership in the Young Architect Academy Pro Practice 101 – This membership is tailored for individuals in the beginning stages of their exams and is offered free of cost, valued at $474.
-$1425 Testing Fee Reimbursements - Reimburse full testing fees for either passed or failed exams - ALL qualified applicant's names will be added to a drawing, which will be conducted at the EYA Happy Hour Social Event on May 29 at Idle Beer Brewery.
-$356 ARE Resource Library investment - Two copies of The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice
-$100 COTE Student Top 10 Award
-$250 EYA + $500 - Women in Architecture Additional Assist - This year's WiA committee has donated an additional $500 to be allocated for a female bootcamp recipient. EYA will kick in the additional $250 to make a a 4th ARE Assist for the Young Architect Bootcamp.
Applications are Due: Monday, May 19 at Midnight.
Drawing for testing fee reimbursements will be LIVE via Instagram and winners announced at the EYA Happy Hour Social Event on May 29 at Idle Beer Brewery.
Winners must be present to accept their prize.
Good Luck!
STUDENT DESIGN AWARDS
Call for Entries
The AIA San Antonio People + Place Awards program recognizes outstanding built and un-built 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 Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, August 19. 2025.
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 2023) 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.
SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
JURY PDF—submit a PDF presentation that presents the project in detail to the Jury. It should be concise, thorough, and of high graphic quality. Requirements include the following:
- 20 pages maximum
- File size to not exceed 20 MB
- Filename: “Student25ProjectName.pdf”
- Submittals shall not contain sound, animation, video clips, QR codes, hyperlinks, or links to other files or pages within.
- The entrant’s identity shall not be present anywhere within the Jury PDF.
- A Title/Introduction Page is required and shall include the Project Name, project size (in square feet), and location. It shall also include a 250-word maximum written description.
- Site Plans and Floor Plans shall include a graphic scale and north arrow.
PUBLICITY IMAGES—submit four that best portray the project. These images will be used during the ceremony event and may be provided to the media. Requirements are:
- JPG format, 1,920 x 1,080 minimum resolution
- 4MB maximum file size
- Filenames: “ProjectName01.jpg”, “ProjectName02.jpg”, ETC.
PROJECT ENTRY FORM
- Complete the online entry form
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, Friday, May 30
INQUIRIES
Please contact AIA San Antonio (210) 226-4979 with any questions about the submission process.