A+Awards

SUBMISSION GUIDE + CHECKLIST

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The Kaleidoscope by Inrestudio, 2023 A+Awards Jury Winner, Low Rise Office
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
BACKGROUND 3

KEY BENEFITS 4

A+AWARDS CATEGORIES 5

FEES + DEADLINES 9

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES + CHECKLIST 10

JUDGING CRITERIA 13

LEARN MORE 16
BACKGROUND
The Architizer A+Awards is the world’s largest awards program focused
on promoting and celebrating the year’s best architecture and spaces. Its
mission is to nurture the appreciation of meaningful architecture in the
world and champion those designers that are integral to bringing great
buildings to life.

The A+Awards live at Architizer.com, a vast online community of

architects with an audience 7+ million strong. Submissions are judged by
distinguished luminaries from fields as diverse as design, technology, real
estate, and fashion, as well as by the voting public.

Finalists and winners are recognized as the year’s most influential

visionaries online and in print — imagine your work in front of a global
audience of millions!

To learn more or start your submission, visit: awards.architizer.com

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KEY BENEFITS
The A+Awards provides an unparalleled opportunity for your firm to receive
global recognition for its work. Below you can find four powerful reasons
your firm should consider submitting for The A+Awards.

• Gain worldwide exposure. Have your work seen by our esteemed Jury of
industry leaders and Architizer’s 7+ million strong online community.

• Grow your visibility exponentially with a year-round marketing package

worth more than $20,000, including press distribution to over 6,000
media outlets worldwide.

• Get published in “The World’s Best Architecture” by Architizer, the

definitive compendium of the year’s best buildings and spaces. This
stunning, hardbound book is an essential addition to all architects’
bookshelves each year.

• Secure your position on the prestigious A+List, Architizer’s annual

rundown of Architecture Firms to Watch and “who’s who” of influential
designers for the coming year.

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THE A+AWARDS
CATEGORIES
With more than 120 categories to choose from, The A+Awards offers
categories for every project size, type, and concept, as well as recognition
opportunities for all facets of the design process. See below for category
details.

/ The Typology Categories

/ The Plus Categories

/ The Firm Categories

/ The Sustainability Categories

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The Typology Categories celebrate traditional types of buildings and spaces, including commercial, cultural,
institutional, residential, hospitality, sports & recreation, transport, interior and landscape projects. Typology category
entries must be built within the past three years, unless otherwise indicated.

​​Residential Hospitality

Apartment Hotels & Resorts

Private House (XS <1000 sq ft) Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)
Private House (S 1000 - 2000 sq ft) Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)
Private House (M 2000 - 4000 sq ft) Bars & Wineries
Private House (L 4000 - 6000 sq ft) Spa & Wellness
Private House (XL >6000 sq ft) Unbuilt Hospitality
Residential Adaptive Reuse Project - NEW!
Residential Renovations & Additions Cultural
Multi Unit Housing - Low Rise (1-4 Floors)
Multi Unit Housing - Mid Rise (5-15 Floors) Cultural & Expo Centers
Multi Unit Housing - High Rise (16+ Floors) Museum
Affordable Housing Gallery & Exhibition Spaces
Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft) Hall / Theater
Residential Interiors (>3000 sq ft) Pavilions
Unbuilt - Private House (S <3000 sq ft) Religious Buildings & Memorials
Unbuilt - Private House (L >3000 sq ft) Unbuilt Cultural
Unbuilt - Multi-Unit Housing (S <10 Floors)
Unbuilt - Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors) Institutional

Commercial Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

Kindergartens
Office Building Low Rise (1-4 Floors) Primary & High Schools
Office Building Mid Rise (5-15 Floors) Higher Education & Research Facilities
Office Building High Rise (16+ Floors) Educational Interiors
Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft.) Libraries
Commercial Interiors (>25,000 sq ft.) Government & Civic Buildings
Commercial Adaptive Reuse Projects - NEW! Community Centers
Commercial Renovations & Additions Unbuilt Institutional
Remote Work and Co-Working Spaces
Retail Landscape & Planning
Shopping Center
Pop-Ups & Temporary Public Parks & Green Spaces
Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft.) Private Garden
Mixed Use (L >25,000 sq ft.) Urban and Masterplan
Factories & Warehouses Unbuilt Masterplan
Unbuilt Commercial Unbuilt Landscape

Sports & Recreation Transportation

Stadium & Arena Transportation Infrastructure

Gyms & Recreation Centers Transport Interiors
Unbuilt Sports & Recreation Unbuilt Transportation

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The Plus Categories recognize the link between conceptual and material considerations and the structures that
respond to them. The Plus - Concept awards are for projects responding to evolving global and industry considerations,
while the Plus - Details categories are devoted to innovative features and materials. Plus category entries must be built
within the past three years, unless otherwise indicated.

Concepts Concepts Cont.

Architecture +Adaptive Reuse Architecture +Renewal - NEW!

Architecture +AI - NEW! The Firm Categories
Architecture +Renovation celebrate the breadth of a firm’s
Architecture +Art achievement+Small
Architecture by showcasing
Projectsa portfolio of projects. Firm Type
Architecture +Branding awards honor+Teamwork
Architecture firms of different sizes and stages of career.
Architecture +Color Specialization
Architecture categories
+Urban honor firms that demonstrate a
Transformation
Architecture +Community strong body +Workspace
Architecture of work in a specific typology. Firm Location
Architecture +Environment categories honor firms based in different geographic regions.
Architecture +For Good Details
Firm Category entries must include at least three projects
Architecture +Health built within the last ten years.
Architecture +Brick
Architecture +Innovation
Architecture +Concrete
Architecture +Joy
Architecture +Façades
Architecture +Landscape
Architecture +Glass
Architecture +Learning
Architecture +Metal
Architecture +Light
Architecture +New Materials - NEW!
Architecture +Low Cost Design
Architecture +Stone
Architecture +Models & Rendering
Architecture +Wood
Architecture +Photography & Video
Architecture +Prefab & Modular

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The Firm Categories celebrate the breadth of
a firm’s achievement by showcasing a portfolio
of projects. The Firm Type awards honor firms
of different sizes and stages of career, while
the Specialization categories honor firms that
demonstrate a strong body of work in a specific
typology. Firm Category entries must include at least
three projects built within the last ten years.
Firm Type
Best Sole Practitioner - NEW!
Best X-Small Firm (2-5 employees)
Best Small Firm (6 - 15 employees)
Best Medium Firm (16 - 40 employees)
Best Large Firm (40+ employees)
Best Young Firm
Best Interior Design Firm
Best Young Interior Design Firm
Best Landscape Design Firm
Specialization
Best Adaptive Reuse and Renovation Firm - NEW!
Best Residential Firm
Best Commercial Firm
Best Public Projects Firm
Best Sustainable Firm
The Sustainability Categories celebrate those
projects that are contributing to a more sustainable,
equitable, and resilient built environment. Architizer
defines a “sustainable” building as one that incorporates
sustainable systems, healthy or climate positive
materials, and ethical building practices into its design,
construction and maintenance.
With the exception of the Unbuilt Categories, entries
must be built within the past three years. To be eligible
for these categories, your project must use 50% (9) of
our sustainability criteria, outlined on the Eligibility &
Guidelines Page.
Typologies
Sustainable Adaptive Reuse or Renovation Project - NEW!
Sustainable Commercial Building
Sustainable Cultural Building
Sustainable Institutional Building
Sustainable Hospitality Building
Sustainable Private House
Sustainable Multi-Unit Residential Building
Sustainable Sports & Recreation Building
Sustainable Transportation Building
Sustainable Landscape/Planning Project
Sustainable Interior Project
Sustainable Unbuilt Residential Project
Sustainable Unbuilt Non-Residential Project
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FEES & DEADLINES
Open for Entries October 9, 2023

Early Entry Deadline November 3, 2023 $245 USD

Main Entry Deadline December 15, 2023 $295 USD

Final Entry Deadline January 26, 2024 $345 USD

Extended Entry Deadline February 23, 2024 $395 USD

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SUBMISSION
GUIDELINES
Eligibility

The Architizer A+Awards are open to all firms and individuals involved
in architecture, design, planning and construction. The A+Awards is an
international awards program and participants of all nationalities are
welcome. There is no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted
by any entrant, nor is there a limit to the number of categories you may
enter. A completed online entry form and fee must accompany each entry.

Entries submitted in the Typology, Plus and Sustainability Categories

must be BUILT projects completed in the past three (3) years. The only
exceptions are the categories marked ‘Unbuilt,’ and the Plus Categories
‘Architecture +Models & Rendering’ and ‘Architecture +AI’.

Entries submitted into the Firm Categories may include built and unbuilt
projects, but must include at least three (3) projects BUILT within the past
ten (10) years.

How to enter

Entries must be completed online using our easy online submission

form at awards.architizer.com. Your submission is complete after your
online submission form is submitted and your payment for the entry fee
is received. For more information on how to submit your work to the
A+Awards, see the handy guide below.

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SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
Register or Login to Begin Your Entry
To enter, you must create an Architizer account using your
email or social media credentials. After you have logged in or
registered, creating a project entry is easy!
Click here to begin your entry: awards.architizer.com
Provide Your Entrant Details
• Entrant name and contact information
• Company information
• Alternate contact information
Select Your Category
Select the category (or categories) you would like to enter.
There is no limit to the number of categories you can enter, and
the same project can be entered into multiple categories. If
multiple categories are selected, a duplicate entry for each
category will be created automatically. You can review and edit
each entry before submitting.
Provide Your Entry details
For Typology & Plus Categories:
• Project Title
• Project Status (Year Completed)
• Project Location (City, State or Province, Country)
• Project Description (max 300 words)
• Collaborator and Client Credits (Optional)
For Sustainability Categories: Same as above, plus additional
Sustainability Questionnaire and Statement (max 200 words).
For Firm Categories:
• Firm Name
• Year Established
• Firm Headquarters Location (City, State or Province, Country)
• Architizer Profile URL (if applicable)
• Firm Statement
EDITOR’S TIP 1
Submit in More Than One Category.
You can increase your chances of being
recognized for an award by submitting
to more than one category. If your
project qualifies, you could submit it
within a Typology category, such as
residential, commercial or cultural,
and also enter it into a Plus category,
giving you the possibility of winning up
to four A+Awards (a Popular Choice
award and a Jurors award in each
category). New this year, you could also
consider the Sustainability categories
for eligible projects. In addition, you can
enter a Firm category, allowing you to
showcase a whole range of projects.
EDITOR’S TIP 2
Craft a Great Project Description
/ Firm Statement. A well written,
well edited description is crucial in
helping jurors understand your work.
For individual project submissions,
architects can include emotive words
that illustrate how a building makes the
occupant feel, or how its atmosphere
changes throughout the day, for
example. For firm category submissions,
write about what makes your firm
different from your competitors, and
how your team’s creative mission
translates into built works.
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Upload your images and/or videos:
Upload 1-12 images.
• You may include photos, renderings, drawings, models,
diagrams, and other supporting images. Please upload single
images only. (Please note the following are not accepted:
collages, images with text overlay, nor competition boards.)
• 30MB max each: jpg, jpeg, or png file
Upload 1 video (Optional)
• 2GB max: mpg, flv or mp4 file
Add titles and/or credits (Optional)
Payment
Provide payment details and confirm. Submission fees vary
depending on what date you complete your submission. You can
see the fees associated with each Entry Period within the ‘Fees
and Deadlines’ section on page 8 of this document.
Once payment has been confirmed, you will receive
a confirmation email.
EDITOR’S TIP 3
Invest in Professional Photography.
You should acquire the services of a
photographer or get your hands on
some great camera equipment in order
to celebrate your project in its best
light. Good photography is the single
biggest differentiator when jurors are
reviewing submissions. Also, bear in
mind that winning images will also be
published in the next “The World’s Best
Architecture” compendium, a visually
powerful print publication.
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JUDGING CRITERIA
The judging process for the A+Awards is designed to reflect the multi-faceted qualities of architecture.
Our outstanding cast of jurors will be asked to select winning entries based on their functional and
aesthetic qualities, as well as their innovativeness and potential to last. Entries that stand out in one or
more of the following areas stand a great chance of taking home a coveted A+Award.

For Typology, Plus and Sustainability categories, the Jury will evaluate these projects based on the
following criteria:

Form

Form is the visible shape and configuration of the project. The jury will consider how the project’s built-
form manifests the stated intent through innovative materiality, shape, spatial organization, detailing,
etc. The project’s form should have a clear stance on its relationship to its surroundings, its users and
the public at large. It isn’t enough to be beautiful – the form’s response to its site, audience and intent
should be recognizable and relevant.

Function

Function refers to achieving the purpose for which the project is intended, including for its client, users,
and the public at large. This is frequently a complex and long list of requirements that can range from
the simple (shelter) to the arcane (particular social interactions, sustainability practices). The jury will
refer to the project’s description to understand its functional goals. Projects that work well for their
intended use – in particular those that exceed programmatic, environmental, or organizational goals –
will score high marks in this area.

Impact

Architecture is a relentlessly forward-looking field that must embrace new technologies and shifting
social and demographic trends with curiosity and eagerness. Projects that take a fresh approach, work
to improve existing practices, and push material and conceptual boundaries are considered most
impactful. Impact can be measured in a multitude of ways, including environmental, material, social, and
professional, and high scores will be given to those projects that place emphasis on their potential for
positive change. Both short-term, immediate impact and long-term, potential impact will be taken into
consideration.

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JUDGING CRITERIA CONT.
In addition to the above criteria, projects entered in the Sustainability Categories must also meet a
certain benchmark for sustainability. Architizer defines a “sustainable” building as one that incorporates
Sustainable Systems, Healthy or Climate Positive Materials, and Ethical Building Practices into its
design, construction and maintenance. To be eligible for these categories, your project must feature
50% (9) of the 18 sustainability criteria below. Entries must be BUILT projects completed within the
past three (3) years, with the exception of the Unbuilt Categories.

Sustainable Systems

• Passive heating and/or ventilation strategies

• Renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaics
• Pollution, waste or water reduction or reuse measures
• Details that help improve insulation / air tightness
• Systems for improving interior air quality
• Construction waste reduction and/or recycling on site

Healthy or Climate Positive Materials

• Ethically sourced / locally sourced materials

• Salvaged / recycled materials
• Materials that can be salvaged or reused at the end of the building’s life
• Bio-based materials / materials with organic properties
• Materials meeting national or global testing standards for reduced toxicity
• Materials with low embodied carbon or environmental product declarations

Ethical Building Practices

• Considers environmental implications in its design, construction and operation

• Considers equity and the quality of life of occupants in its design, construction and operation
• Utilizes local contractors and ethical labor practices in its construction
• Adapts and/or rejuvenate existing structures and spaces for a new use
• Includes design elements that enable adaptation to a changing environment or future needs
• Includes resilient materials whose longevity can contribute to lower life-time costs to both
occupants and the environment

Eligible projects can feature any 9 (or more) of the above 18 criteria; they do not have to be split evenly
across all 3 areas. You can provide additional context and expand on the ways in which your project
meets these criteria within your Sustainability Statement (max. 200 words).

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JUDGING CRITERIA CONT.
For the Firm Categories, the Jury will evaluate these projects based on the following criteria:

Aesthetics

Aesthetics encompass the visual language of a firm’s work. The jury will consider how a firm’s portfolio
of projects manifests their stated intent through innovative materiality, form, spatial organization and
detailing. Each project’s aesthetics should be driven by its relationship to its context, its users and the
public at large. It isn’t enough to be beautiful – the best projects will display aesthetics that respond
to the unique nature of each site and their respective users, and their visual qualities should be both
intentional and well executed. Firms able to demonstrate elegant detailing, well considered spatial
transitions and a nuanced understanding of materials will score highly in this area.

Performance

Architecture is a relentlessly forward-looking field that must embrace new technologies and shifting
social and demographic trends with curiosity and eagerness. The jury will reward pioneering
firms that are forging new paths in their industry, whether it be through material innovation, formal
experimentation and/or explorative construction processes. Versatile firms that possess the ability to
innovate within a range of different project scales, typologies, geographies, social considerations and/
or budgets will score highly in this area. Firms that are rethinking typologies and testing new design
concepts to address contemporary challenges of our world.

Impact

In the face of unprecedented global challenges, the impact of the built environment is more crucial than
ever. Firms whose work prioritizes the health and wellbeing of people and the wider environment are
considered most impactful. Impact can be measured in a multitude of ways, including environmental,
material, social, and professional, and high scores will be given to firms that place emphasis on
designing for positive change. Both short-term, immediate impact and long-term, potential impact will
be taken into consideration. Firms will also be scored on how well their body of work represents their
company’s principles, philosophy and/or their unique vision for improving the built environment and/or
the industry itself through their creative processes.

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LEARN MORE
Visit the following pages to learn more about the Architizer A+Awards:

Previous Winners
winners.architizer.com

Category Details
awards.architizer.com/a/page/categories

Frequently Asked Questions

awards.architizer.com/a/page/about/faq

Jury
awards.architizer.com/a/page/judging/jury

To Submit
awards.architizer.com

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