Architizer is thrilled to announce that the 11th Annual A+Awards is officially open for entries! Architecture and design firms of all sizes, locales and specialisms are invited to submit their projects and portfolios for major industry recognition, publication in print and more this year. With an Extended Entry Deadline of February 24th, 2023, the clock is ticking — get started on your submission today:
The A+Awards is the largest architectural awards program celebrating the world’s most innovative buildings and spaces. Now welcoming entries for a second decade, the global program is doubling down on its original mission — to democratize great design, highlight the transformative power of architecture, and recognize the extraordinary work of the world’s most pioneering firms, as they continually strive to improve the built environment for future generations.
Celebrating the People Behind the Projects
The 11th Annual A+Awards is dedicated to the talented teams that work so diligently to turn innovative ideas into exceptional architecture. While renowned architects deserve their praise, there are countless designers and creative minds working behind the scenes in firms around the globe, without whom the world’s best buildings could not be brought to fruition.
Throughout the season, we’ll be spotlighting some of these architects, designers, makers and creators, learning how they are turning concepts into construction and delivering pioneering projects that set new standards for the industry.
“These awards are an opportunity to share meaningful, change-making innovations, so we can continue to make even better projects for our planet and our community,” said Michael Green, Founder and Principal of Michael Green Architecture, Winner of Best Architecture Firm in North America in 2020 and 2021.
Select A+Awards Winners from last season, clockwise from top left: Wild Mile by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Awarded Best Sustainable Architecture Firm (Popular Choice Winner), photo by Dave Burk; Tony Fruit Office, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam by TAA Design, A+Awards Jury Winner in the Low Rise Office category, photo by Hoang Le; Little Island, New York, by Heatherwick Studio, A+Awards Jury Winner in the Public Parks and Green Spaces category, photo by Timothy Schenck; Wood Innovation and Design Centre by Michael Green Architecture, Awarded Best Architecture Firm in North America (Jury Winner), photo by Ema Peter Photography.
New This Year: Introducing the A+Sustainability Awards
The design and construction industry accounts for almost 40% of carbon emissions worldwide, and architects play a pivotal role in creating a more equitable, sustainable, resilient world. For its 11th season, Architizer has collaborated with industry experts to create a suite of sustainability-focused A+Awards recognizing the diverse efforts of the designers working toward a more sustainable future. These awards will highlight projects that act as positive precedent for greener building practices in their specific region and the wider world.
There are sustainability award categories for all typologies, including commercial, cultural/institutional, hospitality, private residential and multi-unit residential buildings, as well as awards for sustainable transportation, landscape/planning, and interior design projects. Two additional unbuilt categories — residential and non-residential — are dedicated to conceptual and under-development sustainable projects.
Criteria for the A+Sustainability Awards are split into three broad groups: Sustainable Systems, Healthy or Climate Positive Materials and Ethical Building Practices. To determine which of your projects to submit for the A+Sustainability Awards, you can read more about the specific eligibility criteria for the new categories here.
Fresh A+Awards Categories: Renovations & Additions, Architecture +Metaverse and More
This season also sees the addition of timely new categories honoring forward-looking and aspirational design projects in both the physical and virtual realms. A stand-out addition in the Plus categories is the Architecture +Metaverse category, designed to celebrate all kinds of Metaverse-based projects from early-stage concepts to fully developed, operational structures within this dynamic new digital space.
Additionally, the new Architecture +Innovation category is dedicated to projects that unlock new ways to build, including those that incorporate new, experimental or unconventional design concepts, materials or details, and projects that rethink traditional materials or approaches in pioneering ways.
Reflecting the growing focus on projects that involve the transformation of existing buildings and spaces, the new Residential and Commercial Renovations and Additions categories will celebrate innovation in this burgeoning field.
Finally, the new Architecture +Teamwork category is dedicated to projects that were made a reality thanks to close collaboration between architects and others within a firm, collaborations with other architecture firms, engineers, consultants, artists and artisans, product manufacturers, clients and more.
See the full list of 119 categories here.
Select A+Awards Winners from last season, clockwise from top left: The Chamber Church, Qingdao China by Büro Ziyu Zhuang, A+Awards Jury Winner in the Architecture +Metal category, photo by Shengliang Su; Striatus 3D Printed Bridge, Venice, Italy, by Zaha Hadid Architects, A+Awards Jury Winner in the Architecture +Concrete category, photo by Naaro; Winter Park Library & Events Center, Winter Park, Florida, U.S., by Adjaye Associates, A+Awards Jury Winner in the Libraries category, photo by Dror Baldinger; LR2 House by Montalba Architects, Awarded Best Architecture Firm in North America (Popular Choice Award).
A+Firm Awards: Establish Your Firm Among the World’s Best
The popular Firm Award Categories return for this year’s program, offering architecture studios around the globe an opportunity to see their entire team celebrated on the global stage. New this season, the Best Extra Small Firm Category provides an opportunity for firms with 4 or less employees to gain recognition alongside world-renowned practices like Zaha Hadid Architects, Adjaye Associates, MVRDV, SOM and more.
The Firm Award categories allows architecture and design firms to submit a range of projects completed over the past 10 years, enabling them to showcase their practice and vie for the title of “World’s Best Architecture Firm”. There are Firm Award categories for practices of all sizes and specialisms, including:
- Best Extra Small Firm, Best Small Firm, Best Medium Firm and Best Large Firm for exceptional architecture firms across all size categories (click here to discover which your firm is eligible for).
- Best Young Firm and Best Young Interior Design Firm, for innovative studios founded within the last 10 years.
- Best Interior Design Firm and Best Landscape Architecture Firm, for firms specializing in interiors and landscape design.
- Best Sustainable Firm, for architecture and design firms demonstrating excellence in the field of sustainability, energy efficiency and environmental design.
- Best Residential, Commercial, Cultural and Public Projects Firm, for firms excelling in those architectural typologies.
For a complete rundown and full eligibility requirements for the Firm Award categories, click here. Firms are entitled to enter a variety of portfolio projects for a Firm Award category alongside individual projects submitted in the Typology, Plus and Sustainability categories.
Start A+Firm Award Application
Get Published in “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture 2023”
Published annually, Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture has been called “the year’s definitive architectural guide” by Aesthetica Magazine. This stunning, hardbound compendium of the world’s most inspiring buildings features every A+Award winner, and is an essential addition to book collections of design savvy creatives around the globe. Check out last year’s edition here.
Combining stunning architectural photography, drawings and expert insights from top designers, it is a go-to resource for architects and a best-selling source of inspiration for a much wider audience. Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture is sold each year through iconic book stores and design institutions around the world.
The A+Awards maintains its commitment to the democratic judging process, with a free and fair online vote by both the public and the jury offering up two chances to win in each category. Both the Juror’s Choice Awards and Popular Choice Awards give every designer an equal opportunity to earn recognition, no matter how big or small their firm is, what type of architecture they specialize in, or where in the world they are located.
Architizer is proud to present architecture’s premier awards program, celebrating more groundbreaking architecture than ever before — and honoring those that help bring it to life. Your team and its incredible work undoubtedly deserves the spotlight, so don’t hesitate: Submit your entries before February 24th, 2023 to get your firm in the running. Best of luck from all of us at Architizer!