Awards naturally create memorable, defining moments. Recognizing the achievements of others inspires and spurs us to create and contribute in meaningful ways to the conversation and ongoing work in our field. It’s refreshing to step outside your experiences to see what others have been doing; it allows you to see your efforts from a new perspective.

Awards are an effective way for peers and outside organizations to recognize the best design work and confirm that projects have been handled effectively and to high standards. Since architecture is a visual art, it is well-suited to an award process. Celebrating wins is gratifying, and it gives architects the motivation to reach for new goals. Those with an established reputation have a chance to continue contributing to the profession, and mentoring the up-and-coming architects. Those who are new have a chance to gain credibility and introduce new ideas. And sometimes, it’s the other way around: the new ideas may come from recognized voices, while younger architects may be the ones to teach everyone else about what is possible.

Great architectural firms are collaborative. Most architectural projects are created as a team, and architectural awards are a way to recognize team members.

Global and regional awards often highlight broad architectural trends. They can celebrate a body of work, specific achievements, and sometimes the work of people who are not architects.

Each year, AIA Utah recognizes outstanding architects in our community with the following awards:

• Special Design Recognition Award
• Merit Award
• Honor Awards

There are also several highly prestigious awards familiar in architectural circles. For example, AIA has more than 30 award programs. The top award is the Gold Medal, awarded to an individual or pair of architects who have created a practical and theoretical legacy. It is an international award and has been awarded to architects such as Frank Lloyd

Wright and Frank Gehry.
Since 1984, the UIA has been awarded by the International Union of Architects to living architects. It’s the only lifetime achievement award bestowed upon architects by their peers, presented at an awards ceremony at the end of the UIA Triennial World Congress.

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is probably the best-known award. People compare it with the Oscars, and others call it the Nobel of Architecture. The Pritzker was founded in 1979 by Jay and Cindy Pritzker, who wanted to encourage public attention to buildings.

The Architecture MasterPrize, established in 2016, is a global competition with two categories, professional and student. The award recognizes innovative thinking, new ideas and outstanding design.

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is awarded every three years, which started in 1977, and is an international award recognizing Islamic-oriented projects and preferences.

The Royal Institute of British Architects first recognized notable architecture in 1848 with the Royal Gold Medal. RIBA also sponsors other awards, including an International Prize, International Emerging Architect Prize, International Awards for Excellence and the President’s Medal for students and recent graduates. The Royal Gold Medal recognizes a body of work, not an individual building.

The Prix Versailles is a newer award. It started in 2015 and is handed out annually at UNESCO’s headquarters. There are seven categories and hundreds of winners. Submitted projects come from many nations.

Awards matter and the chance to network with other professionals at awards ceremonies is a plus. Winning an award increases team morale, which is great because architecture depends heavily on teams. Awards can also affect relationships with clients and partners by forging stronger bonds. They create a culture of achievement at firms and nurture pride in projects. They showcase the results of a lot of hard work, increase awareness of where the bar is located and how it can be raised, and provide third-party validation.