Innovation Awards

Entrants in the main competition categories may submit additional information to be eligible for Innovation Awards.

Climate Adaptation New!

This award will recognize the top design for Climate Change Adaptation. The National Academy of Sciences defines adaptation as the adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment that exploits beneficial opportunities or moderates negative effects. Submissions for this award should have the ability to adjust to climate change through designs that anticipate, respond to, and recover from climate related stressors with minimum damage to social well-being, the economy, and the environment. The project should anticipate the need for flexibility and resilience by allowing future reconfigurations, where occupants can modify, transport, and rearrange building elements to respond to climate stressors. Criteria include clear and effective identification of current or future climate changes addressed; climate change adaptation and design for adaptability strategies; and written and graphic information showing how the project reduces environmental impacts through design for adaptability and/or scenarios depicting future building transformations. The judges may consider other green design features, but the primary focus of judging this award will be on innovative design for climate adaptability. Both built and design entries are eligible.

Learn more about adaptation on EPA's website.
 

Best Greenhouse Gas Reduction

AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE)Sponsored by: AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE)

This award will recognize the top design for adaptability and deconstruction to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of building materials by selecting durable, low embodied energy materials and extending the life of building materials through design for adaptability and reuse, and correct sizing. Criteria include innovative design for adaptability GHG-reducing concepts that can be applied broadly in U.S. construction and the clarity of written and graphic information provided on how the project reduces GHG emissions over a standard building design. The submission must include a calculation of materials-based greenhouse gas reductions using a no cost, publically available GHG emissions calculator. The judges will consider the overall calculated materials-based greenhouse gas reductions, but that will not be the primary criteria. The judges will consider other alternative energy and energy conservation design features, but the primary focus of the judging will be on innovative design for adaptability and deconstruction and materials choices to reduce embodied energy and GHG emissions of building materials. Both built and design entries are eligible.