2026 Design Awards Students Category
ONLINE SUBMISSION NOW OPEN FOR
ARCHITECTURAL STUDENTS
Since 1958, the AIA Honolulu Annual Design Awards Program has provided an avenue for AIA Honolulu member architects to be recognized by their peers for their outstanding achievements and dedication to excellence in architectural design.
In 2016, AIA Honolulu was proud to provide the same opportunity for students, for the first time ever. AIA Honolulu is dedicated to supporting the architectural programs of all our community's schools. The Student Category was established to recognize student achievements in the design studio and provide a forum for student work to be celebrated beyond the academic setting.
2026 Key Dates for Architectural Students
Submissions Open: Monday, March 23, 2026
Submissions Deadline: Friday, June 5, 2026
Design Awards Celebration: Friday, July 24, 5:30-9pm at the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu. Winners will be announced.
Student Submission Fee
- $50 - Architectural Students (Individual or Group Projects)
After Tuesday, May 19, 2026 no refund requests from entrants will be considered.
Start Your Online Submission TODAY
You will create a unique login for your submission account when you enter online.
Start today and review/edit until the above mentioned submission deadline.
Submission Guidelines for Architectural Students
View and print our AIA Honolulu Design Awards Information (PDF) below for detailed information on submission dates, fees, eligibility, submission requirements, project categories, award levels and jury.
Eligibility Requirements for Architectural Students
- You must be currently registered as a student(s) within an architectural design program in Hawaii or have recently graduated (within 6 months from submission due date) from an architectural program in Hawaii. Qualifying design programs include 1) Environmental + Interior Design Program at Chaminade University, 2) Architectural, Engineering and CAD Technologies Program at Honolulu Community College, and 3) Bachelor of Environmental Design, Master of Landscape Architecture, Global Track, Master of Architecture, or Doctor of Architecture program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture.
- Work must be completed entirely and solely by the student(s), and must have been completed within the past two semesters prior to the entry deadline. EXCEPTION: Work from studios/classes that ended after the 2025 AIA Student Design Awards deadline on June 3, 2025 are eligible.
- Work must be architectural or three-dimensional in nature. Graphic design projects will not be considered.
- Group projects are acceptable, but recognition must be given to each team member.
- Projects submitted must be an assignment of an academic design program. Projects completed in a professional work or freelance setting are not permitted.
- Only one project allowed to be submitted per student.
- Undergraduate students must submit undergraduate-level work.
- Graduate students must submit graduate-level work.
- Capstone projects or capstone research and Doctoral projects or doctoral research are ineligible for submission.
- Paid UH Community Design Studio projects are ineligible; however, academic UH Community Design Studio projects are eligible.
- Projects that received a previous AIA Honolulu Student Design Award are ineligible.
Project & Awards Categories
There will be an Award of Excellence and Honorable Mentions for the following categories:
- Undergraduate
- Graduate
Number of awards at each level is at the Jury's discretion.
- Undergraduate category:
- Chaminade University: Current and recently graduated (within one year) students of the Environmental+Interior Design Program
- Honolulu Community College: Current and recently graduated (within one year) students of the Architectural, Engineering and CAD Technologies Program
- University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture: Current and recently graduated students (within one year) of the Bachelor of Environmental Design program are eligible. However, work must be from 2nd year undergraduate-level design studio minimum.
- Graduate category:
- University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture: Current students of any graduate program are eligible. Submission work must be from a graduate-level studio, however, capstone or doctoral projects and research are ineligible.
Award Levels
Award of Excellence - Requires unanimous vote of the jury that a project excels in all aspects. Reserved for those projects which stand out from all of the meritorious award winners. This highest honor recognizes projects which are deemed to exemplify excellence of architectural design on all levels of analysis, and exemplify the highest standards of student achievement.
Honorable Mention - Responds to notable achievements in one or more particular project aspects; area(s) that stood out, as agreed through consensus by the jury.
2026 Student Design Awards Jury
Juror selection is based upon locating impartial individuals who represent high levels of achievement, design quality and professional integrity. Every attempt is made to create a balanced panel that will provide fair judgment to all entries, regardless of project type, scale or requirements.
Stay Tuned for Our 2026 Esteemed Student Jurors!
Entry Policy
Each project must be individually submitted online. Payment processing is done on a per entry basis. You will create a unique login as a user and can go back and review and edit your submission until the deadline.
After Tuesday, May 19, 2026 no refund requests from entrants will be considered. There will be no refunds for submissions that are LATE, INCOMPLETE, or disqualified per the deadlines/guidelines of this awards program.
Awards Publication
AIA has maintained an excellent partnership with aio Media Group, publisher of Hawaii Business Magazine. This alliance positions our members within a core readership of business and professional leaders as well as potential private clients. All winners will receive the September issue.
Mahalo 2026 AIA Honolulu Design Awards Sponsors
Dickey Sponsor
Wood Sponsors
Ossipoff Sponsors
Preis Sponsors
