August 5, 2024 – October 4, 2024

Submissions are open to projects completed after January 1, 2021. Projects can be located anywhere in the world but must have been designed by an architect(s) registered in Georgia.

To be eligible, an entrant must:

• Have been a registered architect in Georgia at the time of project construction
• Have held the primary design responsibility, functioning as lead architect in cases of joint-venture teams
• Recognize all firms and/or individuals involved in the design process
• Submit a project not previously awarded by AIA Atlanta
• Not have used any unpaid labor in the past 10 years

New Category: Affordable & Workforce Housing

The 2024 RHDA introduces a new category, Affordable & Workforce Housing. This category recognizes architecture that demonstrates exceptional design responses to the needs and constraints of affordable housing.

Projects are eligible if a minimum of 20 percent of occupants are at or below 80 percent of the area median income and/or utilize any current affordable housing financing vehicle. Submissions should describe the occupant income mix.

RHDA comprises a two-part submission process that allows entrants to register projects now and submit materials later.

Entrants may register up to three projects at a time, with no overall maximum.

Step 1: Register Your Projects

Provide your project and contact information. After completing payment, you’ll be directed to the project submission form. This two-part process ensures fairness by keeping firm identities confidential from the jury.

Step 2: Submit Project Materials and Photos

To maintain anonymity, ensure that submissions do not reveal the design team or firm outside of the designated fields.

Submissions include project information, credits, photos, and additional documentation outlined in the Call for Entries.

Honor (highest recognition) and Merit awards are evaluated based on:

• How well the architect frames, addresses, and solves the key problems unique to this project, such as site, materials, context, codes, and community
• Notable elements in response to the AIA Framework for Design Excellence; Meeting all criteria is not necessary, but greater adherence will be viewed favorably
• Creative design responses to the existing site, building program, and community
• Innovative approaches to the use of materials, lighting, structural systems, or building skin technology
• How the design accommodates a variety of lifestyles, such as aging in place or changing physical needs of the occupants
• Overall design excellence

Affordable & Workforce Housing submissions are also evaluated based on:

• Responsiveness to client and occupant needs
• Increased affordability as demonstrated in occupant income levels
• Provision of a long-term asset to the client, occupants, and the community

Jury

The jury is comprised of noted architecture professionals. The RHDA committee or jury may make any interpretations necessary to carry out the intent of the awards, as well as move projects to a different category as deemed appropriate. Entries are subject to disqualification at the discretion of the committee or jury based on eligibility. The decisions made by the jury are final. Finalists will be notified before the winners are announced.

First Submission – AIA Members
$225

First Submission – Nonmembers
$300

Subsequent Submissions – All
$200