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2025 AIAJ Design Awards Submission Deadline
November 14 @ 5:00 pm
The AIA Japan Chapter invites AIA members assigned to the Japan Chapter, as well as AIA members working on projects in Japan, to submit their projects for the 2025 AIA Japan Design Award Program by November 14, 2025. The 2025 AIA Japan Design Award Ceremony is scheduled for December 13, 2025.
The mission of the AIA Japan Design Awards Program is to encourage excellence in architectural design and planning, and to provide a platform through which architects can gain recognition from both their peers and the public. The goal is to elevate the standards of architectural design excellence for the benefit of the architectural community and society at large.
With five distinct categories—Architecture (large-scale project), Architecture (small-scale project, single detached house), Interior Architecture, Urban Planning, and a Special Entry Category welcoming architects who have not yet joined the AIA—the AIA Japan Design Awards provide a comprehensive platform for architects to showcase their creativity and technical prowess.
JURORS
We are also honored to introduce this year’s distinguished jury:
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Michel van Ackere, AIA, Professor-in-Practice, Meiji University I-AUD; Former Associate, Maki and Associates; Founding President, AIA Japan
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Shirin Frangoul-Brückner, Managing Director and founding partner of ATELIER BRÜCKNER
- Rita Topa, Partner, Kengo Kuma & Associates; Portuguese Architect/Urban Planner based in Tokyo
Together, they bring an exceptional range of expertise across architecture, interiors, and urban design. We look forward to recognizing outstanding design achievements that reflect innovation, craft, and cultural dialogue.
AWARDS: AIA Japan Award (優秀賞)、Honorable Mention (佳作賞)
The jury will determine the number of awards in each category. They may also decide not to award any submitted projects in a category. Awards are based on quality, not competition, and there is no limit on the number of awards.
ENTRY CATEGORIES
| ARCHITECTURE SMALL PROJECT (single-family detached home or less than 500 m² gross floor area) |
Eligible entries may be either new construction or renovation/restoration. |
| ARCHITECTURE LARGE PROJECT (more than 500 m² gross floor area) |
Eligible entries may be either new construction or renovation/restoration. |
| INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE | Eligible entries may be large or small in scope and may involve new construction, renovation, or preservation/restoration. |
| URBAN PLANNING | Eligible entries may include urban design projects, planning projects, civic amenity improvements, campus plans, environmental programs, or redevelopment projects. Projects should not be individual buildings. |
| SPECIAL ENTRY | Includes one-year AIA membership with free entry; follows the same rules as the four categories above and entrants must register with AIA Japan. Entrants are required to complete a membership application and purchase one membership for the current year via the AIA website. Membership Application: https://www.aia.org/membership |
- For multiple-building projects, the submitting Architect (or portion thereof) must provide detailed evidence of authorship for the relevant portion.
- Projects for architecture large project, small project, and interiors must be built work completed between January 1, 2020, and October 31, 2025. For the Urban Planning Category, incomplete or ongoing projects may be recognized if a significant portion has been completed or implemented by a local authority since January 1, 2015.
- For “Special Entry” Category, you will be required to produce evidence that you have applied for AIA membership as part of the submission review process. If submitting multiple projects, only one accompanying membership application is required.
FEES AND ELIGIBILITY
| APPLICANT CATEGORY | FEE |
| AIA Japan Chapter | 10,000 JPY per entry |
| Other Chapters | 100 USD per entry, includes international transaction and currency conversion charges. |
| Non-Member | Free with proof of membership application |
- Multiple entries by the same individual are allowed.
- Entrants must be AIA members assigned to the Japan Chapter or AIA members with a project in Japan, in good standing, including Architect members, International Associate AIA (Int. Assoc. AIA) members, and AIA Honorary members. Membership must be valid and active as of November 15, 2025.
- Entrants must also be able to claim authorship or significant authorship of the project being submitted.
APPLICATION
Accepting submissions until Friday, November 14, 2025 at 5:00pm Japan Standard Time (JST), UTC+9. Download application materials now for further detailed instructions on how to submit.
FOR INQUIRY
- Please contact the Award Program Coordinator or a Committee Member for further information.
- Email: aiaj.design.awards@gmail.com
AWARDS CEREMONY
Awards will be presented during the Year-End Event on Saturday, December 13, 2025. AIA Japan Chapter encourages all entrants to attend the AIA Japan Design Award Ceremony. Award winners are required to present their project for 5–10 minutes at the ceremony.
SAVE THE DATE MORE DETAILS TO COME!