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2024 BSA Design Awards

The BSA Design Awards program celebrates exemplary innovation in the built environment, investment from committed clients, and the unique power of architecture to design buildings and spaces that transform communities and shape the way we live. The BSA honors projects that embody the values of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and the BSA’s vision of building a just and sustainable Boston, together.

Architecture is ever evolving. Architects play important roles in leveraging the power of design to create innovative processes and new design ideas that create positive social and environmental impact.

The 2024 BSA’s Design Awards program invites visions of varying scales and resources that challenge practice, lead sustainability progress, and broaden conversations about resilience in design.


You can begin submitting here.



Check out the 2023 Design Awards winning projects and firms, featured here.


2024 Design Awards

The BSA Design Awards program no longer runs on cycles, so you may submit projects of any type for consideration.

We have structured the Design Awards program into THREE main categories – to recognize the diversity of our members and to create a system for jury reviews of both metrics and design based on typology. Divisions include:

BUILT DESIGN EXCELLENCE – Recognizing measured design excellence through performance metrics in all completed projects
SMALL FIRMS – Recognizing design excellence through performance narratives in all completed projects. Eligible for firms of 10 or fewer employees.
UNBUILT PLANNING & DESIGN  Recognizing the promise of design excellence in the broadest possible range of research, conceptual exploration and innovation in design thinking for initiated and theoretical projects.

  • All building typologies are welcome in BUILT DESIGN EXCELLENCE, SMALL FIRMS, or UNBUILT PLANNING & DESIGN categories – However, awards may not be bestowed for every typology.

  • The SMALL FIRMS category is eligible to firms of 10 or fewer employees.

  • JURIES will review metrics, narratives, and design based on a range of topics, including accessibility, social responsibility, technology advancements, sustainability and more.

  • The BSA Design Awards emphasize the AIA’s Design Excellence criteria that are highlighted in the COMMON APP to evaluate zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built projects.

  • Innovation can be demonstrated at multiple levels. We encourage emerging ideas and theoretical projects that demonstrate the AIA’s Design Excellence criteria from professionals and students for UNBUILT PLANNING & DESIGN.


Have additional questions?

Want to learn more about the BSA Design Awards? Find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), or contact the BSA at awards@architects.org or 617.391.4017.

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