You will receive an e-mail identifying your entry number(s) after the registration deadline is complete. If you have multiple entries, each entry number will correspond with the specific category of your entry. 

Entry materials are due to AIA Nebraska on Monday, July 13, 2026 by 11:59 pm (CST). 

2026 Entry Categories

Architecture
Encourage and recognize excellence in all sizes and classifications of single new buildings, restoration, and adaptive reuse designed by an AIA Nebraska licensed architect.

Interior Architecture
Encourage and recognize excellence in interior architecture designed by an AIA Nebraska licensed architect.

Unbuilt Design
Architectural design work that, to date remains unbuilt. Unbuilt architectural designs of any project type are eligible, including purely theoretical projects and unbuilt client sponsored projects, such as buildings, interiors, transportation infrastructure, and monuments designed by an AIA Nebraska licensed architect.

Architectural Detail
Encourage and recognize architectural detail or reinforce an overall building concept in an exceptional manner through use of a particular material, detail, or building technology by an AIA Nebraska licensed architect. A detail from a project submitted for recognition in another category may be submitted in this category if the submission clearly highlights a specific detail.

Don Littler Excellence in Masonry Design Award
This award recognizes AIA Nebraska–licensed architects for excellence in the technical and creative use of site-installed stone, clay, and/or concrete masonry to meet aesthetic and functional design challenges. Unique details are encouraged. Projects utilizing precast concrete systems are not eligible. Sponsored by the Nebraska Masonry Alliance. (Reestablished 2016)

Emerging Professional: Built & Unbuilt
Recognizes contributions of an emerging professional on a single built or unbuilt project, designed by an AIA Nebraska Associate member (40 or under) or AIAS Nebraska member. Team projects are eligible if every member meets eligibility requirements. All digital and physical submissions, including renderings and slideshows, must be the contributions of the emerging professionals responsible for the project submitted. 

If an emerging professional was responsible for only certain parts of a larger project, only portions designed by the qualified entrant may be eligible. If a project is submitted for the AIA Nebraska Excellence in Design Awards, it is not eligible for the Emerging Professional Excellence in Design Awards. Meant to recognize young designers, not companies.  Entries that are submitted under company names will not be considered. (Revised 2020)

Regional & Urban Design
Recognizes excellence in multi-building campus design, urban planning and emphasizes its importance in the community. Urban design projects, planning programs, civic improvements, campus plans, environmental programs, redevelopment projects, or other similar projects and programs may be entered. Individual buildings are not eligible. Incomplete or ongoing projects or programs are eligible if a significant portion has been completed, implemented, or adopted by a local jurisdiction or authority. Acknowledging the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of profession, a project in this category may have been led by multiple disciplines. In order to be eligible for this project category, a key member of the design team must have been an AIA Nebraska member. (Established 2020)

25-Year Award
Recognizes longstanding and timeless excellence in architecture and emphasizes its importance to a Nebraska community. Entries must be a completed building project in Nebraska, a single building or groups of buildings, completed at least 25 but not more than 50 years ago. The building must be standing in substantially completed form and in good condition; it should still carry out the basic original program. It must have excellence in function in the distinguished execution of its original program and in the creative aspects of its statement by today's standards. Restorations, rehabs, and interior design projects are excluded from consideration. Significant additions to buildings will be considered. Buildings submitted for consideration do not have to be designed by a Nebraska firm; however, the building must be located in Nebraska. Entries must be nominated or submitted by a current AIA Nebraska member. For consideration, the project does not need to be nominated by the firm of record. Projects will be evaluated based on the images and written description only. The jury will not visit buildings.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions will be submitted through AIA Nebraska digitally. Any submission not following these guidelines will not be accepted, no exceptions. The maximum size of the entry submission should not exceed 2GB.

PowerPoint Submission

The AIA Nebraska Design template is the only format which will be accepted. Please name your PowerPoint using your entry number, example: 100

Architecture, Interior Architecture, Unbuilt, Emerging Professional Built & Unbuilt, Regional & Urban Design:

A title slide to include the entry number, entry name, architect|firm, location and owner.
Up to 8 descriptive slides which sufficiently describe the project.
One slide including site plan.
One slide representing the floor plan

Architectural Detail and Masonry Categories:

A title slide to include the entry number, entry name, architect|firm, location and owner
Up to 3 slides which sufficiently describe the overall project
Up to 6 slides which sufficiently describe the specific detail or masonry element.
One slide including the site plan

Images may either be color or black and white. Images may not be manipulated or enhanced in any way that changes the building. Environmental replacements/enhancements, removal or transformation of building surfaces, materials and mechanical/electrical appurtenances is not permitted. There is not a limit of images per slide. 11 Slides maximum. Client logos on the building are permitted. No firm, architect name(s), may appear in the image.

Click here for an example of the PowerPoint.

Publicity Photographs

Each entry is required to have 2 photographs for publicity releases. One professional photographer’s images may be submitted per entry. Please name photographs using your entry number, example: 100_1 & 100_2.

Image requirements:

JPEG format. Minimum image size of 5x7 inches or 1024x768 pixels. Image quality 300 dpi.

Data Submission: Required Concealed Identification Form + Required Descriptive Data Digital Submission

The Required Descriptive Data Form is the only information provided to the jury. Each submission must contain a precise program statement – 200 words maximum – to include information relating to the site, floor plan(s) and context, explanation for the design intentions and approach, description of the solution including materials and systems employed if applicable. Photographs or logos are not permitted on these pages. Reference to project name or client name within descriptive data is not permitted and will be disqualified.

Please note any submissions that include student involvement must be identified and recognized as a collaborative partner on visual and data submission.

Summary

The following materials must be included in each submission. 

PowerPoint Presentation - 11 slides maximum
2 Publicity Photographs - please identify per instructions
Required Concealed Identification Form 
Required Descriptive Data Form 

Jury

Jury members will represent a diverse and inclusive representation from the architectural community, outside the State of Nebraska. The jury chair will assemble a jury of (2) representatives from the Chair’s location or region. The majority of members must be licensed AIA members, and a balance of representation from small, medium and large firms.  

Awards

AIA Nebraska winning entrants will not be notified in advance. Design Award winners will be presented at the Excellence in Design Gala on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. Additional information will be available. 

Questions:

Contact Tyler Patterson, tyler@aiane.org, (402) 858-1929.

 

Required Descriptive Data for Jury –  Reference to project name or client name within text is not permitted and will be disqualified.

Required Concealed Data

Name and City sufficient for the following:

Owner(s) (if applicable):

Cerification:

By submitting this entry to AIA Nebraska, the entrant agrees the information contained in this Entry submission and on this “Concealed Identification” form is correct and complete, and that the entrant will hold harmless AIA Nebraska, a Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for any and all damages arising out of its use of the information on this form and in this Entry submittal.  Any and all errors or omissions are the responsibility of the entrant.  Each entrant further certifies that permission has been obtained from the owner and photographer to publish the photographs submitted and all information submitted and to take further photographs and obtain further information about the above listed project and releases and each entrant authorizes the AIA NE reserves the right to use entry submissions for educational programs, people’s choice award program and in future promotion of the awards progression and the profession.  Entrants further acknowledge the Jury decisions will be final based on verification of compliance to submittal requirements.

To see an example of the PowerPoint submission click here.

Submit your photos and PowerPoint here.

When you are submitting your photos and PowerPoint, please label using your entry number (i.e. 100_01 & 100_2) for photos or 100 for PowerPoint.