We oversee the creation and implementation of all AIA Minnesota award programs. We secure jurors and participation in awards selection processes. We ensure the regular review and evolution of awards and recognitions, advancing the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and shining a light on the people, project teams, and firms who make Minnesota’s architecture community one of the best in the nation.
AIA members and architecture students are welcome to join us at any time during the year.
View the Committee Charter (PDF)
The Committee on Design is involved in the oversight and implementation of awards programs focused on projects, individuals, teams, and firms. Committee members identify and recruit award jury candidates and serve on juries themselves for several awards.
AIA MN celebrates the accomplishments of its members at the Summer Awards Celebration and in events and sessions at the AIA MN Conference. The committee serves as a sounding board, providing input on how projects and individuals are recognized.
The committee develops opportunities to highlight exceptional design work and practitioners, including the annual 2+2 session at the AIA MN Conference, where recent FAIAs are paired with AIA MN Young Architect Award winners to discuss design principles.
Good design elevates any project, no matter how small, with a thoughtful process that delivers both beauty and function in balance. It is the element that binds all the principles together with a big idea.
Go in-depth on Design for IntegrationDesign solutions affect more than the client and current occupants. Good design positively impacts the future by helping communities thrive—socially, economically, and environmentally.
Go in-depth on Design for Equitable CommunitiesGood design mutually benefits human and nonhuman inhabitants. What we design has a direct impact on the ecosystems in and around the site. Understanding the site dynamics will allow us to be more conscious of our impacts.
Go in-depth on Design for EcosystemsGood design conserves and improves the quality of water as a precious resource.
Go in-depth on Design for WaterGood design adds economic value for owners, occupants, the community, and the planet—regardless of the project size and budget.
Go in-depth on Design for EconomyGood design reduces energy use and eliminates dependence on fossil fuels while improving building performance, function, comfort, and enjoyment.
Go in-depth on Design for EnergyGood design supports health and well-being for all people—considering physical, mental, and emotional effects on building occupants and the surrounding community.
Go in-depth on Design for Well-beingGood design depends on informed material and resource selection—balancing priorities to achieve durable, safe, and healthy projects with an equitable, sustainable supply chain to minimize possible negative impacts on the planet.
Go in-depth on Design for ResourcesGood design is adaptable, resilient, and flexible to change over time—reducing the building’s risk and vulnerability and enhancing its usability, functionality, and value.
Go in-depth on Design for ChangeEvery design project presents a unique opportunity to apply lessons learned from previous projects and discover new information to refine the design and construction process.
Go in-depth on Design for Discovery
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