Submissions must include the following materials:

• Project Description (300 words maximum)
  Provide a concise overview of the project, including its purpose, key features, and overall design intent.
• Project History (500 words maximum)
  Include a timeline and summary describing how the project developed from inception to completion. Address the client’s perspective throughout the process and describe the project’s impact on the client and broader community.
• Framework for Design Excellence Summary (500 words maximum)
  Provide an overview of how the project aligns with the Framework for Design Excellence. Projects are not required to address every measure within the Framework; however, submissions should identify the most relevant measures and describe project performance using supporting narratives and metrics where applicable.
• Supporting Exhibits
  Please include the following documents and images:
  • A minimum of one (1) floor plan sufficient to describe the building
  • One (1) building section, if applicable (optional)
  • A minimum of three (3) exterior photographs, including both original and current photography whenever possible
  • A minimum of three (3) interior photographs, including both original and current photography whenever possible
  • One (1) site plan

File Requirements: All exhibits must be submitted in JPG or PDF format. File sizes may not exceed 10 MB per exhibit.

Entrants are responsible for ensuring that the architecture firm’s name does not appear in the submission materials. Failure to comply will result in automatic disqualification.

June 1, 2026: Submission window opens

July 17 at 12:00 noon CST: Submission window closes

Late July/early August: Jury

August: Recipients and nominators of unsuccessful entries informed of selections

November: Celebration of 25 Year Award recipient at the AIA Minnesota Annual Conference (most likely on November 9)

Submissions will be evaluated by a jury consisting of:

• One Committee on Design member
• One past 25 Year Award recipient or a faculty member from the University of Minnesota or Dunwoody College
• One past Young Architect Award recipient
• One AIA Minnesota Fellow
• One additional AIA Minnesota member leader

The members of the 2026 25 Year Award jury will be listed here in June 2026.

2025
FAIR School for Arts in downtown Minneapolis, designed by Cuningham Group Architecture (now Cuningham)

2024
Hennepin County Public Works Facility in Medina, Minnesota, designed by Alliiance

2023
St. John’s University’s Sexton Commons in Collegeville, Minnesota, designed by Rafferty Rafferty Tollefson Lindeke (RRTL) Architects (now Architecture Advantage)

2022
Weesner Family Amphitheater, Minnesota Zoological Gardens, in Apple Valley, Minnesota, designed by HGA