The biennial Affordable Housing Design Award, supported by the McKnight Foundation, recognizes and promotes innovative, high-quality architectural design for affordable housing. It aims to:

• Elevate the visibility and stature of affordable housing design to build broader public support
• Recognize design and development teams, as well as affordable housing organizations, that have completed exemplary affordable housing projects
• Foster a broader understanding of how financing strategies, cost considerations, diverse client populations, and community-based design processes shape successful architectural outcomes
• Highlight affordable housing projects that advance environmental justice and equity

Submissions are open to all affordable housing design projects, from single-family homes and transitional housing to affordable apartment buildings.

The submission window for the 2027 Affordable Housing Design Award will open April 1, 2027, and close May 28 at 12:00 noon CST.

Eligibility

A wide range of project types are eligible, including single-family homes, supportive housing developments, temporary shelters, renovations, adaptive reuse, mixed-use developments, and new construction. Previous recipients of this award are not eligible.

Projects must meet all of the following criteria:

• The project must have been completed and placed in service within the past seven years. Eligible submissions include individual buildings, building complexes, preservation or restoration projects, and interior architecture projects.
• The design must have been completed in Minnesota by an AIA Minnesota member or a team of members who practice in accordance with Minnesota architectural registration laws and comply with federal wage and labor laws, including not employing unpaid intern architects. For team submissions, a majority of the design work must have been performed in Minnesota.
• The project must provide at least one housing unit or shelter bed.
• The project should incorporate the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and advance healthy, resilient, and climate-responsive design solutions.
• At least 20 percent of the housing units (but no fewer than one unit) must be occupied by, or reserved for, residents earning no more than 80 percent of the Area Median Income, or the project must utilize a recognized affordable housing financing vehicle. Projects are expected to exceed local minimum zoning requirements for affordable units.

Additional consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate deep affordability and significant community impact.

Selection Criteria

Jurors will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

• Responsiveness to Need: How creatively and effectively does the project respond to the client’s goals and the needs of the population served? How well does it address demographic trends and regional demand for affordable housing?
• Collaboration and Engagement: Was the project developed through a strong, collaborative team process? To what extent did it engage the broader community, including neighbors, future occupants, and the public?
• Long-Term Value and Impact: Does the project provide lasting value to the client, residents, and the community? How does the design support long-term financial stability and social well-being? Do the design strategies encourage community interaction and strengthen social networks?
• Design Excellence: Does the project demonstrate exceptional design quality? How well does it respond to its physical and social context, while addressing constraints such as funding requirements and regulatory guidelines?