AIA Minnesota

AIA Minnesota Awards

Residential Architect of Distinction Award

Honoring residential architects licensed for over 15 years who have exemplified architectural excellence or made meaningful contributions to the field of residential design.

The Residential Architect of Distinction Award (formerly the Architect of Distinction Award) is presented every two years to a residential architect who has been licensed for at least 15 years and has demonstrated architectural excellence in design, craft, and materiality, or has made significant contributions to the advancement of residential design.

The entry deadline for the 2026 AIA Minnesota Residential Architect of Distinction Award is March 13, 2026, at 12:00 noon CST.

Christopher Strom, AIA, Receives 2024 Residential Architect of Distinction Award

“Christopher should be commended not only for his design work but for his advocacy on policy that helps shape the built environment. This legacy will impact the profession and our cities at a scale beyond that of the typical work of a residential architect.”

Read the press release
Architect Christopher Strom, AIA
Photo credit: Alyssa Lee Photography

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a member in good standing of AIA Minnesota.
  • Have been licensed to practice architecture for at least 15 years by the submission deadline.

Selection Criteria

Submissions must demonstrate architectural excellence or meaningful contributions to residential design in one or both of the following areas:

  • Design Excellence: Creation of residential buildings and environments that enrich and elevate the built community.
  • Practice Excellence: Leadership in practice, including management, innovative project delivery methods, and/or specialized technical expertise.

Optional Supporting Criteria

Submissions may also address the following areas:

  • Commitment to Sustainability: Demonstrated through resource-efficient, resilient projects that contribute to a healthy environment. Project examples should indicate alignment with the 10 measures of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
  • Service to the Client: A sustained commitment to professional responsibility and the well-being of each client.
  • Service to the Community: Involvement in AIA, historic preservation boards, or similar community organizations.
  • Advocacy: Promotion of the value of—and expanded access to—residential architecture through public speaking, publications, or public policy engagement.
  • Mentorship: Support of the next generation of residential architects through academic teaching or professional guidance.

Residential Architect of Distinction Award Process & Past Recipients

Submission Requirements

All materials must be submitted through AIA Minnesota’s online awards platform. Candidates may self-submit, or any current AIA member may nominate an eligible individual.

Each submission must include:

  • Design Philosophy Statement: A description of the candidate’s unique design philosophy and architectural approach (maximum 250 words).
  • Professional Achievements: A summary of the candidate’s professional and/or personal accomplishments (maximum 500 words).
  • Project Portfolio: Visual documentation of five built single-family residential projects that illustrate the candidate’s design philosophy. The candidate must have served as the lead or principal designer on each project. At least one project must have been completed within the past five years.
  • Project Descriptions: A written description for each project (maximum 200 words per project), including an explanation of how the project aligns with one or more measures of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Three to four letters from a client, employer, colleague, collaborator, or contractor. If nominated by another AIA member, one letter must be from the nominator.
  • Optional: Additional documentation demonstrating the candidate’s qualifications, such as unbuilt work, publications, lectures, or other public advocacy related to residential architecture.
Timeline

March 13, 2026, at 12:00 noon CST: Submission window closes

Late March/early April: Jury

April: Recipient and unsuccessful candidates informed of selections

August: Recipient honored at the AIA Minnesota Summer Awards Celebration

Jury Composition

The Residential Architect of Distinction Award jury is composed of:

  • One AIA Minnesota Committee on Design member
  • One previous Residential Architect of Distinction Award recipient
  • One AIA Fellow
  • Two additional AIA member leaders

The members of the 2026 Residential Architect of Distinction Award jury will be listed here in the coming weeks.

Anonymity Requirement

All submissions must remain anonymous. The architect’s name and firm must not appear in project images, descriptions, or supporting documents. Candidate identification information will not be visible to jurors during review. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification.

Past Recipients

2024  Christopher Strom, AIA
2019  Jean Rehkamp Larson, AIA
2018  Eric Odor, AIA
2017  Christine Albertsson, AIA
2016  Mark Larson, AIA
2015  Dale Mulfinger, FAIA
2014  Katherine Hillbrand, FAIA
2013  Rosemary McMonigal, FAIA
2012  Sarah Nettleton, FAIA
2011  Julie Snow, FAIA
2010  Tom Ellison, AIA
2009  Tim Alt, AIA
2008  Dan Nepp, AIA
2007  Tom Meyer, FAIA
2006  Kelly Davis, AIA
2005  Charles Stinson, AIA
2004  David Salmela, FAIA 

Entry Deadline

Application deadline is Friday, March 13, 2026, at 12:00 noon CST.
Start Your Submission

Recent Recipient

Architect Jean Rehkamp Larson, AIA

2019 Recipient

Jean Rehkamp Larson, AIA

“Thoughtful and carefully explored design ideas are evident in all Jean’s projects, and she has made a number of important contributions to advancing the profession and developing the next generation of design professionals.”

Staff

Editor-in-Chief

Chris Hudson, Hon. AIAMN

Public Outreach Manager

Ann Mayhew