Celebrating DISCOVERY and advancement of architectural education to graduates and practitioners through international/
domestic travel-study
The Minnesota Architectural Foundation (MAF) is delighted that you are competing in the 2025 Ralph Rapson Traveling Study Award (RRTSA). Due to the limited time frame for completing the competition, we will not be answering questions regarding the program brief. Please read the following requirements carefully. Failure to comply with guidelines may lead to disqualification from the competition. If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact Amber Allardyce.
Submission Requirements
Competitors will submit digital entries only. Digital submissions requirements have been reviewed to accommodate both a virtual and in-person jury process.
- No more than two (2) digital boards/files may be submitted.
- Each digital submission must be formatted in 20”x 30” proportions in a landscape orientation.
- A minimum of two (2) perspectives are required as part of the presentation, including one (1) overall project perspective. Other perspective sketches are at the option of the competitor.
- All boards must include a visible label identifying it as “2025 Ralph Rapson Traveling Study Award”.
- All boards/files must be anonymous and shall not include your name or reveal any authorship on any images viewed by the jury.
- The RRTSA competition is framed to be the work of a single individual competitor. All work, ideas, concepts, and designs must be work of the individual competitor unless otherwise identified as AI generated (see AI generated statement.) This is not a group project.
- Guidelines for AI Integration in the Competition: As part of this architecture design competition, we value originality, creativity, and the authenticity of each participant’s design process. To maintain a fair and transparent evaluationprocess, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in any aspect of the competition submission is discouraged. Any AI- generated component or image must be identified as such and clearly labeled on the image. Failure to comply withthese guidelines may lead to disqualification from the competition.
- No additional digital information like links to websites or videos are allowed.
- All submissions should be in high-resolution JPEG/JPG format.
- File size must not exceed 10MB per file.
- Files are to be uploaded to AwardForce (AIA Minnesota’s award submission platform) NO LATER THAN 12:00 noon (CST) on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. You are advised to create an account and complete the basic information in advance of March 4.
- Late submissions are subject to disqualification.
Digital Upload – Due March 4, 12:00 noon CST
Jury Information
Initial Jury: Thursday, March 13, 2025 (date subject to change)
During the initial jury, all entries will be juried down to a limited number of finalists (5 or less). Finalists will be notified immediately following the initial jury. All competitors will be emailed the names of the finalists after the initial jury. The jury will be determined by the RRTSA committee.
Final Jury: Thursday, March 27, 2025 (date subject to change)
All finalists are required to participate in the final jury. Finalists will participate in a full and open discussion (with the jury) of their design ideas and project concept. Additionally, they will be asked about their general travel-study plans and what they believe can be accomplished through this opportunity. Final travel-study plans and itineraries are not required at this time but a theme or intent is. The winner of the competition will be announced at a gathering of all competitors following the final jury.
On behalf of the Minnesota Architectural Foundation we thank you for competing and displaying your interest both in the competition and in architecture.
Best of luck!