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Design Awards

DA
For those who want to collaborate on continuously evolving our members’ recognition of design excellence
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Photo Credit © Victory V

About Us

The mission of the AIA NOVA Design Awards committee is to promote Design Excellence and awareness in the community, through the adoption of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. The primary goal of the Design Awards Committee is to promote and celebrate Design Excellence generated by the members of the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter, and coordinate with other design programs in the region to recognize the work of our chapter. Submissions are organized into seven categories for consideration, historic, institutional, commercial, commercial interiors, infrastructure and unbuilt. Each year the committee reaches out to other AIA chapters across the United States with similar membership qualities and numbers to select that year’s jury for the submissions. The winning projects for that year are celebrated at a summer Design Awards Gala Event in a significant architecture space in the community.

Involvement in the Design Awards Committee is a rewarding experience with opportunities to participate in jury selection, gala awards event venue selection, catering options, media coordination, submission guideline updates, submittal organization, graphics development, presentation elements and sponsorship development.

Our Leadership

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Roland Lemke, AIA

2025 Co-Chair
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JPaul Lewis, AIA

2025 Co-Chair

Check Out Latest News

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08/10/2025

Now Accepting Applications: AIA Northern Virginia 2026 ELA Nomination & Grant + ARE® Scholarship

AIA Northern Virginia is committed to fostering the development of future leaders in the field and recognizing those that have distinguished themselves by their passion and commitment to design. We are excited to announce that applications are now open for two great opportunities: the Virginia Emerging Leaders Nomination & Grant program and the AIA NoVA ARE® Scholarship.    These programs
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07/20/2025

Opportunity to Learn What it Takes to Start Your Own Firm: Oct. 28

AIA Northern Virginia is pleased to announce the inaugural launch of “So, You Want to Start Your Own Firm?” supported by a grant from the AIA Trust and its sponsors, Victor and CNA. This day-long program is geared towards anyone on an architecturally-entrepreneurial journey in Northern Virginia and the surrounding areas, whether in-school, newly graduated, established and currently working as
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Photo Credit ©️ AIA NoVA
06/24/2025

Meet The Jury for Design Awards 2025

Each year, the Chairs of our Design Award committee travel to a quadrant of the country, visiting a different city in search of new architect professionals to review and judge our Chapter’s Design Award submissions. This year, the Design Awards headed to St. Louis, Missouri. The jury was held at the offices of CannonDesign on Thursday, May 1 and Friday,
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Photo Credit © Victory V
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Photo Credit © JPLimagery
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Photo Credit © Victory V
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Photo Credit © JPLimagery