2026 Residential Architecture Awards
Residential Design is the purview of a wide array of practices. From young offices developing their own design language to established firms refining a sensibility or investigating new ideas. Celebrating these firms and projects are the AIA|LA Residential Architecture Awards (RAA’s). This inclusive awards program invites work at all scales from firms of all sizes. Projects remain in the category they were submitted in and are compared to work of like scale.
Registration for the 2026 Residential Architecture Awards is now closed!
Thank you to everyone who registered! Submission instructions were sent to all registrants on Monday, February 16th at 1:23 pm PT via Submittable.
Submission deadline has been extended to March 22nd at 11:00 pm PT.
Click here to download a copy of the RAA Submission Template.
REGISTRATION & PRICING
Early Bird Registration:
January 12 – January 25
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AIA Member Pricing: $109
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Non-Member Pricing: $159
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Student Pricing: $25
Regular Registration:
January 26 – February 1
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AIA Member Pricing: $149
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Non-Member Pricing: $159
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Student Pricing: $25
Late Registration:
February 2 – February 8
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AIA Member Pricing: $169
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Non-Member Pricing: $219
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Student Pricing: $25
KEY DATES
Registration Opens:
January 12, 2026
Registration Closes:
February 15, 2026
Submissions Open:
February 16, 2026
Submissions Due:
Original deadline:
March 17, 2026
Extended deadline:
March 22, 2026
Jury Day:
April 24, 2026
Awards Ceremony:
June 2026, Date TBD
NEW CATEGORY! – Design For The Aging (DA)
As Baby Boomers continue to age into their late 70s and 80s, a growing number are choosing assisted living and long-term care communities that provide support while maintaining dignity, independence, and quality of life. This demographic shift is driving increased demand for new assisted living, memory care, and senior housing facilities across the country. In response, architects are designing forward-thinking residential environments that prioritize accessibility, wellness, resilience, and community connection, integrating adaptable layouts, sustainable materials, and supportive technologies that allow residents to age safely and comfortably. These designs reflect a broader evolution in how housing can thoughtfully serve an aging population while remaining architecturally innovative and humane.
The Design For The Aging (DA) category recognizes outstanding residential projects that serve the needs of aging populations, including assisted living facilities, nursing homes, retirement communities, care homes, and long-term care facilities.
This award honors architecture that combines functionality, comfort, and dignity with thoughtful design, demonstrating how the built environment can enhance quality of life for residents, staff, and visitors. Submissions should showcase innovative approaches to accessibility, wellness, safety, and social engagement, while maintaining architectural excellence and fostering a sense of community.
The Design For The Aging (DA) category celebrates architects who thoughtfully design for the evolving needs of society, ensuring that residential care environments are not only practical but inspiring, humane, and adaptable for the people who call them home.
PROJECT CATEGORIES
Resilient Design (RD): Projects that address site-specific geography and climate conditions, showcasing strategies that enhance safety and resistance to fire, earthquakes, flooding, and other natural disasters. Submissions should demonstrate thoughtful integration of materials, technologies, and design approaches that prioritize occupant safety while maintaining architectural excellence. Both Students and Professionals are eligible to submit.
Multi-Unit Residential (MUR): Projects intended for habitation by multiple tenants, including (but not limited to) condos, apartment buildings, co-ops, public housing, townhouses, duplexes, and/or small-lot projects, Retirement.
- MUR_S Small: Up to 20 Units
- MUR_M Medium: Up to 50 Units
- MUR_L Large: 50 Units +
Single-Family Residential (SFR): Projects intended for single-family habitation.
- SFR_S Small: Up to 2,500 Sq. Ft.
- SFR_M Medium: Up to 5,000 Sq. Ft.
- SFR_L Large: 5,000 Sq. Ft.+
PROJECT CATEGORIES (CONT'D)
Adaptive Re-Use/Renovation/Historic Preservation (ARHP): Residential projects that are designed in consideration of existing built conditions.
Additions and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU): Projects that expand or extend an existing residential building. Additional dwelling units can be detached, or attached, to the primary structure. Can also be a repurposed existing space within a primary residence.
Affordable Housing (AH): Projects defined as affordable housing by the US federal government.
Alternative Housing (ALT): Residential structures that are built or designed outside of the mainstream norm.
Sustainable Housing (SH): Residential projects that are addressing climate-responsive, low-emissions, resilient design considerations.
Temporary Shelter (TS): Temporary housing or portable housing or modular housing to transition people from the streets to housing, or serve during environmental disasters.
2026 Residential Architecture Awards Jurors
Climate Positive Sustainable Juror
Dave Intner, AIA, CEM, LEED AP
Senior Advisor, Building Decarbonization and Energy Codes, and Standards, Southern California Edison
