Categories

For examples of projects submitted within any particular category (CLICK HERE).

Custom Homes (Built)…

….are one-of-a-kind homes created specifically for individual clients for their personal use.

The entry submitted for consideration must be a completed project, regardless of the completion date.
The entry can be a primary home, vacation home, accessory unit, or all of the above as one.
Provide photos, design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.

Custom Homes (Unbuilt)…

…are one-of-a-kind homes explicitly created for individual clients for their personal use.

The entry can be a primary home, vacation home, accessory unit, or all of the above as one.
The house submitted for consideration must be in concept, design development, or CD phase and NOT a completed project.
Provide design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.

Model Homes (Built)…

…can be an individually designed speculative home, builder’s inventory, or a sales model.

The home submitted for consideration must be a completed project, regardless of the completion date.
Provide photos, design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.

Model Homes (Unbuilt)…

…can be individually designed speculative homes, builders’ inventory, or a sales model.

The entry submitted for consideration must be in the concept, design development, or CD phase and NOT a completed project.
Provide design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.

Renovation (Built)…

…projects are existing homes having been restored, altered, and/or added to.

The entry submitted for consideration must be a completed project, regardless of the completion date.
Provide photos, design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.
When entering this category, it is required to include “before” images.

Renovation (Unbuilt)…

…projects are existing homes having been restored, altered, and/or added to.

The entry submitted for consideration must be in the concept, design development, or CD phase and NOT a completed project.
The house submitted for consideration must be in concept, design development, or CD phase and NOT a completed project.
Provide design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.
When entering this category, it is required to include “before” images.

Multi-Family (Built)…

…may consist of two or more attached residential dwelling units (formerly, Townhouses). Mixed-Use (i.e., residential with some commercial) and Live/Work may be entered into this category.

The entry submitted for consideration must be in the concept, design development, or CD phase and NOT a completed project.
Provide photos, design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.
The category is intended to feature the building, its design, and the design of its units, not the community.

Multi-Family (Unbuilt)…

…may consist of two or more attached residential dwelling units (formerly Townhouses). Mixed-Use (i.e., residential with some commercial) and Live/Work may be entered into this category.

The entry submitted for consideration must be in the concept, design development, or CD phase and NOT a completed project.
Provide design schematics, sketches, and a detailed project design program.
The category is intended to feature the building, its design, and the design of its units, not the community.

Published Design…

…entries are “stock” or “pre-drawn” plans intended to be offered for sale through a media outlet, such as those sold in books, magazines, or on the internet.

The home submitted for consideration is not required to be a completed project.
Homes published in feature articles should be entered in the category that best describes their original design program; i.e., Custom Luxury, Renovation, Builder Model, etc. – NOT in this category
When entering this category, it is required that the source where the plan was published is included.

Outdoor Living…

…includes designs for various outdoor structures and hardscape designs including but not limited to project types listed.

The entry submitted for consideration must be a completed project, regardless of the completion date.
Pool Cabana, Pool area, Outdoor Kitchen, Covered Porch, Patio, Outdoor Renovations, etc.
In the case of a renovation, before and after photos are required.

Indoor Living…

…includes any type of interior space (e.g., kitchen, bath, great room, study, etc.)

The entry submitted for consideration must be a finished project, regardless of the completion date.
The category is intended to recognize the work of the project’s designer rather than the interior decorations.

Accessible Living…

…includes designs for homes creatively applying Universal/Accessible Design and/or Aging in Place principles.

The entry submitted for consideration must be a completed project, regardless of the completion date.
In the case of a renovation, before and after photos are required.

Green Designs…

…are completed homes utilizing sustainable design techniques.

The entry submitted for consideration must be a finished project, regardless of the completion date.
Third-party certification or test results that support the project’s sustainability are required to qualify as a Green Design.
The project description sheet should address, in detail, how energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and durable construction were accomplished and how sustainable materials were used.

Design Feature…

…is any single (i.e., ONE) architectural element or detail that is particularly unique or innovative.

The project submitted for consideration must be a completed project, regardless of the completion date.
Entries may highlight a (ONE) interior or exterior feature/detail. CLICK HERE to view a sample.
Only ONE Design Feature per submission will be accepted.
Be clear in the project description of the ONE element, detail, or feature which is being considered for this entry.

Working Drawings…

…are a complete set of CDs typically issued to a builder for bid solicitation.

Note that entries will be evaluated according to the quality of the drawings, not the project’s design.
The buildings depicted in the working drawings are not required to be completed projects.
Working drawings may be submitted in PDF format (although JPG is preferred).
To avoid identification, please remove your name from the title blocks. Remember to keep page numbers intact.
Working drawings may be of a residential single-family, multi-family, or commercial project.

Global Choice…

…is an open category of constructed projects to be viewed and voted on by the general public and AIBD Professional members. There will be paid promotion on social media, and AIBD Professional members will be sent individual judging invites, but for the most part, each entrant will be responsible for soliciting their own votes. Voting is limited to one vote per device. However, multiple votes may be generated from the same IP address. Such as from within a large company using the same internet server/router.

Only one entry per designer/firm may be entered into the Global Choice category.
Global Choice entries are placed on a dedicated webpage and made available for public viewing and voting.
Global Choice entries will NOT be anonymous.
The project submitted for consideration must be a completed project, regardless of the completion date.
Projects already entered in another category may be entered into the Global Choice category

Our most recent additions!

Resilient Designs…

are completed homes that exceed the ICC standards for natural catastrophes. These include: Extreme winds (Tornado, hurricanes, microbursts), Damaging Hail, Earthquakes, Floods, Wildfires & Severe winter weather. Judging for this category shall take into consideration the aesthetics of the design, in addition to the resiliency of the structure.

The Home submitted for consideration must be a finished project, regardless of the completion date.
The project description sheet should address, in detail, how the home exceeds the minimum ICC standards for resiliency was accomplished.
Submission must include specific drawings, details, notes, structural calculation summary (for wind & seismic), Energy calculations (extreme winter weather), etc., to properly demonstrate how and what type of catastrophe the home was designed to withstand.
Traditional designs that include Safe Rooms designed to meet or exceed FEMA P-361 are acceptable with appropriate documentation.
An additional consideration for homes with nationally recognized disaster certification or engineering test results supporting the project.

Healthy Homes…

…are completed homes with elements that promote healthy living. These include creative air and water quality solutions, encouraging activity, and de-stressing using beautifully designed personal spaces, colors, open spaces, lighting, indoor plants, and gardens. But those are certainly not the only options.

Judging for this category considers the creative nature of the “healthy home” solution(s) and their integration.

The Home submitted for consideration must be a finished project, regardless of the completion date.
In addition to the drawings and photographs, the project description sheet should specifically address, in detail, the “healthy home” elements and how the parts contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

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Category Descriptions