The AIA San Francisco (AIASF) Leadership Awards honor individuals, firms, and organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership and contribute significantly to the architecture and design community. These awards recognize outstanding achievements in professional practice, education, and community impact. Self-nominations are allowed and encouraged for all award categories.
Emerging Professional Award
Recognizes an Associate AIA member or an AIA Architect member registered for 10 years or less who exemplifies exceptional leadership and demonstrates unparalleled commitment to AIASF, the design and construction industry, or the broader community.
Student Award
Honors an individual student, student team, or student organization, demonstrating a significant commitment to the community or the building industry.
Firm Achievement Award
Celebrates an architecture firm's outstanding contributions to the community, advancement of the profession, development of interns, or creation of distinguished architecture.
Sandra Vivanco, AIA Education Award
Named in honor of Sandra Vivanco, a renowned architect, educator, and advocate for diversity in design, this award recognizes an organization or individual advancing architectural education through teaching, design, scholarship, research, or service excellence. Sandra Vivanco's legacy includes her impactful work in cross-cultural design and her commitment to mentoring underrepresented communities in architecture.
Marsha Maytum, FAIA Citizen Architect Award
Named for Marsha Maytum, FAIA, a trailblazer in sustainable design and community engagement, this award recognizes lifelong contributions to the community by individuals whose achievements have largely gone unrecognized. Marsha's work emphasizes the transformative power of architecture in addressing environmental and social challenges, inspiring generations of architects to serve their communities.
The AIA San Francisco (AIASF) Design Awards program honors transformative achievements in architecture, interiors, and unbuilt work. This program celebrates the power of design to shape a better world by fostering innovation, championing sustainability, and advancing social responsibility. Through this recognition, AIASF aims to inspire architects, designers, and visionaries to push boundaries, elevate communities, and create spaces that resonate with beauty, purpose, and impact.
Design Awards Ceremony
Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Herbst Theatre
Entry Fees
Entry fees are non-refundable. Fee waivers are available for the Unbuilt category upon request.
Early Submission - February 13: $230 for AIASF members, $420 for nonmembers, and $10 for full-time students.
Final Submission - March 6: $285 for AIASF members, $475 for nonmembers, and $40 for full-time students.
Eligibility
- Projects must be within AIASF's jurisdiction (San Francisco, Marin Counties, or within 30 miles of San Francisco) or designed by firms practicing within this area.
- Past award winners in other programs are eligible unless previously honored with an AIASF Design Award.
- Any project size, budget, style, or building type, including remodels and extended-use projects, may be submitted.
- Projects by firms of jurors are ineligible.
- Built projects must be completed within five years; Unbuilt designs must be completed within five years of submission.
Questions?
For more information, visit the FAQ page or contact awards@aiasf.org.