2026 AIA Potomac Valley Student Design Competition
Sponsored by the Potomac Valley Architecture Foundation (PVAF)
CALL FOR ENTRIES
DEADLINE: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
Please read the instructions below and then click here to enter a project to the 2026 AIA Potomac Valley Student Design Competition.
THE PROGRAM
COMPETITION ORGANIZERS: AIAPV
The American Institute of Architects - Potomac Valley Chapter (AIAPV) is a local chapter of the American Institute of Architects founded in 1955, and is based in College Park, Maryland. The chapter’s territory includes Charles, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties.
AIAPV’s mission is to provide leadership, communication, education, and advocacy in support of architects and their constituencies in the Potomac Valley region. We:
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empower members to advance their roles in service to society;
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act as a collective voice to help cultivate the future of the architectural profession;
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foster innovation & sustainability in design; and
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are a knowledge resource to members and the public, raising awareness of the value of the architecture profession.
ELIGIBILITY
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This competition is open to any Undergraduate or Graduate student enrolled in an Architecture program in Maryland, DC, or Virginia. Projects completed during studies may be submitted up to 1 year after graduation.
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Designs completed in a professional office are not eligible.
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Participation is open to all eligible students at no charge.
Objective:
To create innovative and sustainable designs that transform underutilized urban spaces in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. into vibrant, functional, and community-centric areas.
Participants:
Current students or recent graduates (must have graduated in 2025) from either undergraduate or graduate programs.
Scope:
Participants are tasked with selecting a completed studio project that reimagines an underutilized space within Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. The project should reimagine the space to better serve the community, enhance its aesthetic appeal, and promote environmental sustainability.
REQUIREMENTS
- Studio Prompt:
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Provide the original studio prompt for the project.
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Include the university name, the course and professor, the semester completed, length of time for the project, and any partners involved in the project.
- Studio Sponsor:
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Provide the name and email address of a professor or academic advisor who can confirm your enrollment in the course.
- Site Analysis:
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Provide a thorough analysis of the chosen site, including its current condition, historical context, and surrounding environment.
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Identify the needs and preferences of the local community.
- Community Impact:
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Explain how the design will benefit the local community, including social, economic, and environmental impacts.
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Propose strategies for engaging the community in the design and implementation process.
- Deliverables:
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Prepare a digital 36”x48” board to showcase the design proposal. This should include renderings, diagrams, and a site plan. Other drawings are permitted as needed to showcase the project.
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A separate narrative that outlines the design process and its anticipated outcomes is also required.
EVALUATION CRITERIA*:
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Creativity and Innovation: How unique and forward-thinking is the design?
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Sustainability: How well does the design incorporate sustainability? Consider how effectively the project incorporates strategies related to any combination of occupant well-being, resilience, energy, water, materials, site, and lifecycle performance.
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Contextual Integration and Site Sensitivity: The design responds to its surroundings, site context, and local environment. It demonstrates a heightened sensitivity through the careful positioning of the building within the landscape, meticulous thoughtfulness regarding neighboring structures and the urban fabric, and the seamless integration of site-specific sustainable design elements, collectively enhancing its harmonious interaction with the broader surroundings.
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Feasibility: How practical and achievable is the design within the given constraints?
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Visualization and communication: Effective drawings, visualization and rendering of the presented documents to convey the essence of an architectural project, enabling audiences to comprehend the envisioned proposed with remarkable clarity where it bridges the gap between imagination and reality, cultivating a profound appreciation for the project's aesthetics, functionality, materiality, details and emotional resonance.
*Applicants’ years of academic experience will be considered, enabling fair comparison among entrants at different stages of study.
SCHEDULE
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Online Submission Portal: Your design entry must be prepared and formatted as described in the REQUIREMENTS through an online submission portal.
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Submission Deadline: Monday, September 14, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
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Winners will be announced and celebrated at the annual AIAPV Excellence in Design Awards ceremony to be held Thursday, October 22, 2026 (venue TBD).
PRIZES AND AWARDS
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $200
- Honorable Mention
WINNING ENTRIES AND PUBLICITY
All entrants agree to release for publication all drawings, photographs, and digital images included in the submission. AIA Potomac Valley will promote the winning projects on the AIAPV website, Design Awards Gallery website, and in social media posts.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
To complete your submission, you must do the following by Monday, September 14, 2026, 11:59 PM ET:
1. Complete and finalize the SUBMISSION FORM in the awards submission portal
Your design entry must be prepared and formatted as described in the REQUIREMENTS through an online submission portal. You may save your work as you go and return to the site as often as needed, but you must complete, finalize and submit your entry by the submission deadline. NOTE: You may receive a pop-up warning that states: "Warning: Changing this field will clear fields that data has been provided for. Do you wish to proceed?" You can ignore this box and safely hit "OK" and continue.
2. Upload the SINGLE DESIGN PANEL to the submission portal
Please complete all requested information in the portal. Required fields are marked with an asterisk. Please be sure the information appears EXACTLY as you wish to see it published and listed on the awards certificates and across all media. Check the spelling of names carefully. You may save your work and return to the submission site as often as needed as long as you complete and submit all parts of the project submission by the due date.
3. Upload separately IMAGES of the best representations of the project to the submission portal and finalize your submission
INQUIRIES
For questions, please reach out via email to [email protected]
All questions must be asked prior to September 8, 2026.
Submission Guidelines
A complete submission for each project includes the following:
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Completion of the online Submission Form.
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A single digital file of a single design panel sized 36”x48” in portrait orientation.
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File format & size: *.pdf, *.jpg / must be maximum 10MB total.
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Separate representative images of the project (1st two are required).
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Utilize sketches, renderings, plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, and/or other presentation tools to explain your proposal on the design panel.
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Official language is English.
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Design panels must not indicate any information related to an individual's/team's identity.
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The project title should be included on the bottom right corner.
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Project description of no more than 300 words included on the Submission Form.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER A PROJECT TO THE 2026 AIA POTOMAC VALLEY STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION.
