Firm Award

The AIA North Carolina Firm Award is the highest honor the Chapter can bestow upon a firm. The award shall be given to a North Carolina firm that has:

  • Demonstrated great depth and breadth of their work, having a cumulative effect on the profession of architecture
  • Produced work that is a product of a collaborative environment, consistently addresses the future of architecture, and positively contributes to the fabric of the community that it serves
  • Transcended or united specific areas of expertise
  • Become widely known and respected by clients, colleagues, and the public for the quality of their work

Consideration given to firms with a demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship. 

Eligibility

North Carolina architectural firms practicing for at least 10 years under the leadership of either a single AIA North Carolina member principal or several AIA North Carolina member principals are eligible for the Firm Award.  In addition, firms that have been reorganized and whose name has been changed or modified are also eligible, as long as the firm has been in operation in North Carolina for a period of at least 10 years.  Although firms that are headquartered in other states or firms that perform the majority of their work in other states or countries are eligible, the firm’s work and impact within the state of North Carolina shall be of primary consideration.  A firm owned or managed by (1) officers of the Chapter Boardor (2) members of the Chapter Awards Committee shall not be eligible for consideration.

Nominations

Nominations are due by September 5, 2022.

Submissions

All submissions must be submitted online. Please create a single PDF file and upload to our awards system. 

Submissions are due by September 25, 2022

The submissions, not to exceed 25 8 ½” x 11” pages, should include the following information:

  1. A nomination letter summarizing the firm’s contributions (one page)
  2. A brief biography of all firm principals and a history of the firm (max. two pages)
  3. Descriptive statements and images of the firm’s work. (max. 10 pages)
  4. Statement or list of the firm’s achievements and awards (max. two pages)
  5. Signed letters by clients attesting to the firm’s excellence and/or high level of performance (max. five letters)
  6. Optional: Additional miscellaneous material, including articles, clippings, and/or letters of support (max. five pages)

Previous winners

1998 O’Brien/Atkins Associates     Research Triangle Park
1999 Walter Robbs Callahan Pierce Architects     Winston-Salem
2000 Lee Nichols Architecture     Charlotte
2001 The Freelon Group     Research Triangle Park
2002 Boney     Wilmington
2003 Dixon Weinstein Architects      Chapel Hill
2004 Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee     Raleigh
2005 Freeman White     Charlotte
2006 Gant Huberman Architects     Charlotte
2007 Clearscapes     Raleigh
2008 Shook Kelley     Charlotte
2009 Cherry Huffman Architects, PA     Raleigh
2010 BJAC     Raleigh
2011 Mathews Architecture     Asheville
2012 Duda/Paine Architects     Durham
2013 Little     Charlotte
2014 Szostak Design, Inc.     Chapel Hill
2015 Cannon Architecture     Raleigh
2016 Samsel Architects     Asheville
2017 Clark Nexsen Various Cities in NC
2018 LS3P Various Cities in NC
2019 Cline Design Various Cities in NC
2020 C Design Charlotte, NC
2021 Jenkins Peer Charlotte, NC