BEST COMMERCIAL/OFFICE/ RETAIL BUILDING

• Describe the project in its context and any design challenges encountered.
• Describe how the design addressed local zoning mandates, architectural constraints, and any special innovative design, sustainable features, and/or construction solutions that contributed to the success of the project.
• List separately any special architectural features, furniture, plantings or site amenities that further enhanced the project’s quality.
• Include a short narrative on how the project impacts the community. 
• Judges have the option to break this category down by project size based on entries received.

BEST RECREATION / ENTERTAINMENT / HOSPITALITY PROJECT

• Describe the concept and demographic group for which the project was developed.
• Describe any design challenges encountered in dealing with local zoning mandates, neighborhood issues, and local architectural and/or physical constraints.
• Discuss any unusual studies or unique solutions particular to the project, including any significant construction issues encountered and sustainable features.
• List separately any additional expenditures such as furniture, artwork, plantings that further developed the concept of the project.

BEST INSTITUTIONAL / PUBLIC BUILDING

• Describe the project and the design challenges encountered to accomplish the project within the specified budget.
• Include any special or unique construction and/or finish materials used in the project.
• Include any sustainable features including any certifications the project received.
• Describe how the selections of furnishings, artwork, special lighting, signage, plantings, sculpture, etc. were used to enhance the completed project. 
• Judges have the option to break this category down by project size based on entries received.

BEST EDUCATIONAL BUILDING

• Factors that will be considered are learning ambience, innovative elements, technology integration, design efficiency and multi-functionality, subtle security, sustainable design, civic presence and involvement and the degree to which the building facilitates teaching and fosters learning.
• Describe any other factors that distinguish the educational project as remarkable.

BEST HEALTHCARE BUILDING

• Describe the project in its context and any design challenges encountered.
• Describe how the design addressed architectural constraints, and any special innovative design and/or construction solutions that contributed to the success of the project.
• List separately any special architectural features, sustainable features, furniture, plantings or site amenities that further enhanced the project’s quality.
• Include a short narrative on how the project impacts the community. 
• Judges have the option to break this category down by project size based on entries received.
  

BEST MULTI-FAMILY / COMMERCIAL HOUSING PROJECT

• Multi-family entries will be reviewed for their creativity and how problem-solving techniques were incorporated in the process of master planning, architecture and site amenity developments.
• Submissions must describe how the design process contributed to the success of the development by addressing local zoning mandates and architectural constraints as well as the application of innovative design and/or construction solutions, including sustainable features.
• Outline any challenges and the applied solutions used in dealing with environmental, traffic, jurisdictional and/or cultural concerns.
• List any special treatments that you believe further enhanced the quality of the development such as interior design, recreational elements and landscaping.
• The density, number of units and percentage of non-residential use must be clearly indicated in the application package.

BEST INTERIOR

• Briefly describe the project’s goals and objectives and how scheduling and budgetary constraints were met.
• Describe how the planning and design concept address the project’s challenges and how it achieved or exceeded project expectations. Include any sustainable features.
• Identify the project’s size and scope and describe how the use of finish materials, furnishings, interior construction detailing and lighting, artwork, plantings and accessories were all integrated to create the overall design concept.
• Describe how the integration of interior design complemented the building architecture to enhance the project’s quality.

BEST MASTER PLANNED PROJECT

• Describe the concept of the project including planning decisions governed or directed by environmental or infrastructure constraints.
• Describe the design challenges encountered in dealing with local zoning mandates, as well as local architectural and/or physical constraints.
• Describe any unusual studies or unique solutions particular to the project, including any significant construction issues encountered and sustainable features included.
• Describe challenges encountered in implementing the plan or any variances that occurred during the actual development phases to accommodate market changes.
• Residential projects will not be considered except as an accessory use to the project type which must be office, commercial or industrial.

BEST RENOVATED OR HISTORIC REHABILITATION PROJECT

• Describe the challenges of restoring or modernizing the existing facility, including the age of the original structure and any special requirements that may have reference to historic or design criteria issues.
• Include any sustainable features including any certifications the project received.
• These projects require the submittals of both before and after photographs that accurately depict the restoration effort.

BEST REVITALIZED DEVELOPMENT

• A narrative on how the project impacts the community and include examples of changes to the locality since the project was completed, including supporting economic figures.
• Include any sustainable features siting any certifications the project received.
• Eligible projects shall fall within the above general award categories and timeframe for completion.

BEST CONCEPTUAL PROJECT

• Eligible projects must fall within the above general award categories.
• Submissions will be judged on quality of design, resolution of the program or idea, and innovation.  
• Projects must not have begun construction by the submission date; therefore no CO is required for submission.