Founded by AIA California’s Healthcare Facilities Forum Committee in memory of their colleague, the Robert J. Kain, this scholarship known as The Kain Scholarship, strives to encourage and support architecture students interested in pursuing a career in the design and delivery of hospitals and healing environments.
With forces that continually shift and improve healthcare delivery, this scholarship opportunity supports the importance of developing the next generation of architects to create the innovative design and delivery needs of tomorrow’s healthcare facilities.
PRIZE
$2,000 to help offset costs of higher education in architecture. Award can be used for qualified tuition and related expenses and/or to otherwise improve or enhance capacity, skill or talent in the field of healthcare architecture.
DEADLINE
Applications are due August 7, 2025 by 11:59pm PT
ELIGILIBITY
- Applicants must be enrolled in a NAAB accredited school of architecture in California.
- California Resident
- Proof of enrollment as a full-time student in an architecture program at a California College or University.
- Must be in an undergraduate or Masters program.
Please review the full submission guidelines to assist you with putting together the application package. Have questions? Visit our website to learn more.
The Mel Ferris Scholarship provides financial assistance to university-level architectural students enrolled in accredited schools of architecture in California who have demonstrated financial need and exemplary academic and design achievements.
This scholarship is awarded in three tiers:
- First Place: $5,000
- Second Place: $4,000
- Third Place: $3,000
Additionally, each California NAAB accredited school of architecture will receive $500 to support student scholarship.
DEADLINE
Applications are due August 7, 2025 by 11:59pm PT
ELIGILIBITY
- Applicants must be enrolled in a NAAB accredited school of architecture in California.
- Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
- Diversity and inclusion are encouraged, but identification as a member of a minority group is not required to be considered for an award.
- Must have completed the FASFA.
- Must be a student in the 2025-2026 academic year.
A transcript (official or unofficial) must be uploaded as well as the FASFA Student Aid Index (SAI) cover page.
Questions? Please contact Ashley Taylor, Awards Program Coordinator: ataylor@aiacalifornia.org
DEADLINES
Early Bird Deadline: June 30, 2025 11:59PM PST
Normal Registration: July 28, 2025 11:59PM PST
Submission Deadline: August 11, 2025 11:59PM PST
FEES & ELIGIBILITY
All fees are non-refundable. Please review eligibility prior to registering for the awards. This fee must be paid online at the time of registration. Refunds will not be given for entries that are disqualified, late, or incomplete: credits will not be given for future submissions.
Early Bird Registration Amount
- AIA Member Fee - $275.00
- AIA Member Small Project Fee - $175.00
- Non Member Fee - $450.00
- Non Member Small Project Fee - $250.00
Normal Registration Amount
- AIA Member Fee - $325.00
- AIA Member Small Project Fee - $205.00
- Non Member Fee - $525.00
- Non Member Small Project Fee - $315.00
All members of AIA California and California Architects may submit unbuilt or built projects located anywhere in the world while all AIA members and Architects licensed in other states may only submit unbuilt or built projects or projects in California.
- Submissions for built projects must be completed on or after January 1, 2018
- Cannot have received an AIA California 2024 Design Award for the same project
- Submit a Project Portfolio
- Submit a Common Apps
CATEGORIES*
- Single Family Residential
- Multi-Family Residential
- Accessory Dwelling Unit
- Affordable
*AIACA does not award based on category, please choose the category that aligns closest with your project. Categories are used by the jury for review purposes.
FOR PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO 2025 DESIGN AWARDS OR URBAN DESIGN AWARDS
Please wait to register until notified if the project was selected in those programs.
ALL Residential Projects submitted to 2025 Design Awards or Urban Design Awards program will have an opportunity to submit at Early Bird Pricing after the normal registration closes for the public.
If you choose to submit prior to receiving results, you will follow the same fee structure as the public and are assuming the risk of being ineligible due to the project being selected in another award program. (Please note this only applies to recipient projects)
This only applies to projects submitted into those programs. Other projects submitted must follow general guidelines.
PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES
Submitted in PDF format, 8.5x11 landscape orientation. No more than 8MB and 12 pages. No firm name.
- Page 1: Cover page with a photo, project name and location (Do NOT include firm name anywhere in PDF or common application)
- Page 2: A readable site plan with North arrow indicated clearly
- Page 3: At least one floor plan, but no more than two
- Page 4: Project sections and elevations
- Page 5: Include at least one sustainable design strategies diagram with a brief description of strategies used
- Pages 6 – 12: Project Photos (Renderings or drawings for unbuilt)
- Must be clear and concise, with a high resolution
- Limit of 4 photos per page
- Include one picture of the project within the surrounding area for context
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Please include project name when naming files
If you list the firm name in your submission package/Common App or do not meet all the requirements, your project will be disqualified
Give yourself plenty of time to fill out the Common App
Use the resources on the AIA CA Residential Design Awards webpage
If your project is submitted for the 2025 Design Awards program, please wait to register until notified if the project was selected
Projects submitted for 2025 Design Awards will be offered the early bird discount and a set period to register and submit projects
For unbuilt projects, please project the common application data and estimate to the best of your ability
Common Application - Fill the application out to the best of your ability, use the narratives to explain areas with missing or limited data. Blank measures and incorrect information will negatively affect a project more than simple answers and explanations.
AIA California recognized AI is part of the design process. However, projects and submissions primarily produced and designed by AI are discouraged from submitting.
COMMON APPLICATION
AIA California is aligned with AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence with the integration of 10 key principles into our Residential Design Awards requirements. The framework identifies specific metrics to evaluate buildings that illustrate progress towards a zero carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment.
AIA California Residential Design awards follows AIA’s Design Excellence criteria using the Common App. Submittals are encouraged to highlight project performance through narratives and metrics in the Common App. In addition to the Residential Design Awards Jury, each project will be reviewed by a Common Application Review Jury; several panelists will review each project’s Common Application before rating it. The average score, along with comments, will be given to the Residential Design Awards Jury. Providing incorrect information or failing to provide information will result in a lower technical review score.
When filling out the Common App, pay particular attention to Measure 6, Design for Energy and be sure that you are providing the correct EUI information. EUI information can be obtained from energy models or LEED (or similar) documentation. If T24 Compliance documentation was used, see the instructions for calculating site EUI from T 24 compliance documentation.
The Common App must be filled out for each individual project. The common application can be found on the AIA California Residential Design Awards Page.