The California Awards recognize and celebrate those individuals and groups who make a difference and have a lasting impact on the profession.
FEES:
There is a non-refundable $395 nomination fee for the Firm Award. This fee must be paid online at the time of submission. There are NO FEES for any other award. Late, disqualified, or incomplete packages will not be refunded and credits for next year will not granted.
FULL GUIDELINES
Read full guidelines with eligibility for each category below here.
CATEGORIES:
· Associates Award
· Distinguished Practice Award
· Educator Award
· Firm Award
· Honorary Membership
· Lifetime Achievement Award
· Lifetime Achievement Award for Healthcare Facility Design
· Mentorship Award
· Norma Sklarek Humanitarian Award
· Student Leader Award
· Young Architects Award
NOMINATION PACKAGE GUIDELINES
Each completed nomination package must follow these guidelines:
- 8 ½ x 11 paper size
- Not to exceed 8MB and/or 12 pages
- Font 12 point or larger
- Portrait layout
- Page 1: Nomination Letter
- Page 2: Statement of Contributions
- Page 3: Biography of firm or resume (if an individual)
- Pages 4 – 5: Two letters of recommendation that are explicit in their recommendation
- Pages 6 – 12: Supporting materials and documentation which can include a portfolio, articles, or photographs that support the nomination. Supporting materials are unique to the award category and should be thoroughly reviewed.
Please visit our website if you would like to learn more about each of these awards.
Architecture at Zero is a design competition for decarbonization, equity, and resilience, open to students and professionals worldwide. It serves to engage the fields of architecture, design, engineering, and planning in the pursuit of sustainable design.
La Plaza at the Multi-Agency Regional Resilience Center, Antelope Valley Fair and Event Center, Lancaster, CA
The Architecture at Zero 2026 competition program is to design a year-round educational and cultural venue (La Plaza) that will transform into a resiliency asset during regional emergencies (Emergency Operations Center), offering critical support for first responders and multi-agency emergency operations. The vision for the project is bold: it invites designers to envision more than just a single-use structure; it is an opportunity to design a space with dual purpose and profound impact.
The challenge is to create a design that is both functional and inspiring, balancing utility with architectural vision, thereby creating a cultural landmark that serves the community at its best moments and sustains it in its most critical times.
OVERVIEW OF SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The Architecture at Zero 2026 competition asks entrants to develop an architectural design solution to a specific site and programmatic brief, while holistically considering energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, carbon reduction, and resiliency strategies.
1. Entrants design the building in detail to comply with California Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards and demonstrate how the design will result in lower operational and embodied carbon emissions. To indicate how the building design will result in lower carbon emissions, entrants will provide the required documentation and may also include supplementary documentation.
2. Entrants will describe how this project will build resilience. Entrants will be asked to complete a table outlining the inclusion of climate adaptation strategies and indicating these strategies on the site plan or section.
3. Entrants are also asked to consider how their design addresses equity for the community. Entrants will write a short essay and indicate on the site plan or section aspects of the design that support equity.
4. When you submit your entry, we will also ask how much time each team member spent learning decarbonization principles and preparing the submission. Specifically, we will ask how much time each team member spent on:
o Assessing available renewables and PV design
o HVAC / load analysis
o Daylighting
o Whole building energy modeling
o Project design
o Booklet design and graphics
o Technical write-up
Be sure to keep a record of this information as you work on your project.
Winners will be announced in July 2026 at an online event, details of which will be announced at a later date.
SUBMISSIONS AT A GLANCE
1. Design Booklet containing all required elements and optional supplementary documentation, if providing. (PDF document).
2. High-res JPEG of Perspective Drawing
3. Design Team Information
4. Student ID (if applicable)
5. Hours Worked
1. Design Booklet File (PDF document)
All submissions must be in a PDF booklet containing the required elements detailed below. Format size should be (8 1/2 x 11 inches (A2) or 11 x 17 inches (A3) in either a landscape or portrait format.
If you are submitting more than one of a specific drawing please number the pages #A, #B etc. For example three perspective drawings pages would be 4A, 4B, 4C.
All required elements must be included or your entry will not be accepted.
File size must not exceed 40 MB. Please do not include names of the team or firm on any part of the entry.
Number and label all pages after the cover page.
NEW FOR 2026 COMPETITION ***
The state of California uses the system of measurement called “imperial units.” Thus, all energy metrics should be submitted in imperial units (kBTU). Be sure to double-check the system of measurement used for energy calculations before you submit your entry. If the energy simulation tool reports energy as kwh, you will need to convert the results into kBtu. Submissions should clearly indicate both the predicted site energy use intensity (pEUI) before renewable energy is included, and then indicate net site EUI including onsite renewable generation.
· Cover Title page - Number and label all pages after the cover page.
· Page 1 - Project Narrative
· Page 2 - Site Plan
· Page 3A Floor Plan(s) - Building as a cultural center
· Page 3B Floor Plan(s) - Building as an emergency operations center
· Page 3 - Floor Plan
· Page 4 - Perspective Drawing
· Page 5 - Illustrated Sections
· Page 6 - Mechanical System Summary
· Page 7 - Annual End Use Summary
· Page 8 - Monthly End Use Energy Consumption Bar Chart
· Page 9 - Hourly Load Shapes for Energy and Emissions
· Page 10 - Details of Renewable Energy Systems
· Page 11 - Storage Systems
· Page 12 - Decarbonization Strategies
· Page 13 - Climate Adaptation Assessment Matrix
· Page 14 - Equity Essay
OPTIONAL Pages 15-25. Supplemental Energy/Resilience/Decarbonization/Equity Information.
Total Submission should not exceed 25 pages.
Do not include information about the design team (team names or firm names) on the Design Booklet. Indication of the design team will result in disqualification. Do not post images of your submission to social media before winners are announced.
2. High Res JPEG of Perspective Drawing.
This will be used for promotional purposes if needed.
3. Design Team Information
Fill in the names and contact information for everyone on your project design team on the Design Team Form. Students, please list your advisor. Please note this will be used for all publicity materials. Do not list this information on the Design Booklet.
4. Student ID (if applicable)
Full-time student entrants must provide a copy of their student ID. Recent graduates must have been enrolled full-time during the 2023 calendar year and must provide official documentation of their full-time student status during those years (diploma, student ID showing date, etc.).
5. Hours Worked
Please list all team members and the hours they worked on the listed activities.
Please upload all components of your submission through the submit section by June 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM PST.
ENTRY FEES
Entry Fee for Professional Architects, Engineers and Designers: $350
Entry Fee for Students and Recent Grads: $0
All registration and submission materials must be received by June 1, 2026 at 1:00pm PST.
Entry fees are nonrefundable. All designs are to be submitted digitally.
SUBMISION POLICIES
All submissions are final.
There is no limit to the number of entries that an individual or firm may submit; however, each must be submitted separately with separate payments.
In addition to professional firms, entries from individuals or teams are allowed and encouraged.
We recommend that entrants who are employed by another company review and comply with their employer’s policies in this area prior to submitting an entry.
Any public announcements or references will be to the individual or design team and not to any individual’s professional affiliation.
Indication of the design team will result in disqualification. Decisions of the Jury are final.
Competition Partners
