The Honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who — by profession or avocation — have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.
Nominations deadline is June 13, 2025.
Nominations must be submitted online. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF up to 20 pages (not including letters of support) and no larger than 15 MB.
Nominations for all AIA Virginia honors may be made by individual members, by chapter honors committees, by AIA Virginia committees, or by the Board of Directors itself.
Current AIA Virginia Board members and Honors Committee members are not eligible for any individual award. Members of the Honors Committee may not be used as a reference or advisor on any award or be solicited by the candidate or the candidate’s advisor. But they can and should encourage others to nominate and/or submit.
Eligibility
Eligibility criteria and submission requirements vary by award.
2025 Honors Committee
Mel Price, FAIA, Andrew McKinley, AIA, Rebecca Brady, AIA, Katie Honbarrier, AIA, Susan Pryor, AIA, and Jessie Gemmer, AIA will join those continuing their service: Bruce Wardell, FAIA, Shannon Dowling, AIA, Eric Keplinger, AIA, Erin Webb, AIA, David Prevette, AIA, Nina Comiskey, AIA, and Lori Garrett, FAIA – who has been appointed as Chair. Gratitude to all – your service is much appreciated.
Award Categories
Professional Awards
The William C. Noland Medal is the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia, is for architects and is intended to honor a distinguished body of accomplishment, sustained over time, which spans a broad spectrum of the profession, and which transcends the scope of normal professional activities. Assigned Architect members of AIA Virginia are eligible. Only one medal may be bestowed each year.
The T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Firm Award is the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia to a Virginia-based architecture firm and is intended to recognize a firm which has consistently demonstrated outstanding and continuous contributions to the profession, to the community, and are known for the quality of their work. The firm must have been in practice for at least ten (10) years. Firms are eligible to be nominated again no fewer than 20 years after being honored with this award. Only one award may be bestowed each year.
The Virginia Emerging Architect Award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers. AIA Virginia members who are in good standing and have been licensed to practice architecture fewer than 10 years by the submission deadline are eligible. Up to three awards may be bestowed each year.
The Virginia Associates Award is given to individual Associate AIA members to recognize outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession. Assigned Virginia Assoc. AIA members who are not licensed to practice architecture by the submission deadline are eligible.
The Award for Distinguished Achievement recognizes either a singular achievement by an architect or the work of an entire career in any of the following: design, practice, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion. Assigned Architect members of AIA Virginia are eligible. Up to three awards may be bestowed each year
Public Awards
The Test of Time Award recognizes architectural design of enduring significance that meets the following eligibility conditions:
- The project shall be not less than 25 years nor more than 75 years from the date of initial construction.
- The project should still carry out the original program in a substantial manner and must be standing as originally designed in appearance and in good condition.
- The project must be located in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The primary purpose of the award is to recognize the structure(s) itself and not necessarily the architect, owner or tenant (who may indirectly receive publicity by the awards). Only one award may be bestowed each year.
The Architecture Medal for Virginia Service is the highest honor bestowed by the Virginia AIA to a citizen of Virginia who is not eligible to be an architect and is intended to recognize persons who have made significant contributions to architecture and the built environment. Only one medal may be bestowed each year, but may be simultaneously given to more than one person.
Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a person of esteemed character who is not eligible for membership in the Virginia AIA but who has rendered distinguished and exemplary service, over a sustained period of time, to architecture and the built environment within the domain of AIA Virginia. No more than three honorary memberships may be bestowed each year.
AIA Virginia Honors is bestowed upon organizations or individuals not eligible for membership who have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia. Contributions may be made through allied professions, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, and crafts. Up to five awards may be bestowed each year. Persons who have previously been awarded Honorary Membership in AIA Virginia are not eligible for AIA Virginia Honors.