2025 AIA POTOMAC VALLEY EMERGING PROFESSIONAL DESIGN COMPETION
CALL FOR ENTRIES
DEADLINE: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 11:59 PM ET
Please read the instructions below and then click here to enter a project to the 2025 AIA Potomac Valley Emerging Professional Design Competition.
THE PROGRAM
COMPETITION ORGANIZERS: AIAPV
The American Institute of Architects - Potomac Valley Chapter [AIAPV] is a local chapter of the American Institute of Architects founded in 1955, and is based in College Park, Maryland. The chapter’s territory includes Charles, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties.
AIAPV’s mission is to provide leadership, communication, education, and advocacy in support of architects and their constituencies in the Potomac Valley region. We:
- empower members to advance their roles in service to society;
- act as a collective voice to help cultivate the future of the architectural profession;
- foster innovation & sustainability in design; and
- are a knowledge resource to members and the public, raising awareness of the value of the architecture profession.
DESIGN CHALLENGE: REIMAGINING URBAN SPACES IN THE DMV
Objective:
To create innovative and sustainable designs that transform underutilized urban spaces in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. into vibrant, functional, and community-centric areas.
Participants:
Individuals and small groups (up to 4 people)
Scope:
Participants are tasked with selecting a completed studio project that reimagines an underutilized space within Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. The project should reimagine the space to better serve the community, enhance its aesthetic appeal, and promote environmental sustainability.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Site Analysis:
- Provide a thorough analysis of the chosen site, including its current condition, historical context, and surrounding environment.
- Identify the needs and preferences of the local community.
- Design Proposal:
Develop a design proposal that includes architectural drawings, 3D renderings, and a detailed description of the proposed changes.
Incorporate sustainable practices such as green building materials, energy-efficient systems, and water conservation methods.
- Community Impact:
- Explain how the design will benefit the local community, including social, economic, and environmental impacts.
- Propose strategies for engaging the community in the design and implementation process.
- Deliverables:
- Prepare a 36”x48” board to showcase the design proposal. This should include renderings, diagrams, and a site plan. Other drawings are permitted as needed to showcase the project.
- A separate narrative that outlines the design process and its anticipated outcomes is also required.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Creativity and Innovation: How unique and forward-thinking is the design?
- Sustainability: How well does the design incorporate sustainable practices?
- Contextual Integration and Site Sensitivity: The design responds to its surroundings, site context, and local environment. It demonstrates a heightened sensitivity through the careful positioning of the building within the landscape, meticulous thoughtfulness regarding neighboring structures and the urban fabric, and the seamless integration of site-specific sustainable design elements, collectively enhancing its harmonious interaction with the broader surroundings
- Feasibility: How practical and achievable is the design within the given constraints?
- Visualization and communication: Effective drawings, visualization and rendering of the presented documents to convey the essence of an architectural project, enabling audiences to comprehend the envisioned proposed with remarkable clarity where it bridges the gap between imagination and reality, cultivating a profound appreciation for the project's aesthetics, functionality, materiality, details and emotional resonance.
Herea rea few specific sites in Maryland that could be ideal for your design challenge:
- Vacant Lots in Baltimore:
- Baltimore has several vacant lots in its urban core that are ripe for revitalization. These spaces can be transformed into community gardens, parks, or mixed-use developments
- Abandoned Buildings in Frederick:
- Frederick has a number of abandoned industrial buildings that could be repurposed into cultural centers, co-working spaces, or residential units
- Underutilized Waterfront Areas in Annapolis:
- Annapolis has waterfront areas that are underutilized and could benefit from innovative designs to enhance public access and recreational opportunities
- Neglected Parks in Silver Spring:
- Silver Spring has parks that are in need of renovation and could be redesigned to better serve the community with updated amenities and sustainable landscaping
5. Empty Plazas in Bethesda:
- Bethesda has several plazas that could be redesigned to create more engaging public spaces. These plazas can be transformed into vibrant community hubs.
SCHEDULE:
- Online Submission Portal: Your design entry must be prepared and formatted as described in the REQUIREMENTS through an online submission portal. You may save your work as you go and return to the site as often as needed, but you must complete, finalize and submit your entry by the submission deadline. NOTE: You may receive a pop-up warning that states: "Warning: Changing this field will clear fields that data has been provided for. Do you wish to proceed?" You can ignore this box and safely hit "OK" and continue.
- Submission Deadline: Monday, September 22, 2025 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time
- Winners will be announced and celebrated at the annual AIAPV Excellence in Design Awards ceremony to be held Thursday, October 16, 2025.
PRIZES AND AWARDS:
- First Place: $1,000
- Second Place: $500
- Third Place: $250
WINNING ENTRIES AND PUBLICITY
All entrants agree to release for publication all drawings, photographs, and digital images included in the submission. AIA Potomac Valley will promote the winning projects on the AIAPV website, Design Awards Gallery website, and in social media posts.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
To complete your submission, you must do the following by Monday, September 22 2025, 11:59 PM ET:
1. Complete and finalize the SUBMISSION FORM in the awards submission portal
Your design entry must be prepared and formatted as described in the REQUIREMENTS through an online submission portal. You may save your work as you go and return to the site as often as needed, but you must complete, finalize and submit your entry by the submission deadline. NOTE: You may receive a pop-up warning that states: "Warning: Changing this field will clear fields that data has been provided for. Do you wish to proceed?" You can ignore this box and safely hit "OK" and continue.
2. Upload the SINGLE DESIGN PANEL to the submission portal and finalize your submission
Please complete all requested information in the portal. Required fields are marked with an asterisk. Please be sure the information appears EXACTLY as you wish to see it published and listed on the awards certificates and across all media. Check the spelling of names carefully. You may save your work and return to the submission site as often as needed as long as you complete and submit all parts of the project submission by the due date.
INQUIRIES
All questions must be asked prior to September 15, 2025.
For questions, please reach out via email to david@aiapv.org
Submission Guidelines
A complete submission for each project includes the following:
- Completion of the online Submission Form
- A single digital file of a single design panel sized 36”x48” in portrait orientation
- File format & size: *.pdf, *.jpg / must be maximum 10MB total
- Utilize sketches, renderings, plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, and/or other
- presentation tools to explain your proposal on the design panel
- Official language is English.
- Design panels must not indicate any information related to an individual's/team's identity.
- The title should be included on the bottom right corner.
- Project description of no more than 300 words included on the Submission Form.
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