Recognizing the contribution of young firms that have been in practice for five years or less and that demonstrate a clear vision, well-articulated goals and proven effective strategies that provide a competitive advantage.

Criteria - Considerations may include such practice-building tools as:

• Unique client services
• Innovative resources for clients
• Savvy use of media and marketing
• Creative approaches to skill development and professional development

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. A completed entry form
2. A submission fee $100
3. Binder: Include a summary (5 pages max.) describing, in words and images, the creative, professional, client and business strategies supporting the overall goals of the practice. Include indicators that strategies are working, such as awards or recognition received, client testimonials, new or unique business opportunities undertaken, sustained growth of the firm and other success indicators.
   
   Please Note: The practice should not be identified anywhere in the submission except on the entry form.

CONCEPTS AND PRESENTATIONS 

Recognizing clarity and uniqueness of expression of an architectural idea as well as promoting the involvement of individuals in the areas of design presentation, art and other design related endeavours.

ELIGIBILITY

Submissions must fit into one of the three categories (image, artifitact & proposals/concepts) and have been completed since 2007. A maximum of two submissions per category (total six), from any one practice or individual will be accepted. Architects, retired, life and honorary members, associates, OAA intern architects, students at the four Ontario Schools of Architecture, Ontario Syllabus students and OAA practices are all eligible. Projects of any size will be considered for awards. Each submission must be from and by the author(s).

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. A completed entry form for each submission. Please Note: Each submission must be contained on a single board
2. The identity of the submitting practice or individual should appear only on the entry form, not the submission.
3. The Submission fee $25 ($10 for students and Syllabus students).
4. Insert the entry form and entry fee into an envelope and tape it to the back of the board. Mark the category name on the envelope.

Boards: Use Gatorboard only; submission must be two-dimensional, unframed, and include no glass, plastic or other three-dimensional or fragile material. Use one board per project.

CATEGORIES

Image

Includes: sketches and renderings (hand done or digital), drawings and paintings, architectural and landscape photographs.

Submission

One specific subject, black & white or colour, minimum size 8” x 10” high-quality copies (no originals). Text: Include no text unless it is an integral component of the composition Board: mounted on one 24” x 24” Gatorboard

Artifact 

Includes: furniture, sculpture, light fixtures, utensils, objects that have been built.

Submission

May be represented by sketches, renderings, digital images and photographs sufficient to describe the projectText: briefly describe the program, context and solution (max. 250 words)Board: mount all items on one 24” x 24” Gatorboard

Proposals/Concepts

Includes: theoretical-buildings, cityscapes, planning proposals or objects, for a client, specific site, competition, proposed project or theoretical.

Submission

May be represented by sketches, renderings, digital images, model images, photographs, elevation drawings or plans.Text: Concisely describe the site, program and solution. (max. 250 words)Board: mount all items on one 24” x 36” Gatorboard

Please Note: submissions are judged on the excellence of presentation as well as concept—organize well, avoid clutter, keep text large and clear enough to be read, consider spelling and grammar.

AWARD CONSIDERATIONS

• Clarity of the presentation
• Uniqueness and strength of the idea
• Relevance to the idea of architecture

AWARDS 

Concepts & Presentation award: certificate and $1,000Honourable Mention: certificate and $250

DESIGN EXCELLENCE 

Recognizing the innovative skills of Ontario architects in creating spaces, buildings and communities that respect and enhance the environment and enrich human activity.

ELIGIBILITY

All projects created by members of the OAA, located anywhere in the world, completed since January 1, 2007 and currently in use are eligible. Projects may represent any form of built architecture including: single buildings, groups of buildings, additions, interiors, conversions, restorations, and renovations.

Architects, intern architects, owners, users, builders, and members of the public are welcome to submit, provided the work was undertaken by a member of the OAA.

Eligibility Breakdown:

a) ‘If the submitted project’s correct credit of authorship is an architectural practice, the architectural practice must have an OAA Certificate of Practice.

b) If the submitted project’s correct credit or authorship is an individual, the individual must be an OAA member (ie. architect, intern architect, Licensed Technologist OAA) 

It is the submittor’s responsibility to ensure they have provided the correct credit of authorship conforming to Section 42, subsection 31 and 34 of the Regulations under the Architects Act.

AWARD CRITERIA

The Jury will evaluate the following aspects of each submission and may grant awards for projects that excel in addressing any or all of these considerations:

1. Creativity: The innovative nature of the design solution
2. Context: The contribution a project makes to its unique location, to neighboring uses and to community building
3. Sustainability: The contribution the project makes to a sustainable environment. 

Responses to the following questions are encouraged where applicable: 

• Explain the Sustainable Design Merits of the project. 
• State how the project achieves a reduction in impact on the site. 
• State how the project reduces dependence on fossil fuels. 
• Explain how the project achieves a high quality of interior environment with regards to daylighting, air quality and material use. 
• Explain how the project reduces the use of raw materials.

Please document the following Sustainability Metrics if applicable:*

annual energy consumption in ekWh (equivalent kilowatt hours); 
* energy   density in ekWh/m2;
* building full time equivalent population;* annual potable water   consumption in m3; 
* annual potable water consumption in l/person; 
* percentage reused materials; and
*percentage recycled material content:
*percentage by weight or by dollar cost as per LEED NC.

   4. Good Design/Good Business: The degree to which the project   creatively supports & inteprets the business and architectural goals of the client through programming and design.

   5. Legacy: The contribution of the project in establishing a new benchmark for architectural excellence

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

The Jury’s evaluation is based on the information submitted. The quality of the submission is important to this process. Submitted material must be provided in a letter-sized binder that does not identify the practice. Submissions may be divided into Building Type categories, but these are intended only to simplify the evaluation and do not represent Award categories.

The following information is required:

1. A completed entry form identifying the name of the practice and building type/project category— Housing, Large Buildings, Small Buildings, Tall Buildings, Complex Buildings, Retrofit/Historic Preservation Projects
2. A 1-page summary (2 copies) showcasing the project and indicating how it responds to the 5 Award Criteria (brief highlights) noted above. Include text (max. 250-300 words) and at least one image. Please Note: The summary pages will be sent to the judges prior to jury day. Projects should be attractively and informatively represented and identified by project name. Click here for a 1-page summary template to guide you in your submission.
3. Detailed description of project (Please include Scope of Work) illustrating how it responds to the 5 Award criteria (creativity, context, sustainability, good design/good business, legacy). (max. 350-400 words and/or images)
4. Submission fee of $100 

The following conventions must be observed:

• Submission format - material must be provided in a letter-sized binder (8.5" x 11")
• Submission limit - 8 pages/leaves double-sided (16 pages total) -including images and text.

The Submitters are encouraged to include the following descriptions, where applicable:

• Innovative aspects of the project solution
• The project’s contributions to a sustainable environment
• The client’s business goals and the manner in which these goals have been met
• Budget restrictions that may have affected the design solution
• The project’s legacy contribution

Please note: The submitting practice or individual must not be identified anywhere in the submission except on the entry form. 

AWARDS

The jury will consider up to a maximum of 15 awards, one of which will be proclaimed the Best of Show.The Best of Show award recognizes the project that most successfully addresses the award criteria.

Recognizing an OAA member for extraordinary service to the membership; for ‘behind-the-scenes’ dedication and action; for employing the skills and the energy to get things done.

This annual award is named after the late 2005 OAA President, G. Randy Roberts and is in memory of his dedication to the membership and the profession. 

ELIGIBILITY

The nominee and seconder must be members of the OAA (architect, intern, retired, life, honourary, student).

Criteria - The qualities or actions which may be recognized by the award include:

• Responsiveness to and communication with OAA members on behalf of the OAA
• Grassroots involvement with members
• Care, compassion, integrity, enthusiasm and a sense of humour

Examples - Society leadership, councillor, committee member, spearheading or engaging in an activity (in or outside of the OAA & Societies) that benefited the members of the profession, such as effective lobbying for the profession, mentoring, public representation etc. 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. A completed entry form (no fee required)
2. A letter of recommendation- submitted by nominator & seconder- both OAA members
3. A citation or CV outlining nominee’s accomplishments

Recognizing prominent members of the architectural profession who are now deceased; a record of achievement is presented to a relative and displayed at the OAA.

ELIGIBILITY

The nominee must be an Ontario architect, now deceased, that meets at least one of the following criteria:

• the quality of the architect’s work and contribution to Ontario’s architectural heritage must be significant; or
• the architect must have had significant influence on professional colleagues through design, education, professional development, community development, publication or other significant activity.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. A completed entry form (no entry fee required)
2. The nominator (OAA member or OAA Society) will submit a letter that includes the criteria for which the architect is being recommended. Provide as much of the following information as possible: date of birth, date of death, the firms the architect was involved with, names of surviving relatives. If it is a design category nomination, list the architect’s most important buildings.

Recognizing buildings that demonstrate architecture's beauty, endurance and lasting contribution to the community and to society.

A Landmark building:

• Establishes a design excellence standard for future generations
• Enhances the public realm
• Recognizes and Respects its surroundings
• Contributes to the neighbourhood, the community or the city through its unique identity.

ELIGIBILITY

The project must be located in Ontario, and built prior to 1987. Any person may nominate up to three projects that need not be their own work. Previous Landmark and OAA 25 Year Award winning projects are ineligible. Click here for a complete list. 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. A completed entry form (no fee required)
2. Statement:Provide a brief explanation of why the building deserves recognition. (200 to 500 words)
3. Photographs: Black & white or colour (max. 10) (best quality available), including at least one relatively current photograph
4. If know, supply basic information about the architect and/or builder.
5. Insert entry requirements into a standard letter-size binder.

The Lifetime Design Achievement Award recognizes and honours a career-long commitment to the promotion and achievement in Architectural Design Excellence. This award celebrates the outstanding contribution of architects whose body of work reflects a lasting legacy of excellence and innovation. 

Nominees for this award will be selected by the Honours and Awards Task Group. The final recipient will be approved by OAA Council.

Recognizing architects who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the profession, in education, and/or in the community.

ELIGIBILITY

The nominee must be an Ontario architect (including retired members).

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. A completed entry form (no fee required)
2. A letter of recommendation; submitted by the nominator (an OAA member) and seconded by a current OAA Councillor, Society Chair or Committee Chair; (if the nominator holds one of the above positions, the seconder may be any OAA member).
3. A citation or CV, clearly outlining the details of the nominee’s accomplishments

Recognizing the public's favourite project, selected by online voting from the Design Excellence Winners.

ELIGIBILITY

All Design Excellence Winners as chosen by the Design Excellence Jury in February 2011 are automatically elgible.

AWARDS PROCESS

After the winners of the Design Excellence category have been announced, the public is invited to vote online for their favourite project. The online public voting page will include images of each project and will be available on the OAA Web site in April 2012. The project that receives the most votes will be declared the People's Choice Award Winner and announced at the 2012 Celebration of Excellence.