Thank you for applying for a scholarship from the Architectural Education Foundation. These scholarships are offered as opportunities to broaden your architectural horizons and grow as a professional to serve your community and clients. We wish you luck with this application and encourage you to grow in your craft and career.
Please begin by looking through the available scholarships and their eligibility information by visiting aiacolorado.org/scholarships.
Next, complete your applicant information using the form on the follow page and upload your application document according to the specifications outlined.
Your entire application, including the specified documents, must be submitted via the submittable platform by 11:59 p.m. MST, on March 31, 2026.
Applications will be evaluated for completeness based on:
- Quality of overall proposal and framework. How well was the proposal researched and articulated, including all requested information? Does the proposed destination and project address relevant design issues?
- Feasibility and methodology. Is the proposed research/exploration and is the methodology thoughtful and appropriate? Is the project feasible in the allotted timeframe and budget, and is the location well aligned with the project proposal?
- Budget and analysis. Is the budget logical, detailed and justified?
- Post-scholarship deliverables (proposed). Is there a clear aim for how the project's outcomes will be communicated and shared with others upon return?
- Qualifications, reference letters and project proposal: Does the application include three strong recommendation letters? Are qualifications for specific scholarship eligibility and the ability to carry out the proposed work clearly demonstrated?
Focusing your application on these five evaluation criteria, each application is to be submitted as a single PDF (16 MB limit) and should be no more than 10 pages in length. The 10-page limit means 10 pages sized 8.5 x 11" in font no smaller than 10-point.
The 10-page application must include:
- Explanation of professional qualifications to accomplish your proposed project, including academic, community and professional work experience
- Three individual letters of reference indicating why you would be a good recipient for a scholarship. Each letter should include the reference's contact information.
- Project statement
- Proposed plan of procedure
- Expected accomplishment(s)
- Itinerary with approximate dates
- Tentative budget
- Additional materials as required by specific scholarship
To ensure that your application is competitive, be sure to include all requested elements.
Please note: The spirit of these scholarships is to extend the opportunity to a variety of individuals over the years. Therefore, prior recipients of these professional development scholarships are less likely to receive a second scholarship.
We look forward to reviewing your materials. The Architectural Education Foundation, in partnership with AIA Colorado, will notify all scholarship applicants of the awards and other outcomes by April 30, 2026.
The annual AIA Colorado Design Awards honor the outstanding work of AIA Colorado members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight members’ contributions to communities.
Click here for full submission guidelines and instructions.
Eligibility and Deadlines: The submission fee is $275 per entry.
Refunds will not be issued for entries that are disqualified, withdrawn, incomplete, or late. The submission deadline will be strictly observed; no exceptions will be made.
Submission Deadline: Friday, June 26, 2025, at Noon.
Questions? Reach out to Jon Bell, AIA Colorado's Communications Director: jon@aiacolorado.org
The annual AIA Colorado Awards Program honors the outstanding work of AIA Colorado members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight members’ contributions to positive change. Apply for a 2026 AIA Colorado Honor Award—you deserve the credit.
Submittals are due by Friday, June 26, 2026, at Noon. Click here to access the full instructions. Who is eligible? The AIA Colorado Honor Awards are intended to honor architects contributing to positive change in our community. Positive change can be accomplished through the built environment in the form of excellent or responsible design, educating or training future architects, providing services as owner representatives or similar allied roles in public or private sectors. For Architect of the Year and Young Architect of the Year Awards, nominees must be licensed architects in Colorado and members of AIA Colorado. Nominees do not have to be licensed architects to apply for or receive the Associate Architect of the Year Award, but they must be AIA Colorado members. Nominees for the President’s Award (more details below) do not need to be AIA Colorado members or licensed architects. For team awards, eligible firms must have an office located in the state of Colorado and a principal, or principals, must be members of AIA Colorado. To be eligible, firms or individuals must abide by the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. AIA Colorado also encourages everyone in the profession to be familiar with the Guides for Equitable Practice. See required disclaimers at the end of the instruction packet. Nominations may be completed on behalf of an individual or firm that meet these requirements. Nominations for the President Award may not be completed by the individual themselves. Honor Awards Jury The Honor Awards Jury will be comprised of AIA Colorado Leaders. Honor Award Categories
- Architect of the Year
- Young Architect of the Year
- Associate AIA Member of the Year
- President's Award (follow email instructions for submission)
- Citizen Architect Award (follow email instructions for submission)
- Educator of the Year (follow email instructions for submission)
- Twenty-Five Year Award
- Firm of the Year (use alternate Submittable form)
- Young Firm of the Year (use alternate Submittable form)
- Impact Award (follow email instructions for submission)
The annual AIA Colorado Awards Program honors the outstanding work of AIA Colorado members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight members’ contributions to positive change. Apply for a 2026 AIA Colorado Honor Award—you deserve the credit.
Submittals are due by Friday, June 26, 2026, at Noon. Click here to access the full instructions. Who is eligible?
The AIA Colorado Honor Awards are intended to honor architects contributing to positive change in our community. Positive change can be accomplished through the built environment in the form of excellent or responsible design, educating or training future architects, providing services as owner representatives or similar allied roles in public or private sectors. For team awards, eligible firms must have an office located in the state of Colorado and a principal, or principals, must be members of AIA Colorado.
To be eligible, firms or individuals must abide by the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. AIA Colorado also encourages everyone in the profession to be familiar with the Guides for Equitable Practice. See required disclaimers at the end of the instruction packet. Nominations may be completed on behalf of an individual or firm that meet these requirements. Nominations for the President Award may not be completed by the individual themselves. Honor Awards Jury The Honor Awards Jury will be comprised of AIA Colorado Leaders.
The 2026 AIA Colorado Practice + Design Conference is scheduled for Nov. 11 - 13, 2026, at the Keystone Conference Center, in beautiful Keystone, CO.
For three days, 600 architects and design industry professionals from across the state converge for our annual event filled with educational sessions and networking. In past years, we’ve been honored to feature speakers of national and international acclaim, including Tom Kundig, FAIA, Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Bjarke Ingels, Hon. FAIA, Julie Snow, FAIA, Tod Williams, FAIA, and Billie Tsein, AIA. Enhance your professional profile by applying to join this esteemed list of speakers at this year's event!
Presentations will be selected and reviewed based on the following:
- Relevance and Impact: The proposed session is current and practical; addresses the needs, challenges and/or opportunities of today's architects; and encourages attendees to consider personal/professional application and continued exploration.
- Approach: The following should be clear - the session description and objectives; how the session adds value to the conference and serves attendees; what modes of facilitation the presenters will use; and what takeaways the participants can expect.
- Creativity and Innovation: The session presents a new perspective and/or shares information in a compelling way.
- Demonstrates Expertise: Speakers are experts in their field - the session proposal demonstrates original research, applied knowledge of (others') recognized research or theory, or personal capability/proficiency.
- Learning Objectives: Presenters are able to articulate what participants will gain from witnessing the presentation.
Please share links to videos, podcasts, and/or written presentations that help to provide insight in presentation content and style. You are also welcome to submit draft material.
The submission deadline is Friday, July 31, 2026, at Noon.
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If you plan to exhibit at the conference, or you are a industry partner who would like to present an education session aligned with this year's theme, we will have sessions designated as sponsored one-hour industry learning labs within the conference program schedule. We will be creating a separate call for presentations for these one-hour learning labs. Also, back by popular demand, 2026 exhibitors can request consideration as one of our mini-CES presenters on the expo floor.
Contact Rylee Younger (rylee@aiacolorado.org) to learn more about our exclusive vendor-led CES opportunities in Keystone and if you have any additional questions related to this year's Practice + Design Conference.