Study Architecture 
ProPEL 2026 Creative Achievement Award
To recognize a specific creative achievement in teaching, design, scholarship, research, or service that advances architectural education.
Deadline: October 8, 2025
Criteria
Candidates in the area of teaching shall have had a positive stimulating influence upon students through a full course, course project, or course module. Candidates in areas of design, scholarship, or research shall have created a work or a project that provides significant insight into the understanding and advancement of architecture and architectural education. Candidates in the area of service shall have significant impact fostering and creating a work or project that provides a healthy environment for learning led to an understanding and appreciation of architectural education in the community at large. Submissions should convey how they address ideas of cultural, social, economical, or environmental sustainability.
Eligibility
Full-time faculty or persons whose activities have clearly been identified with architectural education in ACSA full-member and candidate-member schools are eligible. The achievement must have been accomplished during the period of appointment. Any faculty member, administrator, or student at an ACSA full-member and candidate-member school may nominate a candidate for the ACSA Creative Achievement Award. Projects that have previously been recognized by ACSA will not be considered.
Nomination Documentation
All materials are to be submitted through the online system by the nominator or nominee; once the nomination is finalized all parties will receive a confirmation email. The résumé and supporting letters are best uploaded as PDF documents. The supporting material (portfolio) must not exceed a total of 20, 8.5×11 pages and be submitted in PDF format, no more than 20MB. All material must be submitted by 11:59 PM, Pacific Time, on October 8, 2025, online at www.acsa-arch.org and the submitter will need to login the ACSA website in order to submit.
Each submission shall contain the following information:
- Candidate Name: Nomination Information, completed online during submission (www.acsa-arch.org);
- Project Title;
- Abstract: No more than a 300-word abstract;
- Letter of Nomination: A letter explaining the reasons for the nomination according to the established criteria, not to exceed one page (PDF format);
- Curriculum Vitae: A résumé for the candidate summarizing his or her career (not more than 10 pages in PDF Format);
- Supporting Letters: No more than three supporting letters from persons qualified to comment upon the significance of the specific achievements of the candidate (no more than 1 page each in separate PDF format);
⁃ If your project includes a collaborating partner, at least one of the supporting letters needs to be from the collaborator.
- Supporting Material: Documents illustrating or describing the candidate’s achievements (not to exceed a total of 20, 8.5×11 pages, in PDF format, no more than 20MB).
For each project referenced in your Supporting Material, you will need to document the following in your PDF submission.
Project Title:
Month/Year Completed:
Role of Nominee (in the project):
Collaborators & Funding Sources Expenses:
(Sample Text: 4 non-profit employees donated X amount of hours in the collaboration, 1 electrician paid for X amount of hours – their scope included outlets, running conduit etc.)
Student Compensation (Indicate whether students received credit or were financially compensated, within the guidelines of the institution):
(Sample Text: 3 students working as paid research assistants for X amount of hours, 15 students contributed to this project for a 5-credit studio course etc.)
REQUIRED
DOCUMENTATION
COLLABORATION
ACSA seeks to empower faculty and schools to educate increasingly diverse students, expand disciplinary impacts, and create knowledge for the advancement of architecture. ACSA leads architectural education and research by demonstrating the value of architectural education and research to practice and society, by advancing architectural pedagogy, and by serving as the voice of architectural education. ACSA’s core values include: Equity, Social Justice, Climate Action, Teaching,Learning, Research, Scholarship, and Creative Practice. Through the architecture educational awards program, ACSA demonstrates best practices.
ACSA understands work submitted to the awards programs is created through collaboration with students, organizations, firms, communities, and/or industry partners. ACSA advocates for fair labor practices in architecture education and awards submissions must represent the best practices in the field.
Therefore, award submissions must acknowledge all work performed in collaboration and must be properly credited. Submissions should include the information listed below including compensation for student work and/or firm support. This could be student earned course credit, firm work/resources, or financial contributions. The supporting material will need to clearly denote all collaborating parties involved, and their roles for each project.
Selection
A selection committee, appointed by the ACSA Board of Directors, shall review nominations and recommend winners. A maximum of three awards will be made in any year. Winners will be presented with a certificate of merit and will have the opportunity to present their work at the ACSA Annual Meeting.
2026 CA Selection Committee
Uli Dangel
University of Oregon
Shelby Doyle
Iowa State University
David Hill
NC State University
Notices
- All materials for nominations and submissions must be uploaded online in one complete package. Any incomplete documentation will not be accepted.
- Projects that have previously been recognized by ACSA will not be considered.
- ACSA stands firmly against unpaid labor. In support of the American Institute of Architecture Students’ (AIAS) resolution on unpaid interns, ACSA does not allow partners or firms who do not pay their interns, in accordance with all applicable laws, to submit work for ACSA publications or to receive ACSA awards. (Intern refers to those individuals participating in AXP or equivalent required training and includes working students.) Nomination or submission to the ACSA Awards Program constitutes your understanding of this agreement.
- Current ACSA Board of Directors members may not submit nominating or supporting letters.
- Award winners are expected to register and attend the the ACSA Annual Meeting.
- By submitting your project, you certify that you have granted ACSA permission to use all graphics included.
Edwin Hernández-Ventura
Awards and Competitions Manager
tel: 202-785-2324
email: ehernandez@acsa-arch.org
Eric W. Ellis
Senior Director of Operations and Programs
tel: 202-785-2324
email: eellis@acsa-arch.org
Founded in 1912 by 10 charter members, ACSA is an international association of architecture schools preparing future architects, designers, and change agents. Our membership includes all of the accredited professional degree programs in the United States and Canada, as well as international schools and 2- and 4-year programs. Together ACSA schools represent some 7,000 faculty educating more than 40,000 students.
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