Study Architecture 
ProPEL 2026 Design Build Award
To honor the best practices in school-based design-build projects.
Deadline: October 8, 2025
Criteria
This ACSA award recognizes projects that demonstrate how faculty, students, and schools work to realize design-build projects. Curricula based design-build projects can encompass a variety of endeavors, scope, scale and setting, but at their core they present constructions that illustrate design learning outcomes from conception to tangible fruition. Projects will be considered at any scale and may include but are not limited to: products, installations, interiors, and full-scale constructions. Submissions should convey how the projects link curricular objectives and design pedagogies with measurable outcomes. Submissions should convey how they address ideas of cultural, social, economical, or environmental sustainability.
Eligibility
Persons in ACSA full-member and candidate-member schools who are primarily engaged in teaching may enter one or more submissions relevant to their educational activities. Projects that have previously been recognized by the ACSA will not be considered.
Submission Documentation
Submissions must explain the nature of the design-build agenda and demonstrate what students learned and how they benefited and the sustained impact of the agenda on a curriculum (if applicable). Entries must consist of high-quality digital graphic material and text, maximum of 1,000 words, submitted through the online system by the nominee in PDF format with up to 20, 8.5×11 pages, 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 log into the ACSA website in order to submit.
Each submission shall contain the following:
- Candidate Name: Submission Information, completed online during submission (www.acsa-arch.org);
- Project Title;
- Abstract: (not to exceed 300 words) describing the nature of the design-build agenda, explaining what students learned and how they benefited and the sustained impact of the agenda on a curriculum (if applicable). (copy/paste text box);
- Supporting Material: Documents illustrating or describing the project (not to exceed a total of 20, 8.5×11 pages with a maximum of 1,000 words, in PDF format, no more than 20MB). Within the 1,000 words, text should address student learning outcomes around which the course/assignment is designed, and a description of the evaluation methods used to assess student learning outcomes.
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.)
To maintain anonymity, no names of entrants or collaborating parties may appear on any part of the submission. Credits may be concealed by any simple means. Do not conceal identity and location of the project.
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 four 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 DB Selection Committee
Andrew Chin
FAMU
Phoebe Crisman
University of Virginia
Joshua Foster
East Los Angeles College
Emily McGlohn
Auburn 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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