AIA Shanghai is pleased to announce our 5th annual China Design Excellence Awards (CDEA) to celebrate China's best designs and designers.

The CDEA showcases innovation in architecture, interior architecture, and urban planning, and welcomes diverse entries from AIA members and AIA non-members alike. The projects must be located in Mainland China. All submissions will be judged by a distinctive collection of judges that exemplifies the diversity of our vibrant community.

Please contact awards@aiarchitectsh.org if you have any award inquiries and click the Tab below for registration.

Registration and Submissions Open: August 26, 2022

Deadline for Early-bird Registration: September 15th, at 11:59 PM

End of Registration and Submissions: October 7th, at 11:59 PM

Submissions Deadline Extension: October 14th, at 11:59 PM

*Winners will be announced at the AIA Shanghai awards ceremony in December 2022. Results will not be disclosed to any participants in advance.

AIA Members (Shanghai Chapter): 2850 RMB

AIA Members (Other Chapters): 3150 RMB

Community Partners (ASSC, RIBA, ULI): 3150 RMB

Non-members**: 6000 RMB 

*Early Bird: All applicants who submit before September 15th will receive a 550RMB discount on their submission.
**Entrants who prove membership to AIA Shanghai before the submission’s deadline will be eligible for a refund on the difference in Fee.

CITY PLANNING AND DISTRICT PLANNING

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing buildings.

• Eligible submissions must be multiple-city blocks, district-wide or city-wide planning projects exceeding 1 square kilometer in size.

• There is no minimum criteria on program types within the master plan area.

• Note: Projects that are not yet built are eligible. If the project will never be built, it must be submitted under the Unbuilt Category.

ARCHITECTURE - COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing buildings.

• Eligible submissions are independent, building projects comprising of no more than a small cluster of buildings (approximately 3-5 buildings).

• Scope does not require but can include Interior Design scope.

• Project must include majority the program to include office, retail, or hospitality program.

• Note: Hospitality resort properties are eligible under this category.

ARCHITECTURE - HEALTHCARE / INSTITUTIONAL / CIVIC

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing buildings.

• Eligible submissions are independent, building projects comprising of no more than a small cluster of buildings (approximately 3-5 buildings).

• Scope does not require but can include Interior Design scope.

• Note: Project must include majority the program to include healthcare, senior living, or medical-oriented research program.

• Note: Entire campus of buildings is eligible under the Campus Architecture and Master Planning category.

ARCHITECTURE - ACADEMIC

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing buildings.

• Eligible submissions are independent, building projects comprising of no more than a small cluster of buildings (approximately 1-3 buildings).

• Scope does not require but can include Interior Design scope.

• Project must include majority the program to include K-12, higher education (university) or other institutions of learning program.

• Note: Entire campus of buildings is eligible under the Campus Architecture and Master Planning category.

ARCHITECTURE - RESIDENTIAL

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing buildings.

• Eligible submissions are independent, building projects comprising of no more than one compound property of residential buildings.

• Scope does not require but can include Interior Design scope.

• Project must include majority the program to include buildings containing housing, apartment, condominiums, town houses, or villa program.

• Note: Hospitality, hotels, and resorts are not eligible under this category.

ARCHITECTURE - CAMPUS AND MASTER PLANNING

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing buildings.

• Eligible submissions must include a whole site which is dedicated to a specific operations entity whether it be Commercial, Academic, or Healthcare.

• There are no minimum criteria on program types within the master plan area.

• Note: Projects in this category must be built or in the process of being executed (i.e. phased construction).

ADAPTIVE RE-USE / REGENERATION / HIST PRESERVATION - URBAN DESIGN

• This category is exclusively intended for projects where integration with existing buildings is a central focus of the project.

• The amount of re-used, regenerated existing buildings must be at least 1/4 of the total site area.

• There are no year requirements related to historic preserved projects; however, the existing projects must be officially recognized with government-registered historic designation.

• The range in project size for this category is above one square kilometer.

• There are no minimum criteria on program types within the master plan area.

• Note: Projects that are not yet built are eligible. If the project will never be built, it must be submitted under the Unbuilt Category.

ADAPTIVE RE-USE / REGENERATION / HISTORIC PRESERVATION - ARCHITECTURE

• This category is exclusively intended for projects where integration with existing buildings is a central focus of the project.

• The amount of re-used, regenerated existing buildings must be at least 1/4 of the total site area.

• There are no year requirements related to historic preserved projects; however, the existing projects must be officially recognized with government-registered historic designation.

• The range in project size for this category is below one square kilometer.

• Projects that consist of one or few buildings, or a whole campus or district, are eligible.

• There are no minimum criteria on program types within the master plan area.

• Note: Projects in this category must be built

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE - WORK

• This category is exclusively for interiors projects only. No projects including exterior architecture work is eligible.

• Eligible projects include those related to office, headquarters, retail malls, retail centers, retail flag ship stores, showrooms, hospitality, and private clubs.

• Projects in which over half of the work is Interior Decoration (primarily application of color and materials) and specifying furniture and other non-permanently installed products are not eligible.

• Note: Projects less than 5,000 square meters must be submitted under the appropriate Small Projects categories.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE - COMMUNITY

• This category is exclusively for interiors projects only. No projects including exterior architecture work is eligible.

• Eligible projects include those related to civic, institutional, cultural, academic, and public realm.

• Projects in which over half of the work is Interior Decoration (primarily application of color and materials) and specifying furniture and other non-permanently installed products are not eligible.

• Note: Projects less than 5,000 square meters must be submitted under the appropriate Small Projects categories.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE - LIFESTYLE

• This category is exclusively for interiors projects only. No projects including exterior architecture work is eligible.

• Eligible projects include those related to residential, residential showrooms, community centers.

• Projects in which over half of the work is Interior Decoration (primarily application of color and materials) and specifying furniture and other non-permanently installed products are not eligible.

• Note: Projects less than 5,000 square meters must be submitted under the appropriate Small Projects categories.

SMALL PROJECTS - ARCHITECTURE

• Project area must not exceed 5,000 square meters in total area.

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing interior spaces.

• Eligible submissions are focused on exterior architecture work only but can include interior design.

• There are no specific requirements or limitations on program types.

SMALL PROJECTS - INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

• Project area must not exceed 5,000 square meters in total area.

• Eligible projects include those with new construction and/or renovation/additions to existing interior spaces.

• Eligible submissions can only include interior architecture and spaces.

• Projects in which over half of the work is Interior Decoration (primarily application of color and materials) and specifying furniture and other non-permanently installed products are not eligible.

• There are no specific requirements or limitations on program types.

UNBUILT

• The category is intended for contracted projects that commenced but were discontinued or abandoned during the process; and will not be realized.

• Projects that were stopped and may still be built are not eligible.

• Projects that stopped during the construction process are not eligible.

• Project work that are unused design schemes from contracted project work are eligible.

• Projects that are the result of unsuccessful tender pre-qualifications or other tender project pursuits are eligible.

• Theoretical, heuristic, or internal company research projects are not eligible.

• Student projects or work that are the result of academic degree programs, summer study programs, student design clinics, any academic program, or other non-professional work or research in any form are not eligible.

• There are no specific requirements or limitations on program types.

BEST OF SHOW AWARDS

• Projects interested in being considered for this award must indicate so at the appropriate place in the submission platform.

• These are special awards for projects that exemplify the highest achievement across submissions from ALL categories.

• Best of Show: AIA Shanghai Presidential Award

  a. The core criteria are centered around the Chapter President’s Annual Theme for the greater professional community.
  b. This year’s Annual Theme is “Citizen Architecture and Responsible Sustainability or Net Zero Design”
  
  Buildings represent nearly 40% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. To reach the decarbonization targets set by the Paris
  Agreement, we must do more to reduce carbon emissions that are directly linked to the built environment. From energy use to
  materials specified, there are many opportunities for the architectural community to make a significant, positive impact on
  reducing carbon across our industry.
  
  c. This year’s Presidential Award recognizes projects that have demonstrated substantial efforts and achievements toward
  these goals.
  d. Supplementary Submission Requirements:
  i. Entry must comply with rules, eligibility, and deliverables for the respective category.
  ii. Must demonstrate substantive and measurable impact in the following areas:
  1. Operational Carbon
  2. Embodied Carbon
  3. Transportation Carbon
  4. Carbon Offsets
  iii. Additional Deliverable: Summary of this information must be formatted in no more than 4-page B5 document (two double
  page spreads).
  iv. Energy use analysis to demonstrate baseline and target energy use intensity, in design stage and after project completion.
  v. Sustainability narrative should concisely explains the strategy and measurable outcome towards decarbonization.
  vi. Additional data, diagrams, simulation, analysis, material or system information to demonstrate reduction in energy use or
  carbon emission
  e. If a project is deemed worthy to be in contention for this prestigious award, the CDEA Team reserves the right to request
  additional content, information, data, or client and project team testimonies, contact information, and possibly a site visit.
  

• Best of Show: Community Impact Award

a. The core criteria are centered around a projects substantial and compelling vision, story, and execution of its design that positively inflected, dramatically changed, or transformed a location or community and the people which inhabit, work, and live in and around it.
b. This Community Impact Award recognizes projects that have demonstrated substantial efforts and achievements toward these goals.
c. Supplementary Submission Requirements:
i. Entry must comply with rules, eligibility, and deliverables for the respective category.
ii. Must demonstrate substantive and measurable impact in the following areas:
1. Social Equity
2. Environmental Remediation
3. Transportation Carbon
4. Carbon Offsets
iii. Additional Deliverable: Summary of this information must be formatted in no more than 4-page B5 document (two double
page spreads).
iv. Content should present a clear and compelling story, strategy, and outcomes concisely.
v. This should include site photos, data, diagrams, testimonies, and tracking information.
d. If a project is deemed worthy to be in contention for this prestigious award, the CDEA Team reserves the right to request additional content, information, data, or client and project team testimonies, contact information, and possibly a site visit.

1.1 The official Chinese translation for “AIA Shanghai Chapter” shall be “美国建筑师学会上海分会”.

1.2 The official Chinese translation for “5th Annual 2022 China Design Excellence Awards” shall be:
“2022年第五届中国年度杰出设计奖”.

1.3 “China Design Excellence Awards” shall also be known as “CDEA”.

1.4 All rules, eligibility, and other requirements must be followed as per this document. Any questions regarding these must be submitted be email to the awards@aiarchitectsh.org early enough such that your submission may still be within the call for entries deadline.
a. Questions must be submitted early enough to allow the CDEA Team to respond so you can submit your entry within the deadline timeframe.
b. Any open questions that remain unanswered by the program deadline are not afforded a time extension, unless otherwise determined by the CDEA Team.

1.5 Interpretation, determination of validity, or violation of rules or qualifications of the AIA Shanghai China Design Excellence Awards (CDEA) is subject to the interpretation of the CDEA Team review, evaluation, and decision.
a. The review of any issues is based on all submitted information and content by the submitting firm.
b. The CDEA Team determination on related issues will be considered final and binding.

1.6 Entries that are determined to be disqualified are not entitled to a refund of the submission fee, unless otherwise determined by the CDEA Team.

1.7 Per CDEA Team discretion, when relevant, firms with disqualified submissions will be notified by email highlighting specific reason(s) for this determination.

1.8 Any CDEA Expert Review Committee or CDEA Jury member who is also an owner, leader, or employee of a submitting firm, or has special knowledge of a project not allowing them to be impartial, will be required to recuse themselves from scoring that such projects.
a. During the CDEA Team adjudication certification review, any scoring in such situation will be removed from the scoring tally.
b. The CDEA scoring system includes an aggregate averaging scoring system so such scoring will not affect the total outcome.

1.9 Submitting projects for the CDEA program also grants the CDEA Team usage rights to the submitted content and assets (images and text) for any promotional activities related to the CDEA awards, promoting the projects, their author firms, their project categories, and other aspects.
a. CDEA Team is entitled to conduct such activities at their discretion as it deems relevant.
b. The CDEA Team will properly credit all usage of any content and assets to the appropriate authorship as submitted to the CDEA program. The CDEA Team shall bear no responsibility for any errors in the material as submitted by submitting individuals and firms.
c. There is no statute of limitations on the usage rights described above.
d. Note: Submitting individuals and firms still retain the copyright to their project authorship and assets.

2.1 The CDEA Team reserves the right to determine application of all rules and eligibility of all submissions at any time, even after an award may be given.

2.2 Submission material must all be anonymous, in text, titles, captions, firm logos, allusions or references to your firm or contributing project team are not allowed whatsoever. Disclosing authorship on any judging material, intentional or not, is subject to disqualification.

2.3 The primary language for the CDEA award submissions is English.
a. Submissions may also include other languages so long as the predominant text has English translation that allows judges to fully understand your project.
b. If there is any conflict in the text translation, the English text shall prevail.

2.4 The CDEA program does not require AIA membership to be eligible to submit a project.

2.5 Some membership of affiliate professional organizations is entitled to submission fee discounts based on their organization’s relationship with the American Institute of Architects, specifically the Shanghai Chapter.
a. Any persons or companies submitting under one of these eligible memberships must be a member in good standing. This means current year membership dues paid and without any violations or disciplinary action in progress at the time of the award submission deadline.
b. Membership verifications will be strictly verified upon submission.
c. Qualified for 2022 CDEA are the following:
i. AIA Shanghai
ii. AIA (other chapters)
iii. ASSC
iv. RIBA
v. ULI
d. Discount-eligible AIA membership tiers include licensed AIA members or International AIA Associate members. Associate AIA and AIA Student (AIAS), and AIA Affiliate membership tiers are not eligible for the AIA discount.
e. If a membership is determined to be invalid or membership number submitted with errors or submitted with an intentionally false number is subject to disqualification.

2.6 Projects must be the result of professionally contracted project work, or in the pursuit of contracted work, with the intention of being executed.

2.7 Projects (contracted or not) done by unpaid students or principally by students either as interns or in a co-op program are not eligible.

2.8 Projects are not eligible if they have previously won any award by the AIA Shanghai award program or an award by any other AIA Chapter. This includes any award won by AIA International, formerly called AIA International Region.

2.9 Projects that have won an AIA National or AIA Regional award are eligible for submission in AIA Shanghai CDEA program.

2.10 Projects must be in China. This shall be characterized as being within the contiguous geographic boundary of the connected land mass known as China.

2.11 Projects must be built or been completed after August 15, 2017; this is a seven (7) year eligibility timeframe. Each year of the CDEA program, the award eligibility timeframe may be different from year to year.

2.12 Submitting person must be either the team leader or a senior person in the firm who was involved with the project. All team members should be listed completely, noting their project roles, including the submitting person.

2.13 The submitting firm must be either the primary author person/firm, or a significant contributor to the project, such as a specialty consulting, contractor, or client.
a. When one Architecture firm is not the sole author of the design, all other contributing design firms must be given credit as part of the submission.
b. This includes but is not limited to Design Architect, Associate Architects, Architect-of-Record, Design Institute, Landscape Architect/Designer, Interior Architect/Designer, Project Management Company, etc.

2.14 Submissions must include all collaborating or consulting firms and companies that were included in the project.
a. This includes all design firms, including architects, landscape architects, lighting designers, signage designers.
b. This also includes other specialty consultants including but not limited to quantity surveyor, civil/geotechnical, structural and MEP engineering, sustainability, vertical transportation, fire safety, façade, building maintenance, A/V, kitchen facility, security and hardware, water system, and geotechnical.

2.15 Submissions that are built must also include the contractor company(-ies), if any.

2.16 Projects that are submitted multiples times, for the same category, by different project team firms of a project will only be allowed to be entered into judged once.
a. Multiple entries for the same project are not entitled to submission fee refund at any time. Affiliated firms submitting hold the responsibility to coordinate with all project collaborators prior to submitting.

2.17 Projects are permitted to be submitted to more than one category.
a. Entries must demonstrate it meets the requirement of each respective category submitted.
b. A separate submission fee is to be required for each different, submitted category.

2.18 Any project that is determined to be in violation of any of the rules, eligibility deliverable requirements literally, or counter to the spirit and intent of these provisions is subject to disqualification.
a. Any project in violation of any provisions after it was recognized with a CDEA award may have the award revoked.
b. The revocation of the award is subject to public announcement, at the discretion of the CDEA Team.

2.19 AIA Code of Conduct
a. AIA members are dedicated to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and competence. The AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (Code) guides members’ conduct in fulfilling those obligations. The Code applies to the professional activities of all AIA members, regardless of their membership category.
b. AIA Code of Conduct website: https://content.aia.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/2020_Code_of_Ethics.pdf
c. For the basis of defining a baseline of professional conduct for the CDEA program, the AIA Code of Conduct applies to submitters regardless of AIA affiliation. Specifically, regarding the following statutes:
i. E.S. 2.4
Environmental Equity and Justice: Members should promote fairness and safety in providing professional services and make
reasonable efforts to advise their clients and employers of their obligations to the environment, including: access to clean air,
water, sunlight and energy for all; sustainable production, extraction, transportation and consumption practices; a built
environment that equitably supports human health and well-being and is resistant to climate change; and restoring degraded or
depleted natural resources.
ii. E.S. 5.3
Professional Recognition: Members should build their professional reputation on the merits of their own service and
performance and should recognize and give credit to others for the professional work they have performed.
iii.     Rule 5.3.1
Members shall recognize and 5.301 respect the professional contributions of their employees, employers, professional
colleagues, and business associates.

2.20 At no time are submitting individuals and firms allowed to contact or communicate with any of the Expert Review Committee or Jury related to the CDEA program, their entries, their scoring therein in such a way, intended or not, to influence the scoring.
a. The CDEA Adjudication Team will be reviewing all scoring at each step in the adjudication process.

b. The CDEA Adjudication Team reserves the right to remove and scoring that demonstrates inconsistent application of scoring principles or any bias, intended or not.

2.21 The CDEA Team reserves the right to any and all interpretation in compliance or violation of the CDEA program rules, eligibility, and deliverables (provisions).
a. If there exist any contradiction, conflicting, or errors in these provisions, CDEA Team will reconcile and clarify in a timely manner.
b. Evaluation and determination of any outcome related to the CDEA program, submitting individual and firms, submitted entries is solely at the discretion of the CDEA Team.
c. The CDEA Team reserves the right to update, improve, clarify, and/or change these provisions at any time prior, during, or after the program commences. If such changes occur, all reasonable means will be made to inform the community via the program website, as well as direct notification to submitters that register with the CDEA program online platform.
d. While the CDEA Team will responsibly and reasonably manage all aspects of the program, it’s determinations shall be considered final.

2.22    The CDEA Team, the Expert Review Committee, and the Jury reserve the right to recognize projects with awards based on their merit. It is possible that no projects meet the high criteria as defined by the three award tiers.
a. Honor
i. Highest recognition of achievement.
ii.     Projects meets significantly on ALL evaluation criteria.
b. Merit
i. Substantial recognition of achievement.
ii. Projects meets significantly on NEARLY ALL evaluation criteria.
c.     Citation
i.     Admirable recognition of achievement.
ii.     Projects meets significantly on MOST evaluation criteria.

A. BASIC PROJECT INFORMATION:

• Project Name

• Project Location

• Client Name

• Submitting Firm’s Name

• Full crediting of entire project team (all contributing consultants, contractor)

• Project Area (surface area of new / existing construction; in square meters/hectares/square kilometers)

• Site Area (in square meters/hectares/square kilometers)

• Program/Function(s)

• Date of completion of design work

• Date of completion of construction
  

B. DESIGN DESCRIPTION:

1. Project Design Summary:
   This written description of your project should not exceed 500 English words to generally communicate your design, its conceptual idea(s), strategy(-ies), and notable contribution(s).

   • Minimum 3 images or photographs (maximum 5 images).
   • At least one image that allows the overall project to be understood in its context, such as an aerial photograph, if applicable.
   • Other images should showcase various aspects of the project in its context (seasons, time of day, functions).
   • Each image size must not exceed a file size of 10MB.
   • Most of the images should be photographs (except for the Urban Design and Unbuilt categories)
   • Each image can contain more than one image but should not be heavily laid out with too many graphic assets.

2. Detail Design Summary:
   This written description of your project should not exceed 300 English words to specifically describe your project’s special features, strategies, and notable contributions that deliver value related to Design Quality, Function and Utilization, Contextual Integration, and/or Originality.

   • Minimum 3 images or photographs (maximum 5 images).
   • At least one image that demonstrates the points made in your verbal description.
   • Images could include diagrams, descriptive drawings.
   • Each image can contain more than one image but should not be heavily laid out with too many graphic assets.

3. Value Proposition Description:
   This written description of your project should not exceed 300 English words to specifically describe your project’s achievements related to Sustainability and Wellness, Social and Community Contribution, or Innovation and Advancement. word description of the project to outline the project's value.

   • Minimum 3 images or photographs (maximum 5 images).
   • At least one image that demonstrates the points made in your verbal description.
   • Images could include diagrams, descriptive drawings.
   • Each image can contain more than one image but should not be heavily laid out with too many graphic assets. 
   

C.    ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. The following required submitting files must comply with the following:
   a. Layout to follow CDEA template (to be provided).
   b. File resolution intended to be printed.
   c. File to be submitted in PDF format in a file not exceeding 30MB.
   d. Requested content:
   i. Includes up to 300 words project description.
   ii. 1 or 2 significant images/photos showing overview of your project.
   iii. Up to 3 additional images/photos highlighting key aspects of your project.
   iv. Up to 3 additional diagrams or drawings highlighting key aspects of your project.
   v. Site Plan Drawings that also includes surrounding context.

2. The above should be formatted for EACH of the below. Note these three assets are stand-alone assets that must be self-contained with similar or the same material. These three assets will be used in different review forums and exhibition of your project. Note: They below assets will not be used together.
   a. A0 Poster (1 board)
   b. B5 Single Page (1 page)
   c. B5 Double-page Spread (2 pages)