2025 Design Awards

ARCHITECTURE

8980 | Gensler | CITATION AWARD

“A well executed, nicely detailed, compositionally refined, and presents a strong bold urban edge.” 

Mira Costa College Chemistry and Biotechnology Building | HED | MERIT AWARD

“The design team’s deep level of engagement with the user groups regarding the building’s organization, performance, and execution is evident, and the results clearly excite both the faculty and students.” 

Torrey Heights by Breakthrough Properties | Flad Architects | HONOR AWARD

“This is a robust pure architecture project, interesting, thoughtful, beautifully done.”

Mira Costa College Health & Wellness Hub | HMC Architects | CITATION AWARD

“This project has a really pleasant vibe, integrating recreation and academics with wonderful outdoor spaces that take advantage of San Diego’s perfect year round climate.” 

Nancy Ridge | Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects | HONOR AWARD

“Adaptive reuse that provides a clear architectural vision. An amazing transformation from the very dated original structure”

Interior Architecture 

San Diego Symphony Orchestra – Jacobs Music Center | HGA | HONOR AWARD

“An extraordinary effort across all aspects of this project. The new elements are stunning and seamlessly coexist with the original interiors, all without playing second fiddle.” 

Single-Family Residential 

HOVIS House | ANOTHERericjohnson | CITATION AWARD

“A really well conceived, sweet little project that transformed a dated non-descript single-family that would typically end up in a dumpster, into a very cool over under.”

Unbuilt Design

Rio De Oportunidades | The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP | CITATION AWARD

“highly supportive of the opportunities of this design that bridge and strengthen, even embolden transnational relationships.” 

Ocean Beach Pier Renewal | RNT Architects | CITATION AWARD

“The jury appreciated the ambitious scope of this elegantly designed civic amenity and would like to encourage decision makers to bravely move this project forward.” 

Multifamily Residential  

Tselner | Jeff Svitak Inc | CITATION AWARD

“Nicely executed marriage of a minimal, almost quiet, palette of materials with an understated indoor/outdoor design-density done right!” 

El Cerrito permanent Supportive Housing | LPA Design Studios | HONOR AWARD

“Gloriously hits the missing middle of multi-family housing. This project is interesting, innovative, high performance, and beautiful” 

Preservation 

UC San Diego Revelle College York Hall Seismic Improvements | LPA Design Studio | HONOR AWARD

“Impressive “columnectomy”, preserving the mid-century character of the original structure while seamlessly integrating the seismic retrofit elements—an artful magic trick.”

Botanical Building Restoration | Platt/Whitelaw Architects, Inc. | HONOR AWARD

“Wow, really incredible! The architect and the City should be praised for their stewardship of and investment in this beloved Balboa Park icon.” 

Urban Design 

George Walker Smith Education Campus | RNT Architects | MERIT AWARD

“The George Walker Smith Education Campus redefines what a public school can be in an urban context. Its seamless integration of education, community, and public space stands as a model for civic-minded design. By restoring urban connections and centering community needs, the project elevates the school to a vibrant cultural anchor for the neighborhood.”

Civita Master Plan | Carrier Johnson + Culture | HONOR AWARD

“Programmatically as well as ecologically, the Civita Master Plan offers a comprehensive and visionary solution to reimagining a post-industrial site. The fact that the site is vibrantly occupied by a public that responds to its programmatic and ecological offerings is a testament to the project’s success!”

Arquitectura De Tijuana 

RIC Office | Saen Studio | CITATION AWARD

“It embodies the type of client and project that architects in Tijuana seek in order to stand out from the ordinary.”

Student 

Resilient Ecosystems, Resilient Spaces | Tyler West 

“The project stands out for its ability to transform environmental challenges into educational opportunities, making it an exemplary model of resilience in architecture.”

Legacy Award 

Vacation Village / Paradise Point Resort

“The remarkable integrity and continued functionality of this treasured destination, even after 63 years, stands as a lasting symbol of San Diego’s beach culture and thoughtful, climate-responsive design.” 

Patron of The Year 

Mira Costa College 

“A committed and visionary client dedicated to advancing design excellence by creating bold and transformative environments for student’s wellbeing, academic success and community impact.” 


Thank you to our 2025 DxSD Partners

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

2024 Design Awards

Congratulations to the 2024 Design Award Honorees.

Architecture

UNBUILT DESIGN

DIVINE DETAIL

MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL Architecture

SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAl Architecture

Arquitectura de Tijuana

STUDENT DESIGN AWARDS

LEGACy Awards

Community Awards

URBAN DESIGN


About this Year’s Jury
To provide a fair and equitable review, a jury is recruited from esteemed architect members from non-local metropolitan areas. The recruitment of a non-local jury of highly distinguished architects ensures that the work awarded embodies design excellence to the highest extent.


We believe all local projects have merit in our community. Thank you to everyone who submitted projects for the 2024 Design Awards.

ASquared Studio | AVRP | Border Arquitectos | Carrier Johnson + CULTURE | DGA | Domusstudio Architecture | DZN Partners | EHDD | EYRC Architects | Flad Architects | Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects | Gensler | GLO Architecture | Heleo Architecture + Design | HGW Architecture | HMC Architects | IS Architecture | JCJ Architecture | Jim Brown FAIA, Public Architecture | JWDA Architects | Luce et Studio | Materia Architecture | Matthew Segal, AIA | Miller Hull Partnership | Architects Mosher Drew | Perkins&Will | PGAL | Ramiro Losada-Amor | RNT Architects | Safdie Rabines Architects | Sillman | SmithGroup | Studio E | Tecture | Walden Desarrollos | Workshop B Architects | ZGF Architects


SUPPORTERS

DXSD 2024 SPONSORS

2023 Design Awards

Congratulations to the 2023 Design Award Honorees.

ARCHITECTURE

single family residential architecture

multi-family RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

UNBUILT PROJECTS

PROYECTOS Y ARQUITECTOS DE TIJUANA/MUNICIPIO DE TIJUANA

urban design

DIVINE DETAIL

LEGACY AWARD

preservation

small projects

thought leadership

AIA CA Firm of the year

STUDENT DESIGN AWARDS


About this Year’s Jury
To provide a fair and equitable review, a jury is recruited from esteemed architect members from non-local metropolitan areas. The recruitment of a non-local jury of highly distinguished architects ensures that the work awarded embodies design excellence to the highest extent.


We believe all local projects have merit in our community. Thank you to everyone who submitted projects for the 2023 Design Awards.

Asquared Studios | Aaron Anderson Architect | AVRP | BNIM | Brian Church | Carrier Johnson + CULTURE | CRB Group | Delawie | DGA | DLR Group | domus studio | DZN | EHDD | Randal Ehm | Fore Studio | FPBA | Gensler | Heleo Architecture + Design | Heritage Preservation & Planning | Architects HGW | HMC | ID Studios | IS Architecture | JCJ | Jim Brown | JWDA | Kevin deFreitas, FAIA | LPA | LUCE | The Miller Hull Partnership | Architects Mosher Drew | OBR Architecture | Perkins & Will | Prismatica | Ramiro Losada Amor | Rob Quigley | Safdie Rabines Architects | Sillman Wright | Smith Group | Sprotte Watson | Steinberg Hart | Stephen Dalton | Studio E | Techne | Tucker Sadler | Walden Desarollo | Wayne Donaldson | Wiezbluth Brown | Workshop B Architects, Inc


SUPPORTERS

DXSD SUSTAINING SPONSORS

You can learn more about each firm, project or category award by contacting AIA San Diego.

Project Information and credit to project partners is provided by the architectural firm or entrant of record in AIA San Diego's Design Awards Call for Entries. AIA San Diego, its Design Awards Committee/Representatives, and its Design Awards Jury (Juries) are not the authors of this content, nor are they responsible for verifying its accuracy. Companies/consultants/contractors should contact the firm of record to address discrepancies. To be eligible for consideration and receipt of award in AIA San Diego's Design Awards, entries must be made by AIA members in good standing who abide by the Ethical Standards of Attribution of Credit set forth by the American Institute of Architects.



2021/22 Design Awards

Congratulations to the 2021/22 Design Award honorees. You can learn more about each firm, project or category award by contacting AIA San Diego.

2021/22 Award Winners

ARCHITECTURE

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

UNBUILT PROJECTS

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

PROYECTOS Y ARQUITECTOS DE TIJUANA/MUNICIPIO DE TIJUANA

DIVINE DETAIL

LEGACY AWARD

PATRON OF THE YEAR

STUDENT DESIGN AWARDS


About this Year’s Jury
To provide a fair and equitable review, a jury is recruited from esteemed architect members from non-local metropolitan areas. The recruitment of a non-local jury of highly distinguished architects ensures that the work awarded embodies design excellence to the highest extent.


SUPPORTERS

DXSD SUSTAINING SPONSORS

DXSD DONORS

DXSD CONTRIBUTORS

2020 Design Awards

Congratulations to the 2020 Design Award honorees. A Press Release is available here. You can learn more about each firm, project or category award by contacting AIA San Diego.

2020 Award Winners

ARCHITECTURE

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

DIVINE DETAIL

UNBUILT

URBAN DESIGN

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT

PROYECTOS Y ARQUITECTOS DE TIJUANA

STUDENT

LEGACY

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & INTEGRATION

sponsored by SDG&E’s Savings By Design Program


Duplicate Award Certificates
Additional Design Award certificates are available for purchase by individuals and firms who were involved with the project (i.e. landscapes, interiors, major subcontractors, etc.). For more information, please contact us. $20 for certificates.

About this Year’s Jury
Meet the Washington D.C. Metro Area jury:


Supporters


2019 Design Awards

Congratulations to the 2019 Design Award honorees. A Press Release is available here. To find out more about each firm, project or category award, please contact us.

Duplicate Award Certificates

Additional Design Award certificates are available for purchase by individuals and firms who were involved with the project (i.e. landscapes, interiors, major subcontractors, etc.). For more information, please contact us. $20 for certificates.

Awards Winners

ARCHITECTURE

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

DIVINE DETAIL

UNBUILT

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & INTEGRATION

sponsored by SDG&E’s Savings By Design Program

METRO TIJUANA

GRANNY FLAT OR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT

STUDENT AWARDS

LEGACY AWARD

Recognition of Design Achievement

Rob Wellington Quigley, FAIA



Patron of the Year

cisterra development

Sponsors

annual sustaining

ANNUAL SUPPORTING

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Picture12.png

2018 Design Awards

Congratulations to the 2018 Design Award honorees. A Press Release is available here. To find out more about each firm, project or category award, please contact us.

Duplicate Award Certificates

Additional Design Award certificates are available for purchase by individuals and firms who were involved with the project (i.e. landscapes, interiors, major subcontractors, etc.). For more information, please contact us. $20 for certificates.

Awards Winners

ARCHITECTURE

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

URBAN DESIGN

UNBUILT

METRO TIJUANA

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT

DIVINE DETAIL

SAVINGS BY DESIGN’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY & INTEGRATION

STUDENT DESIGN

LEGACY



Special Thanks

Event photography provided by

Joniene Was Here Photography

Printed signage by

Del Mar Blue Print Co.

Award certificate graphic design by

Hansen Associates


Patron of the Year

kilroy realty

Sponsors

ANNUAL SUSTAINING

ANNUAL SUPPORTING

GOLD

SILVER

bronze

2017 Design Awards

Congratulations to the 2017 Design Award honorees. A Press Release is available here. To find out more about each firm, project or category award, please contact us.

Duplicate Award Certificates

Additional Design Award certificates are available for purchase by individuals and firms who were involved with the project (i.e. landscapes, interiors, major subcontractors, etc.). For more information, please contact us. $20 for certificates.

Awards Winners

ARCHITECTURE

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

METRO TIJUANA

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

DIVINE DETAIL

SAVINGS BY DESIGN’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY & INTEGRATION

STUDENT DESIGN

LEGACY


YOUNG ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR

PATRON OF THE YEAR



SPONSORS