TORONTO – The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has officially opened the call for submissions for its 2026 awards program. The biennial initiative celebrates the best in architectural design and career achievements from OAA members across the province.
It includes categories for Design Excellence, which highlights innovative and sustainable built projects, and Service Awards, which honour the contributions of both emerging and established members of the architectural profession.
Here are some more details.
Design Excellence
The Design Excellence Awards focus on completed projects that must have been completed since January 2020, be in use, and can be located anywhere in the world, provided they are created by OAA members.
Up to 20 finalists will be selected by a jury before up to 10 winners will be announced.
In alignment with the OAA’s commitment to Climate Action, all applicable Design Excellence submissions require mandatory Energy Usage Intensity reporting, a release reads. To assist with this process, the OAA offers free tools to measure Total Energy Use Intensity, which are available on the OAA Website.
Service Awards
The Service Awards recognize individuals and practices for their contributions to the profession and the public. Categories include Best Emerging Practice, which celebrates young firms with a clear vision and effective strategies; Lifetime Design Achievement, which honours architects for a career-long commitment to design excellence; the Medal of Service, which acknowledges exceptional service and leadership in the profession or public sphere; and the Honour Roll, which recognizes prominent members who are now deceased.
Award winners will be celebrated at the 2026 OAA Conference in Kitchener-Waterloo in May.
With the two-year cycle, the next opportunity to submit Design Excellence or Service Awards will be 2028.
For more details visit the OAA Website. Submissions close on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
