The architects’ organization that has recognized design excellence in Pasadena for 75 years is reshaping its annual awards around a single focus: rebuilding from the January 2025 wildfires.
The AIA Pasadena & Foothill Chapter has transformed its Design Awards into the 2026 Rebuild Design Awards, seeking entries from architects, engineers, contractors, and students designing homes and structures for communities devastated by the Eaton Fire and other blazes. Entries are due February 27.
The program will recognize only projects created as direct responses to a specific disaster—the January 2025 wildfires. Eligible projects must be located in the burn areas of Altadena, Malibu, Palisades, Pasadena, or Sierra Madre—communities where more than 9,000 structures were destroyed, according to Cal Fire.
The awards span 10 categories, several tailored to the particular challenges of rebuilding. The “Most Resilient Design” category will recognize projects incorporating best practices for wildfire resistance and other Southern California hazards. “Best Historical Design” honors projects that consider the pre-existing character of burned neighborhoods. “Best Design with Alternative
Construction Methods” recognizes use of prefab, modular, or offsite manufacturing techniques.
Other categories include Best Overall Design, Best Standard/Catalog Plan Design, Best Value Design, Best ADU or Small Structure Design, Most Collaborative Design Process, Best Student Design, and Most Popular Design, which will be determined by public voting at the awards event.
All submissions will be publicly displayed at a spring event in March or April, the chapter announced. Attendees will be able to view the poster-style presentations and vote on their favorite designs.
Entry fees range from $25 for students to $350 for large firms with more than 50 employees. Sole practitioners pay $100, small firms of 2 to 10 employees pay $150, and medium firms of 11 to 49 employees pay $250.
Prizes total $10,000 to $15,000, according to the call for entries. Best of Category awards include a $500 cash prize plus a $500 sponsored gift card; Merit Awards include a $250 prize. Entries may win in multiple categories.
Eligibility is limited to California-licensed architects, structural engineers, and general contractors, as well as architecture students at Southern California colleges and universities. Professional entries must be associated with a client actively rebuilding after the wildfires. Students may submit individually or in teams of up to four.
The AIA Pasadena & Foothill Chapter is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that has served local architects for more than 75 years. The chapter reached record membership of 451 in 2024.
To submit entries, visit the online form at aiapf.org. Questions may be directed to wildfiresupport@aiapf.org.
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