AIA Phoenix Metro 2025 Design Competition
Downtown Phoenix: Block of the Future Ideas Competition
Welcome! Scroll down to find a "Submit" button to begin your entry. You will create a login to proceed. For more detailed background about the competition, view the awards brief PDF at this link, which you can download for your reference. The final deadline to enter is Monday, December 8, 2025.
Fee: All entry fees are paid online as the final step when you submit your entry.
- $100 per entry for members of AIA or ASLA.
- $150 per entry for professionals who are not members of either association.
- $25 per entry for students
AIA Phoenix Metro, in collaboration with the City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development (CED), invites architects, landscape architects, urban planners, students, and creative thinkers to enter a design ideas competition focused on West Downtown Phoenix.
Participants are asked to propose visionary, conceptual designs for one of three prominent parcels located at the southwest (SW), northeast (NE), and northwest (NW) corners of 7th Avenue and Washington Street. These sites have the potential to become transformative civic anchors, strengthening the connection between the Downtown Phoenix Core and the Arizona State Capitol.
The goal is to create a new urban block typology that elevates civic identity, drives sustainable growth, and fosters an inclusive, 24-hour urban environment.
Questions on the competition submittal process and this platform? Contact AIA Arizona Director of Local Chapters Diana Smith at diana@aia-arizona.org.
Fee: $100 per entry for members of AIA or ASLA. A $50 fee is added ($150 total) for entries by professionals who are not members of either association. The total fee is paid as the final step of your online entry.
Each entry may include up to two (2) E-size PDFs (30x42-inches) in landscape orientation.
Entries will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury of design professionals and industry experts based on the following criteria. Each submission will be reviewed anonymously to ensure fairness and impartiality.
1. Design Innovation and Creativity (25%) Originality of the design concept and clarity of the architectural vision. Inventiveness in addressing urban challenges and opportunities. Thoughtful integration of design elements that provoke interest, engagement, and reflection.
2. Responsiveness to Urban Context (25%) Sensitivity to the existing site conditions, history, culture, and surrounding environment. Appropriateness and effectiveness of scale, density, and spatial relationships within an urban setting. Strategies that foster connectivity, inclusivity, and civic engagement.
3. Sustainability and Resilience (20%) Incorporation of sustainable design strategies including environmental performance, material selection, energy use, and water management. Consideration of climate adaptability and long-term resilience in urban environments.
4. Functionality and Feasibility (15%) Clarity in program organization and circulation. Realistic consideration of construction, materials, and systems. Potential for implementation or adaptability in a real-world context.
5. Graphic Clarity and Communication (15%) Effectiveness of visual storytelling through drawings, diagrams, and renderings. Clarity and cohesiveness of the layout and narrative. Ability to communicate the project intent concisely and powerfully.
Fee $25 per entry. The fee is paid as the final step of your online entry.
Each entry may include up to two (2) E-size PDFs (30x42-inches) in landscape orientation.
Entries will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury of design professionals and industry experts based on the following criteria. Each submission will be reviewed anonymously to ensure fairness and impartiality.
1. Design Innovation and Creativity (25%) Originality of the design concept and clarity of the architectural vision. Inventiveness in addressing urban challenges and opportunities. Thoughtful integration of design elements that provoke interest, engagement, and reflection.
2. Responsiveness to Urban Context (25%) Sensitivity to the existing site conditions, history, culture, and surrounding environment. Appropriateness and effectiveness of scale, density, and spatial relationships within an urban setting. Strategies that foster connectivity, inclusivity, and civic engagement.
3. Sustainability and Resilience (20%) Incorporation of sustainable design strategies including environmental performance, material selection, energy use, and water management. Consideration of climate adaptability and long-term resilience in urban environments.
4. Functionality and Feasibility (15%) Clarity in program organization and circulation. Realistic consideration of construction, materials, and systems. Potential for implementation or adaptability in a real-world context.
5. Graphic Clarity and Communication (15%) Effectiveness of visual storytelling through drawings, diagrams, and renderings. Clarity and cohesiveness of the layout and narrative. Ability to communicate the project intent concisely and powerfully.