Justice Facilities Review Award

Entrants

• Any U.S. licensed architect may enter.
• Submitting architects do not have to be the head of the team.
• 
  All entries must receive permissions from owners and other team members and acknowledge that permission as part of the submission.
• Projects must credit every substantial contributor.

Projects

• Completed projects are eligible if completed no earlier than 1/1/2020.
• Unbuilt projects can be submitted with presentation graphics, models and renderings in lieu of photographs. Unbuilt projects must be completed through 100% Design Development no earlier than 1/1/2020.
• Unbuilt project award recipients may re-submit the project once it is constructed.(Construction completed no earlier than 1/1/2020.

2026 

Submissions open September 12, 2025.

Specific information regarding program policies (i.e., applicant eligibility, nominator options, etc.), required application components (i.e., letters of reference, candidate/project information fields, etc.), and other elements relevant in the 2026 iteration of the program will be available in the online application portal once the award begins accepting materials. All materials must be submitted via the online portal (i.e., cannot be accepted via email, phone, shared online drive, fax, post, etc.) by the prescribed deadline(s): deadline extension or exception requests will not be granted. Applicants and interested parties are encouraged to seek award assistance well in advance of application deadlines to minimize the risk for ineligibility and/or application noncompliance rendering the entry removed from review.

Fee: Single project submissions are $450 each. Submitting the same project to additional award categories costs an extra $100 per category.

Previous Categories

• Courthouses
• Corrections/detention
• Law enforcement
• Land ports of entry
• Public safety buildings
• Border patrol stations
• Substance abuse treatment facilities
• Transition / step down housing
• Forensic laboratories
• Forensic behavioral health facilities
• Medical examiner facilities
• Emergency operations

Application Components
Extensive information on the materials required to submit an application is housed in the AIA online application portal. Please reference the information in this portal when the program is receiving materials for the 2026 season. 
 

Review Criteria

Essential elements for identifying the success of these projects are:

• Functionality
• 
  Security and safety
• 
  Technology and accessibility
• 
  Community impact
• Sustainability and economic feasibility (first cost and long-term cost of ownership)
• Aesthetic achievements
   

For information on 2025 recipients of this award program visit our awards management portal.  

Recipients of this award from 2024 and 2023 can be found at AIA award winners. For previous recipients please contact AIA Archives.