Baltimore, MD (July 19, 2018) – AIA Baltimore is adding a new special recognition award to its Excellence in Design Awards Program: the Social Equity Design Award. Organized in partnership with the Neighborhood Design Center (NDC), which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, the award recognizes community-driven projects that promote social equity.
NDC was founded in 1968 by AIA Baltimore members after Whitney M. Young’s speech at the AIA National Convention. Young challenged architects to address issues of diversity and social responsibility in the profession. It was also clear to many architects that the top-down approach of urban renewal was not working and that the better way forward was an inclusive, community-driven approach to design. The Social Equity Design Award recognizes projects that promote social equity and align with NDC’s values:
• The more inclusive and community-driven the process, the better the design.
• Healthy places are built with consideration of social justice, environmental sustainability, and the true character of a place and the people who live, work, worship, and do business there.
• Everyone deserves access to good design.
• Well-designed places enhance healthy cultural and democratic life in our neighborhoods.
Entries will be judged by a panel of local architects and community leaders. Awards will be presented at the 2018 AIA Baltimore Excellence in Design Awards Celebration to be held at Center Stage on October 19 at 5:30 pm.
Interested in submitting a project? See submission criteria. All built projects are eligible for the Social Equity Design Award. There is no additional cost for submitting a project. AIA Baltimore architect members and AIA members from other chapters submitting projects located in the Baltimore region are eligible to enter a project. Projects can be submitted through the Excellence in Design Awards portal. The deadline is September 4, 2018.