Join us and submit your Architectural Exhibits to be displayed at the Annual Northeast Region Conference this year in Rochester, NY, where we will honor the winners of the Kirkbride Award and Projects of Distinction Awards.
The
Edward Kirkbride Award is bestowed upon a project that exhibits exceptional strength in each of the judging criteria.
Exhibit Dates
June 9-11, 2026
To Enter
| PRICING |
| Member (Per Project) |
$175
|
| Member (Per Two Projects) |
$300
|
| Non-Member (Per Project) |
$325
|
| Non-Member (Per Two Projects) |
$600
|
Register
Key Dates
| March 27, 2026 |
Architecture Exhibit due date for on-line application, Microsoft PowerPoint slides, and fees submitted. Send digital submission of slides via email to [email protected] and place “EDWARD KIRKBRIDE SUBMISSION” in the subject line.
|
| April 2026 |
Jury Review
|
| June 8, 2026 |
Label and deliver or mail to the following:
Association for Learning Environments Architectural Exhibit
Attn: Julie Fried
Hyatt Regency Rochester
125 East Main Street
Rochester, NY 14604
|
| TBD |
Project winners will be announced at the conference. At least one person from the submitting project must attend the conference to accept the potential award. The Association for Learning Environments is not responsible for shipping the award if there is no one in attendance to accept.
|
| June 11, 2026 |
Project boards are to be retrieved by the submitting firm by end of day. Association for Learning Environments is not responsible for project boards after 12:00 PM.
|
Entry Requirements / Rules
Entries will be accepted for new or renovated educational projects designed and/or built within the past five (5) years. Firms and individuals are invited to submit up to three (3) projects per firm. In order to be considered for exhibit, firms must submit a Microsoft PowerPoint, exhibit boards, and high-resolution JPEGs of each board.
Digital submissions for the competition are limited to twenty-five (25) Microsoft PowerPoint slides and must be submitted on the official template. Submissions not submitted on this template will not be considered.
Click here to download the template.
The following four themes should be conveyed in the Microsoft PowerPoint slides submission:
- Planning Process – 30 points
Describe the planning process for this facility including methods used to ensure the final environment aligns with the vision and goals set during the planning phase. Include:
- Identifying stakeholders
- Involvement of school and community
- Methods used for creating engagement in the planning process
- Challenges and assets to the planning process
- Include relevant portions of Visioning documents & process graphics
- Physical Environment – 15 points
Describe how your planning and design respond to the physical environment. Include:
- Building orientation and use of materials
- Key design elements
- Relation to the existing site and the greater environment
- Include a site plan and images
- Learning Environment – 15 points
Describe how the designed learning environment supports a variety of learning styles and methods for delivering instruction. Include:
- Explanation of key adjacencies and achieved efficiencies
- Illustrate design elements supporting student learning
- Key features providing student and instructional support
- Sustainability – 10 points
Describe how the project incorporates sustainable components that make it a healthy, high-performance environment. Include:
- Use of materials & systems
- Outdoor features
- Educational opportunities
- Operational savings
- Nationally recognized energy performance rating, if any
- Student & Community Outcomes – 20 points
Describe how this project responds to the function and identity of the community in which it serves. Include:
- Challenges & Assets
- Achieved value and goals
- Evidence of the district and communities’ Vision in the final design
- Complete Application Package – 10 points
Exhibit boards shall consist of (2) 24X36 mount on foam board type material. Composition of boards will be the entrant’s discretion. The two panels will be displayed, one over the other. Association for Learning Environments will not be liable for loss or damage to exhibitor’s property. Exhibits shall be removed by the exhibitor or will be disposed of by the venue.
If possible, we ask that you supply your own easel.