Architectural Awards
The 2026 Virginia Chapter Conference will be held at the Downtown Richmond Hilton, Richmond, VA on April 20-22, 2026. As a leader in the field of educational facilities, you are invited to participate in the 2026
Valuing School Design and Functionality: Achieving More with Le$$ Conference School Design Awards.
This Award recognizes innovative solutions in school design that provide spaces serving as a catalyst for inspired learning.
All projects will be displayed as a part of the conference exhibition.
Eligibility
- All PreK-12 grade school buildings located in the Virginia Chapter region and occupied after the Summer of 2023.
- Entries must be the following categories:
- New construction
- Addition / renovations
- Creative small space designs that support learning
- Outdoor learning spaces
- For Exhibition only projects
FOR EXHIBITION ONLY – not to be judged
- On the Boards – grades PreK-12 projects in design or under construction, fitting any of the categories above
- Post-secondary – completed academic/educational projects
Special People’s Choice Award
There will also be a special People’s Choice Award. This award will be voted for by all attendees. Only (1) project will be awarded.
Criteria
The jury, which will consist of nationally recognized industry‐specific professionals, will consider the planning and design responses in the following focus areas:
- Community Environment,
- The Learning Environment,
- The Physical Environment,
- The Planning Process,
- Additional factors that will be considered are:
- Response to educational program and design criteria,
- Innovative elements,
- Spatial organization,
- Technology integration,
- Design efficiency and expansion capability,
- Safety and security features,
- The level of community involvement and the degree to which the building facilitates teaching, fosters learning, and raises the bar and promotes excellent school planning, design and construction,
- Any other criteria deemed important by jury.
Entry Fee
The entry fee for each entry (up to two entries) is $150 per entry for members, and $300 per entry for non-members, including “On the Boards” and “Post-secondary” categories. This exhibit fee may be paid online together with the registration fee, or by check made to A4LE. Entry fee payments can be made online along with the conference registration, or by check.
Checks should be mailed to:
Association for Learning Environments
Virginia Chapter Conference
11445 E. Via Linda, Ste. 2-440
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Registration should be completed no later than
Friday, March 20, 2026.
Register
Submittal Package
Registration will be online only – questions can be emailed to Julie Fried at
[email protected].
The project award submittal to:
Vijay Ramnarain,
[email protected] and Ann Belanger,
[email protected]
Virginia Department of Education
101 N. 14th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Deadline to receive submittal: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
NOTE: Proof of Registration required with submittal.
Downloads:
Schedule
| Registration deadline: |
Friday, March 20, 2026 |
| Submittal of entry materials: |
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
| Display boards set up: |
Monday, April 20, 2026 |
| Display boards’ removal: |
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 |
Supervision and Services
The Conference committee reserves the right to assign exhibit space and to withhold from exhibition entries deemed unsuitable for display.
No special individual lighting or displays will be permitted.
Submittal Format
Both digital and print material will be reviewed by the jury. Complete one set of entry forms for each project being submitted. Each project submission will include (1) one CD
or thumb drive of high resolution including, the PPT slides, photographs and the
completed entry information and release forms.
All digital materials must be transmitted
to Vijay Ramnarain / Ann Belanger to be reviewed by the jury,
NOTE: Only slide # 10 may contain the logo, names of architects, engineers and other
professionals involved in the project.
Participants are responsible for the setting up the display of their printed board materials
in the exhibit space at the designated display area no later than
8:00 AM on April 20, 2026.
Digital Materials
Digital submissions must utilize the pre‐formatted PowerPoint templates (download above).
Slides 1-8: Project slides. Each entry should be accompanied by eight (8) digital slides depicting the essence of the design and its relationship to the educational program. Content should include at a minimum:
- a site plan with north arrow
- representative floor plan(s) with relative scale(s)
- building section (if desired)
- exterior elevation(s) – drawings and/or photographs
- interior elevation(s) – drawings and/or photographs
- before/after images for renovations/additions
Slide 9: Descriptive data slide. Entrants shall include a ninth slide listing essential data:
- size of site (acres)
- student capacity*
- area of building (SF)
- total project cost**($)
- cost per square feet (SF/S)
- cost per student ($/student)
- space per student (SF/student)
Slide 10: Identification slide. Entrants shall include a tenth slide listing:
- the name and location of the project (city, state)
- owner (school division & superintendent)
- owner's representative
- design firm including principal-in-charge, project designer and construction administrator
- educational planner (if any)
- landscape architect (if any)
- engineer(s)
- builder
- photographer
A digital image of the company logo shall also be included on slide 10 only. Do not include slide transitions, animations or video/audio in your slides. Do not use proprietary fonts.
Mounts
All entries shall be exhibited on two 24” x 24” dry-mount boards displayed on easels provided by the exhibitors. Boards must conform to the specifications indicated. Composition of individual boards shall be at the discretion of the entrant. Due to space constraints only easels will be allowed; all other forms of display are prohibited.
Material can be shipped directly to the hotel no more than 5 days prior to the conference at the following address:
A4LE Conference – AWARDS
Attn: Julie Fried
Name of Firm
Hilton Richmond Downtown
501 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Drawings/Photographs
Drawings and/or photographs should emphasize the design’s relationship to the
educational program. The inclusion of information about instructional areas is essential.
Drawings shall include graphic indications of scale. Likewise, the inclusion of scale
models in photographs is helpful. Drawings and/or photographs should include short
(one or two word) captions describing the major idea (e.g. Second floor plan, north
elevation, science lab).
Display
The architectural exhibits (boards) will be displayed in a designated location and space assigned on a first come – first served basis.
Past Winners
Click here to see past Architectural Exhibit Award winners.