Nomination Categories:

The Harry F. Cunningham Gold Medal

Is the highest honor AIA Nebraska can bestow upon an individual and is awarded in recognition of the most distinguished achievement in architecture or service to the profession of architecture. The Gold Medal commemorates the achievements of Harry Francis Cunningham who came to Nebraska as lead architect for Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue's office during completion of the tower phase of construction for the State Capitol following Goodhue's death in 1924. It was Goodhue's revolutionary building design which won the nationwide competition in 1920 for the creation of the state house in Lincoln. Cunningham subsequently established the first school of architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. (Established 1995)

View past recipients

Architecture Firm Award (Biennial, odd years)

The Architecture Firm Award recognizes an AIA Nebraska firm in good standing that has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession through design, education, and/or service to Nebraska and its communities.

Eligibility & Requirements

• Must be an AIA Nebraska firm in good standing.
• Firms previously selected are ineligible.
• $250 registration fee - to be invoiced.

(Established 2020)

View past recipients

AIA Nebraska Award for Architectural/Design Education

This award recognizes a living individual of esteemed character who has provided distinguished service to the profession of architecture design or to the arts science in a Nebraska institution of higher learning.

Eligibility & Requirements:

• Must be nominated by an AIA Nebraska member, faculty member, current student of former student
• Must have made a significant and lasting impact on architectural education.
• The candidate should have influenced a wide range of students and had a cumulative effect on their education.
• Their contributions should demonstrate an ability to connect their expertise with other disciplines as appropriate.

(Established 2020)

Associate Award

The Associate Award recognizes an Associate AIA Nebraska member (unlicensed) who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession in the early stages of their architectural career. Contributions may be in the areas of design, education, and/or service.

Eligibility & Requirements:

• Must be nominated by an AIA Nebraska member.
• Must be an AIA member in good standing for at least one year.
• Entries should highlight how the nominee has contributed to AIA Nebraska, the Nebraska architecture community, or the profession.

(Established in 2020)

Young Architect Award

The Young Architect Award recognizes an AIA Nebraska member who has been licensed for less than 10 years and has demonstrated exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the profession in the early stages of their career. Contributions may be in the areas of design, education, and/or service.

Eligibility & Requirements:

• Must be nominated by an AIA Nebraska member.
• Must be an AIA member in good standing for at least one year.
• Entries should highlight the nominee’s contributions to AIA Nebraska, the Nebraska architecture community, or the profession.

(Established in 2020)

AIAS Student Award

The AIAS Student Award recognizes two outstanding AIAS members—one undergraduate and one graduate student—who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to their college and academic community at the University of Nebraska College of Architecture.

Eligibility & Requirements:

• Must be an AIAS member in good standing for at least one year.
• AIA Nebraska and AIAS members may submit nominations.

(Established in 2020)

You can visit aiane.org to view previous winners in each category.

Submission Requirements

Submitted electronically as a single PDF, maximum file size 10MB, 14 pages max

• This Electronic Nomination Form (Below)
• Nomination letter from sponsor
• A one-page biography of the candidate
• A one-page statement of contributions
• Other supporting material, up to 6 pages (exhibits, publicity releases, articles, etc.)
• Two letters of reference by those who know the quality of the nominee’s products; letters should be explicit in their recommendation and contain specific reasons for support. *Only one letter from nominee’s employer may be nomination or reference. AIA membership of references is not required. 
• Photograph of nominee
• No Registration fees (Unless noted in award description)

Firm Submission Requirements

• Submitted electronically as a single PDF, maximum file size 10MB, 14 pages max 
• This Electronic Nomination Form (Below)
• Letter from the nominating firm or other.
• A one-page profile of the firm
• A one-page statement of contributions
• Other supporting material, up to 6 pages (exhibits, publicity releases, articles, etc.)
• Two letters of reference by those who know the quality of the firm’s contributions; letters should be explicit in their recommendation and contain specific reasons for support. 
• Photographs will be required upon selection.

Submissions

By submitting the entry to AIA Nebraska, the nominator and nominee agrees the information contained in the Entry submission is correct and complete, and that the nominator and nominee will hold harmless AIA Nebraska, a Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for any and all damages arising out of its use of the information on the Entry submittal. 

AIA NE reserves the right to use the submission for future promotion of the awards progression and the profession. Entrants further acknowledge the Jury decisions will be final based on verification of compliance to submittal requirements.

The nominator and nominee must sign the Honors & Awards Acknowledgement Form.

Upload your completed candidate submission on the AIA Nebraska Box folder here.

Submissions must be received by AIA Nebraska no later than 11:59pm on Monday, June 2, 2025.

Jury Members

Jury may be comprised of the following (Unless noted in award description)

• President, AIA Nebraska
• Past Recipient of the awards
• AIA Representative, Central States 
• Representative, UNL College of Architecture or other College representative from AIA Central States
• President, Nebraska Arts Council
• AIA Associate Sr. Board of Directors, AIA Nebraska
• Executive Director, AIA Nebraska