Description
*UPDATE* To help with any unforeseen technical difficulties, the portal will remain open until June 14 @ 11:59 PM. Staff will not be available to answer questions over the weekend, but messages regarding technical issues or other issues will be addressed on Monday June 15. This is not an extension of the deadline.
Submission Deadline: Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central.
ABOUT ROBERTA FELDMAN, PH.D.
Roberta Feldman, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Architecture. As an architectural activist, researcher, and educator she is committed to democratic design. Feldman’s work is grounded in the conviction that high quality design is a meaningful an necessary component of an equitable and sustainable society. Her expertise in such work has been recognized nationally and internationally.
The Purpose:
The Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award was established in 2020 to honor excellence in built projects and design programs guided by the conviction that access to high quality architecture is not a privilege, it is a human right. Architecture for Social Justice is defined by the following objectives:
- To engage a broader cross-section of society, especially those not typically able to access architectural services.
- To create innovative design solutions that address complex social and economic inequitiesthat impact these communities.
This annual award celebrates the commitment of designers who work on behalf of the public good while receiving no or below market rate compensation.
In 2026, a monetary award of $2,500 will be given by the AIA Chicago Foundation for built projects and/or design programs that exemplify socially just design practices and impact. Honorable mentions may also be awarded without a monetary award.