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Project submissions and payment deadline for General Submission is Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 7pm*.

Designer of the Year FREE submissions deadline is Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 7pm*

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Best of the Best Design Awards is the highest honor that IIDA Georgia can bestow upon a design team. The awards recognize design excellence and creativity that continuously push boundaries and exceed expectations. The 2025 IIDA Georgia Best of the Best Design Awards will be held on Thursday, February 20th, 2025.

 

RULES & REGULATIONS

  • Project submissions and payment due on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 7pm.  *Deadline will NOT be extended!

  • Projects may have been executed anywhere in the United States or abroad.

  • Projects must be completed after January 1, 2023.

  • All project entries must be executed by design firms and/or individuals located within the jurisdiction of the IIDA Georgia Chapter.

  • Design Teams must include a minimum of one IIDA Professional, Associate, or Affiliate Member (application for membership must be approved by November 1, 2024 when project is submitted).

  • The total number of submissions from one firm is not limited, however, each project can only be submitted to one category.  Entrants must submit a separate application for each project.

  • Prior project entries are not eligible.  Projects that have previously won an IIDA Best of the Best Award are not eligible. Prior publication or entry in other competitions does not affect eligibility.

  • Payment is due with the project submission. Entry fees are $200 per project (+ a processing fee).

  • Designer of the Year submissions will not incur a submissions fee, and the submissions criteria varies slightly from the project submissions criteria listed above.  Please review the submissions information for additional information regarding Designer of the Year.

 

JUDGING

  • We will have judges from outside the IIDA Georgia Chapter reviewing the project submissions.  Photographs and bios of the judges will be shared the night of the event and/or via social media.

  • Categories must receive more than two (2) submissions to be judged. If two (2) or fewer submissions are received, submissions will be returned/refunded and the category will be eliminated.  The submitting firm will be notified and given the option to submit in another applicable category, or submit the project next year (given that the time frame requirements for the following year are still met).

  • The authorship of each project will remain concealed throughout the deliberation of the judges. If the authorship is revealed on any of the submission materials (i.e.: jpg content or file names, PDF file names or drawing sheet borders, or within project narratives) the entry will be disqualified and materials/submissions fees will not be returned.

  • If you are submitting your own firm’s office, you may not include the design firm name in either the descriptions or the photos.

  • Each entry will be judged on the success with which it has met its individual requirements. Entries will be weighed individually, and not in competition with others. Judges decisions will be based solely on the materials submitted.

  • Judges reserve the right to abstain from awarding a category if they feel the entries are not exemplary.  Judges and IIDA Georgia reserve the right to re-classify a project into a different category if deemed necessary (including too few submissions in one category). Refunds will not be given to projects that have been recategorized.

  • Judges scores and comments regarding the projects will not be shared.

 

THE FINE PRINT

  • Project Submissions become the property of the IIDA Georgia Chapter.  Photography and images submitted in can be used by the IIDA Georgia for exhibition, publication, and promotional purposes (i.e. on the website and social media outlets).

  • Project Submissions and entry materials (winners and non-winners) will not be returned. Submitting firms and/or individuals are encouraged to keep a duplicate set of all submission materials for their records.

  • Entries must include all required information and submittals for entry submissions. Read descriptions carefully. Submissions that do not meet required criteria will not be considered.  IIDA Georgia Chapter reserves the right to determine final eligibility, and accepts no liability in that regard.

For questions, please email bestofjudging@iidageorgia.org

 

CATEGORIES

Live: Best of Single Family

Specific to personal living spaces, new construction, restoration or renovation: Single Family Homes; Model Homes; Mobile Homes; Tiny Houses; Public Housing; Yachts/ Planes/ Jets (Personal or Private); etc.

Live: Best of Multifamily

Specific to a classification of housing where multiple separate residential units are contained within one building or complex with shared common spaces (new construction or renovation): Condominiums; Dormitories; Apartments; Lofts; Community Projects/ Community Shelters; Clubhouses and other Common Areas.
Live: Best of Senior Living Specific to personal living spaces where multiple units are contained within one building or complex with shared common spaces dedicated to and liscensed senior living communities. (new construction, restoration or renovation): Assisted Living, Independent Living, Continuing Care and Memory Care facilities.

Learn: Best of Education & Research

Specific to facilities with a focus on study and learning (new construction or renovation): Research Facilities; Development Facilities; Day Care Centers; Educational Facilities; Colleges; Universities; Higher Education; Elementary, Middle and High Schools; Libraries; Museums; Aquariums; etc.

Heal: Best of Healthcare

(Less than or equal to 20,000 square feet)

Specific facilities dedicated to the health & welfare of the general public: Senior Living; Surgery Centers; Rehabilitation Centers; Cancer Centers; Children and Women’s Centers; Retirement Communities; Clinics; Long-Term Care Facilities; Satellite Facilities/ Outpatient Treatment; Hospice; Medical Office Buildings; Wellness and Fitness Centers; Hospitals (new construction, additions and/or renovations); Veterinary Facilities; etc. Less than or equal to 20,000 square feet.

Heal: Best of Healthcare

Greater than 20,000 square feet

Specific facilities dedicated to the health & welfare of the general public: Senior Living; Surgery Centers; Rehabilitation Centers; Cancer Centers; Children and Women’s Centers; Retirement Communities; Clinics; Long-Term Care Facilities; Satellite Facilities/ Outpatient Treatment; Hospice; Medical Office Buildings; Wellness and Fitness Centers; Hospitals (new construction, additions and/or renovations); Veterinary Facilities; etc. Greater than 20,000 square feet.

Serve: Best of Government/Institutional & Public Assembly

Specific to government institutions and/or public venues which handle high volumes of people: Religious Institutions; Worship Centers; Convention Centers; Civic Centers; Arenas; Stadiums; Transportation Terminals; Airports; Government Agency Facilities; Embassies; Correctional Facilities; Judicial Facilities; Legislative Facilities; Fire, Police and Emergency Stations; etc.

Play: Best of Hospitality

Specific to providing a service or entertainment venue for the purpose of (personal or business related) travel, rest and relaxation: Hotels; Resorts; Lodges; Cruise Ships; Theaters; Country Clubs; Athletic Clubs; Entertainment Clubs; Airline Clubs; Casinos; Theme Parks; Cineplexes; Spas; etc.

Dine: Best of Restaurants

Specific to providing a food and/or beverage service and venue for the public: Restaurants; Bars; Wineries; Breweries; Bakeries; Public Food Halls; Food Markets; etc.

Shop: Best of Retail

Specific to customer spaces for selling products and goods: Shopping Centers; Malls; Food Courts; Mass Merchandisers; Department Stores; Specialty Stores & Boutiques; Food Retail Stores; Retail Branches & Banks; Convenience Stores; Home Improvement Stores; Product Showrooms; etc.

Work: Best of Workplace

(Less than 20,000 square feet)

Specific to corporate office space for the operation of public or private business: Financial Institutions; Professional Services; Legal Workplace; Technology and Marketing; Industrial Complexes; Corporate Headquarters; Satellite Offices; Public Utilities; Call Centers; etc. Less than 20,000 square feet

Work: Best of Workplace

(20,000 - 75,000 square feet)

Specific to corporate office space for the operation of public or private business: Financial Institutions; Professional Services; Legal Workplace; Technology and Marketing; Industrial Complexes; Corporate Headquarters; Satellite Offices; Public Utilities; Call Centers; etc. 20,000 - 75,000 square feet

Work: Best of Workplace

(Greater than 75,000 square feet)

Specific to corporate office space for the operation of public or private business: Financial Institutions; Professional Services; Legal Workplace; Technology and Marketing; Industrial Complexes; Corporate Headquarters; Satellite Offices; Public Utilities; Call Centers; etc. Greater than 75,000 square feet
Create: Best of Special Projects Specific to unique interior design entries that do not fall into categories listed above : Historic Preservation, Building Lobby Repositioning, Industrial Design, etc. 
The same project cannot be entered in Special Projects if it has already been entered for any other category.

Save: Best on a Budget

Specific to interior design projects where slab-to-slab hard construction costs (inclusive of architectural and MEP) are less than or equal to $80 per square foot. Projects that received donations are not applicable for the budget category. 

JEDI

All project submissions in all categories will have the opportunity to include a description of how the project is leading a positive impact in Justice, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the community. This is an optional addition to each project submission and is not required.  If applicable, tell the story of the initiatives and/or actions that incorporate these elements.  This will not impact your scoring for your project submission and will be reviewed as a separate category by the judges.

Best of the Best

ALL winning entries from the categories above will be considered by the judges for the highest honor of BEST OF THE BEST.  

Designer of the Year

Specific to an active IIDA Professional or Associate member within the IIDA Georgia Chapter that exemplifies outstanding volunteer service through commitment, passion, and professionalism, and advocates for interior design excellence through apparent visibility in local A&E Industry and notoriety in CRE Industry.