SAME Design Awards

Awards Categories

For 2026, award recognition will be given for projects that exhibit the highest level of quality design and achievement as determined by the design awards jury. The jury will have the option of awarding none, one, or multiple awards in each of the categories below. In addition, the jury can award one Grand Award that best illustrates the purpose statement’s intent. This award can also come from any of the categories below.

• Built – Project where the design and construction are both completed in the last five years
• Unbuilt – Projects where the total design (100%) has been completed, but construction is still in process. This could include bridging documents for design build or completed design-bid-build design. For this category, the design must be completed within the last five years.
• Renovation – Projects where most of the scope is centered around the addition and/or alternation of an existing facility. For this category, the design must be completed within the last five years.
• Planning/ Feasibility Study – This could include a completed Master Plan or feasibility study. For this category, the design must be completed within the last five years.
• In-house – For projects completed and performed directly by a Federal Agency and within the last five years.

Projects completed on behalf of a federal agency that maintains an active partnership with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) are eligible for award consideration. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Department of Defenses (all branches of the military including National Guard and Reserves)
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Other Federal Civilian Agencies (this includes GSA, DoS, OBO, NASA, DOE, and other Federally funded Civilian agencies)

Eligibility and Criteria

• Any facility or infrastructure fully designed or constructed in the last five (5) years for a federal contract, client, or user.
• Who can submit? Any A/E firm, general contractor, or Federal agencies that are SAME members

Submittal Requirements

The submittal package has two parts: 

Part 1: Identification of the Project and Team participants

• Please fill out the Project Identification questions on the application form.
• The Project Identification Form, which lists the team members, will be separated from Part 2 (the 10-page submittal) to ensure the jury evaluates the projects based solely on their merits, rather than the participants involved.

Part 2 – Technical submission highlighting the merits of the project.

• Please submit up to 10 pages of information.
• You have full flexibility in the content and style of these pages. Please include the project title, location, and clients.
• Do not mention the architect, engineers, contractor, or other team members on these pages.
• If you include text, ensure it is legible both on a typical computer screen and when printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper. This document should be uploaded with your application form.

Nomination and Submission Process

• A company must nominate itself for the award. Written referrals from Posts are welcome as part of the nomination package.
• No nominations will be processed without a complete nomination package.
• It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure that the nomination package is successfully completed.

Completed Nomination Packages Include

• Nominations for this award must be made by an SAME member using the nomination form.
• No endorsements are required.
• Any entity involved in the project to include, but not limited to A/E firms, general contractor, and partner agencies, may submit an award nomination in the appropriate category.
• The nominator will verify that the project meets the eligibility criteria for the award and is responsible for ensuring the package is submitted to and received by SAME on or before the due date.
• Jury members will be selected from members within the SAME Architectural Practice Community of Interest and recognized professionals from the fields typically represented in the award packages.