AIA Long Beach/South Bay's Scholarship, Awards & Competition Programs celebrate design excellence, creative expression, and the people shaping the future of the architectural profession. Through these programs, we recognize the power of architecture and design to create stronger, more resilient, and more connected communities.
As part of this commitment, we are proud to offer two scholarship opportunities each year that invest in the next generation of architects and design professionals:
- Architectural Scholarship Program – Supporting AIA Associate members on their path to architectural licensure.
- Student Scholarship Program – Supporting students transferring from a community college to an accredited architecture program or those pursuing a Master of Architecture degree.
These scholarships reflect our belief that investing in emerging professionals strengthens both our profession and the communities we serve.
AIA Long Beach/South Bay also celebrates excellence and creativity through our biennial design awards and photography programs. The Design Awards (presented in odd-numbered years) recognize outstanding architectural work across a wide range of project types and scales, while Living on the Edge – Coastal Residential Design Awards (presented in even-numbered years) celebrate innovative residential design that thoughtfully responds to the unique opportunities and challenges of California's coastal environment.
Our Architectural Photography Competition (APC26) celebrates the art of architectural photography and the photographer's unique interpretation of the built environment. The 2026 competition includes Exterior, Interior, and Regional Focus categories, along with a People's Choice Award. New this year, Regional Focus highlights photographs of architecture and the built environment located within the AIA Long Beach/South Bay chapter boundaries.
Whether supporting future architects, recognizing exceptional projects, or celebrating architecture through a different lens, these programs reflect AIA Long Beach/South Bay's commitment to design, creativity, and the future of the profession.
If you have any questions or experience any issues with the submission or application process, please contact us at (562) 989-1399 or aialbsb@aialb-sb.org. We're happy to help!
ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2026 (APC26)
Accepting Entries • August 31 – November 15, 2026
DEADLINE EXTENDED FROM OCTOBER 31 TO NOVEMBER 15!
Capture the built environment through your unique perspective. APC26 celebrates the art of architectural photography and recognizes outstanding images that interpret architecture through composition, light, materiality, and place.
CATEGORIES
- Exterior – Buildings and the built environment from the outside
- Interior – Interior spaces and architectural details
- Regional Focus* – Architecture located within the AIA Long Beach/South Bay chapter boundaries; click on the map to see our chapter boundaries
- People's Choice – All entries automatically qualify
SUBMISSION HIGHLIGHTS
- Original photographs only
- Built environment subjects
- Enter one category per image
- Multiple entries welcome
- 5 MB maximum upload size**
- Winners provide high-resolution files
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We invite photographs that reveal the power of architecture through thoughtful composition, light, texture, scale, and human experience. Whether capturing a dramatic exterior, an intimate interior, or a meaningful place within our region, the strongest entries will offer a compelling visual interpretation of the built environment.
ENTRY FEES
- AIA Members: $25
- Students: $10
- Non-Members: $35
Judging focuses on the photographic image—not the architecture itself.
Winners announced early December 2026
*Regional Focus entries may also be considered for inclusion as a rendering in the 2027 Color Your City architecture coloring book, with photographer credit.
**Winning photographers will be asked to provide a print-quality high-resolution image.