Entries open: 2024 Commonwealth Association of Architects Awards

The 2024 Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) Awards program has launched, with architects and students invited to submit examples of work that address or respond to contemporary challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss or rapid urbanisation.

As the world continues to grapple with the combined challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation and the resulting rise in vulnerability, inequality and biodiversity loss, the 2024 CAA awards program aims to recognise architects and students who have made demonstrable contributions to addressing such issues. The program also honours those aligning with the targets outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The awards categories include the Robert Matthew Lifetime Achievement Award, the Environmental Impact Award, the Social Impact Award, the Student Award and the President's Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honours an architect or architectural firm, based in the Commonwealth, that has made great contributions to the advancement of architecture in the Commonwealth over many years. The Environmental Impact Award recognises work in any sector that can demonstrate having achieved a significant positive environmental impact in areas such as circular economy, energy and carbon, water, ecology and biodiversity and connectivity and transport. The Social Impact Award will be presented to a professional in any sector who can provide evidence of their work having resulted in significant positive social impacts in areas such as affordability, community development, health and wellbeing and social value.

The jury for these awards includes the CAA chair of professional practice Mina Hasman (United Kingdom); Bryan Bullen (Grenada); Nana Biamah-Ofosu (United Kingdom); Christian Benimana (Rwanda); Rafiq Azam (Bangladesh) and Caroline Pidcock (Australia).

As to the educational awards, the Student Award will recognise the work of students in years one-three at university while the President's Award will acknowledge the work of students in years four, five and six at university. Both of these awards will presented to students whose work creatively addresses issues associated with social, economic and environmental wellbeing amidst the current biodiversity crisis and climate emergency.

The jury for the educational awards will comprise CAA chair of education, Alex Ndibwami (Kigali Rwanda); Nooshin Esmaeili (Canada); Byron Ioannou (Cyprus); Hermie Delport, (South Africa); Sajida Haider Vandal (Pakistan), and Rachel Hurst (Australia).

Of the previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners, two have been Australian: Philip Cox, who was awarded in 1983 and Gregory Burgess Architects in 1997.

Entries for the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Environmental Impact Award and the Social Impact Award can be submitted until 19 April 2024. Applications for the educational awards must be submitted by 31 May 2024. The awards are free to enter.

To find out more, visit the CAA website.