Projects Sought for Annual Outstanding School Design Awards 

Sponsored by the IASB Service Associates, the Invitational Exhibition of Educational Environments (EEE) is seeking entrants for the 2022 school design awards competition. Nominations are now open for the awards program that recognizes school designs for instructional, recreational, administrative, or other use. Projects submitted for judging must be completed in time for the start of school in the fall of 2022. 
   
Eligible projects must be new or renovated facilities owned or operated by or for an Illinois public school district. Entries will be accepted for the following categories: 

• New building 

• Major addition 

• Minor additions 

• Major renovation or adaptive reuse 

• Special project (historic preservation or sensitive rehab) 

• Special project (small projects under $4 million or single spaces) 

• Special Project (engineering solution) 

All entries will be reviewed on a blind basis by a jury comprised of three architects and three Illinois school board members or administrators with experience in school facilities or design. Jury members reviewing the projects will have complete freedom in selecting entries that best represent a statewide cross-section of school building designs of special interest to those attending the exhibition. 

The EEE jury will consider solutions to the educational program criteria as follows: 

• Program/Challenge — Functional relationships, special challenges met, community partnerships, context (urban/suburban/rural)  

• How does the facility meet 21st-century educational environmental needs — Project-based learning, integrated curriculum, integration of technology with curriculum, learning styles/multiple intelligences 

• Design — Context, color, pleasant learning environment, age appropriate, furnishings  

• Energy reduction and sustainable design — Green power, innovative design  

• Safety — Passive security design, traffic patterns (N/A to renovation/rehab/special projects) 

Projects nominated by the jury for the final exhibition will be displayed at the IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference in Chicago. Projects are eligible for Award of Distinction, Award of Merit, or Honorable Mention honors. Entry fees will be refunded for entries not selected for the final display. 

The fee for each project entered is $375. The deadline to submit entry forms and associated fees is July 11. The jury will judge submissions on September 15. After judging, entrants will be notified by email whether their project has been selected for display at the exhibition. 
   
Applications were emailed to school architects and service associates in early May. An online application with detailed instructions, exhibition criteria, and deadlines is available in the 2022 Call for Entries. 
 
For questions about the Invitational Exhibition of Educational Environments contact Bridget Kusturin (217) 528-9688, ext. 1131. Additional information about the Exhibition of Educational Environments and exhibits displayed at previous contests can be found on the EEE webpage.