25 October 2024
We are delighted to announce that the RSUA Design Awards 2025 are now open for entries! The primary purpose of the Awards is to promote excellence in the design of our built environment with the aim of making Northern Ireland a better place for everyone.
RIBA / RSUA Partnership
Our partnership with RIBA means that RSUA Awards double up as the RIBA Northern Ireland Awards. Winning an RSUA Award is now the first step to being considered for a UK-wide RIBA Award.
Award Categories
Regardless of project type or value, all entries will be considered for a headline award simply called an RSUA Design Award 2025.
Projects that win an RSUA Design Award 2025 will be in the running to win the Liam McCormick Prize – Northern Ireland’s building of the year and will be considered for a RIBA National Award. The judges may also give the following discretionary awards:
– Conservation Award
– Project Architect of the Year
– Client of the Year
– Small Project of the Year
– Sustainability Award
– House of the Year
– Housing Development of the Year
– Integration of Art Award
– Living Places Award
Eligibility
To be eligible for an RSUA Design Award 2025 projects must be in Northern Ireland and have been completed between October 2021 and December 2023 and occupied by December 2023 (one year before entries to the 2025 Awards close).
Projects must meet the requirements outlined in the updated sustainability criteria, including actual energy data, water usage and relevant carbon calculations. See the RIBA Awards Sustainability Guide for full details.
Entry Fees
The entry fee for small projects can be as low as £99 + VAT but for projects over £20m it can be as high as £856 + VAT. For architects and practices without the financial resource to enter, discounted or free entry can be requested by emailing awards@riba.org Entries completed and paid for before 5pm on 14 November 2024 can save 10% with early bird discount, applied automatically.
Entry Deadline
The deadline to enter the awards is 5pm on 12 December 2024.
Online Entry and Important Links
Apply online via Online Submission Portal
Awards sustainability questions
Gala Evening
The Gala Evening for the Awards is traditionally one of the highlights of the year and an occasion not to be missed. It will be held on Thursday 8 May 2025 in the Ulster University Belfast Campus, designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, with McAdam Design, Scott Tallon Walker and White Ink Architects. This building won the Liam McCormick Prize for NI Building of the Year at the RSUA Design Awards earlier this year.
