The American Institute of Architects, California Launches 2026 Architecture at Zero Competition

The American Institute of Architects, California (AIA CA) announces the thirteenth annual Architecture at Zero competition, a design competition for decarbonization, equity and resilience, open to students and professionals worldwide. Architecture at Zero serves to engage the fields of architecture, design, engineering and planning in the pursuit of sustainable design while also considering the impacts of equity and resilience.

The 2026 competition challenge is an ideas competition to design a year-round educational and cultural venue (La Plaza) that will transform into a resiliency asset during regional emergencies (Emergency Operations Center) that offer critical support for first responders and multi-agency emergency operations. The vision for this project designed for an Antelope Valley, California site is bold: it invites designers to envision more than just a single-use structure, rather it is an opportunity to design a space with dual purpose as well as a profound impact.

Award recipients will be chosen from competition submissions by a panel of international experts and awarded $25,000 in total prizes.

“The annual Architecture at Zero competition serves two essential AIA California core values,” noted 2025 President Carina Mills, AIA. “Through its student ‘category’, it provides education and support for next generation architects; as a competition with sustainability at its center, it is another tactic for the organization to advance a more livable planet.”

The competition strives to generate new, innovative ideas for a decarbonized future to help achieve California’s goal for all new residential construction to be ZNE by 2020 and all new commercial construction to be ZNE by 2030. 

Competition entries will be juried by international experts including Lance Collins, AIA, a Director at Partner Energy; Scott Gaudineer, AIA, Managing Principal, Flewelling & Moody Inc.; Paul Torcellini, Principal Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; and Allison Williams, FAIA.

The competition deadline is June 1, 2026.  To learn more, visit www.architectureatzero.com. 

This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by SCE, SoCal Gas and PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.