The 2023 Best in American Living Awards Call for Entries is now closed. Please come back next year!
FAQ
Are project entries anonymous? Yes. The judges are not provided any information on the identity of the project team. If a judge recognizes a project, the judge must recuse himself/herself from judging that category. Projects that include identifying information on photos and/or plans will be disqualified.
How are the winners selected? Judging is conducted by eight industry experts, including builders, architects, designers, and land planners, from across the country. Judges may select winners in any or all categories, and judges may award more than one of each award per category in the event of a tie. Awards may not be given in a category if the entries submitted do not meet the quality requirements.
Criteria
Single-family production, builder spec, and custom
- Exterior design and curb appeal (materials, colors, façade design, landscaping, etc.)
- Interior design and interior architecture
- Site plans (effective and efficient land use, site plan creativity, etc.)
- Home plans (effective use of space, fits target market needs, etc.)
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Multifamily
- Exterior design and curb appeal (materials, colors, façade design, landscaping, etc.)
- Interior design and interior architecture
- Site plans (effective and efficient land use, site plan creativity, etc.)
- Unit plans (effective use of space, fits target market needs, etc.)
- Building plans (overall use of space and flow, etc.)
- Amenities
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Affordable
- Exterior design and curb appeal (materials, colors, façade design, landscaping, etc.)
- Interior design and interior architecture
- Site plans (effective and efficient land use, site plan creativity, etc.)
- Unit plans (effective use of space, fits target market needs, etc.)
- Building plans (overall use of space and flow, etc. – multifamily affordable projects only)
- Financing
- Community impact
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Remodeling, whole home, additions, and historic preservation
- Exterior design and curb appeal (materials, colors, façade design, landscaping, etc.)
- Interior design and interior architecture
- Site plans (effective and efficient land use, site plan creativity, etc.)
- Home/unit plans (effective use of space, fits target market needs, etc.)
- Ability to meet client’s needs
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Remodeling, individual spaces, specialty projects, and aging-in-place
- Exterior design and curb appeal (materials, colors, façade design, landscaping, etc.)
- Interior design and interior architecture
- Home/unit plans (effective use of space, fits target market needs, etc.)
- Ability to meet client’s needs
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Community
- Exterior design and curb appeal (materials, colors, façade design, landscaping, etc.)
- Community infrastructure and landscaping
- Pedestrian-scaled
- Respects local character
- Delivers genuine experience of place
- Site plans (effective and efficient land use, site plan creativity, etc.)
- Amenities
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Interior design
- Interior design and interior architecture
- Home/unit plans (effective use of space, fits target market needs, etc.)
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Specialty
- Overall design
- Judges’ discretionary (creative and innovative material application, challenging site limitations, ability to meet clients’ needs, etc.)
Best in Region and of the Year Awards
In addition, one platinum winner in each of the nine geographic regions has the opportunity to receive a Best in Region award. All platinum winners are automatically entered into their appropriate regional competitions.
Home of the Year (selected from the platinum single-family production and custom winners), Room of the Year (selected from the platinum partial-remodel and interior design winners), Community of the Year (selected from the platinum community winners), Multifamily Community of the Year (selected from the platinum multifamily winners), and Remodel of the Year (selected from the platinum whole-house remodeling winners) will also be awarded at the judges’ discretion.