AIA Philadelphia Launches Emanuel Kelly Award for Architectural Educators

AIA Philadelphia is proud to announce the creation of a new annual award recognizing architectural educators in higher education. The Emanuel Kelly Award will honor adjunct and full-time faculty who have made notable contributions to architectural education through research, teaching methods, or curriculum development.

Named after Emanuel Kelly, FAIA, a longtime leader in Philadelphia’s architectural community, the award is intended to highlight the role of educators in shaping future architects and advancing the profession. With five (5) architecture programs here in Philadelphia, so many of our members teach and invest their time in the next generation of architects, the Board of AIA Philadelphia made the decision to elevate this work with the Emanuel Kelly Award, which will be presented at our annual Design Awards Celebration in November.

Eligibility and Criteria

The award is open to faculty with at least five years of teaching experience at the college or university level. Nominees may be adjunct or full-time educators.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

• Impactful research
• Development of curriculum or pedagogy
• Innovative teaching in architecture

Submission Requirements

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF and include:

1. Summary of Accomplishments - A list outlining the candidate’s work in research, teaching, service, and publications, where applicable.

2. Exhibits - Detailed examples of work demonstrating the candidate’s contribution to architectural education. Exhibits may include research, teaching models, volunteer efforts, and leadership activities. Each exhibit must include a statement clarifying the candidate’s role, whether they were the primary author, led the work, or contributed in another capacity.

Nominations will be accepted until Friday, August 22 at 11:59 PM. Full application details are available here.