This award rewards architectural practices that promote a high-quality work environment for their employees. 

This award is open to architects working on buildings - whether residential or teaching facilities – in the nursery, primary and secondary education sector including sixth form colleges. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award is open to architects working on buildings - whether residential or teaching facilities – in the higher education sector. This can include further education colleges, technical colleges, post-18 community colleges and universities. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This category is intended for one-off family houses of any budget. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. The judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work.

This award, in partnership with UKGBC, recognises architects who have made an outstanding contribution towards reducing carbon emissions from the built environment. This includes the emissions from the construction, operation, and deconstruction of buildings. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year from 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. Projects from any sector can be entered and one project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award recognises the suppliers who have really gone the extra mile in their partnerships with architects. Any organisation that supplies a product, software or service to the architectural industry is eligible to enter. The industry partner will show an exemplary record of customer service by demonstrating how challenges faced by architects are solved by proactively offering initiatives, products or services that deliver success for their clients.

Judges will be looking for innovative solutions and evidence of how these helped serve the architectural industry. Evidence can include metrics, product development information to solve a specific issue and testimonials from satisfied customers. 

This award is open to architects working on the design of interiors – whether those of shops, restaurants, hotels, houses or offices. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year from 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This category is also open to members of the British Institute of Interior Design.

This award is open to architects working on the design of offices, whether newbuilt or refurbishments of existing structures. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award recognises architects who are undertaking non-domestic projects of a relatively small scale, whether new build or refurbishment, and is open to one off small-projects (and not a body of work as per other categories). Your entry should include one built non domestic project completed in the year from 1 December 2021 – 1 December 2022, and your project must be under £5 million in value. The judges will be looking for evidence of design excellence.

This award is open to architects working on any project of public function, including theatres, galleries, libraries, visitor centres, civic and religious buildings. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award is open to architects working on all forms of public and social housing development from two homes up to large-scale multi-unit housing developments. This includes homes built by councils and registered providers for social and affordable rent and housebuilders under a S106 agreement where the homes form a discrete part of a development and were specifically designed for affordable or social rent. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award is open to architects working on all forms of private housing development from two homes up to large-scale multi-unit housing developments. This includes homes for sale and rent at market rates. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award is open to architects working on the remodelling of existing structures. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and additional built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award is open to architects working on retail and leisure facilities of all scale including sports facilities, shops, cinemas, leisure centres, hotels and spas. Your entry should include one built project completed in the year between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award is open to architects whose work is making a tangible difference to the quality of people’s lives. The winner will be an architectural practice whose schemes have increased the well being of those who interact with the finished work including end users and the wider community. The judges will be looking for how projects promote healthy, active lifestyles, promote community spirit, make efficient use of resources for construction and operation and promote biodiversity. Entrants should also demonstrate how schemes have made a positive contribution to the local economy. The judges will also be looking for evidence that you are a socially responsible practice including initiatives that engage local communities with design or benefit deprived or marginalised groups.

Your entry should include one built project completed between 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and built projects should have been completed in the past three years. One project may be international. Among other things, the judges will be looking for evidence of all-round design excellence and fitness for purpose over a body of work. The size of the projects featured will not be a factor in their deliberations.

This award is open to fully qualified architects who have been practising for 12 years or fewer on the deadline of the award entry. Entries will also be accepted from practices where the majority of principals have been practising for 12 years or under. If there are only two principals, both need to have been practising for 12 years or fewer on the deadline for award entries.

Entries from architects with a strong philosophy but without the back-up of much built work are encouraged, as are entries from previous YAYA entrants. The award is open to both UK and European architects. Architects should be registered with ARB or the relevant architectural body in their country.

Your entry should include one built project completed in the year from 1 December 2021 - 1 December 2022 and a minimum of 1 other project either built or unbuilt. No more than four projects, in total, should be submitted and built projects should have been completed in the past three years.

This category is not open to entries/nominations. The winner of the Gold Award will be decided by our esteemed judging panel from the winners across all of our categories. It is the Award to determine our ‘best of the best’.