AIA UK Design Awards 2026 Jury Announcement
We are excited to introduce the jury for the 2026 AIA UK Design Awards!
This year’s jury brings together an exceptional group of leaders from global practice, academia, and sustainability. Their combined experience reflects the diversity of today’s built environment and sets a high standard for recognising design that delivers real impact. The awards are grounded in the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, ensuring that every project is assessed through a holistic lens, from design quality and environmental performance to social impact and long-term value.
Jury Chair
Mouzhan Majidi, FAIA
CEO, Zaha Hadid Architects
Mouzhan Majidi, FAIA, leads one of the world’s most influential architecture practices and brings over 35 years of experience delivering complex projects across six continents. Before joining Zaha Hadid Architects, he spent nearly three decades at Foster + Partners, where he became CEO. As a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, he has been recognised for his contributions to the profession and his leadership in advancing design excellence. His work has consistently pushed innovation in design, sustainability, and user experience, particularly in the aviation sector where he has helped redefine global benchmarks. Alongside practice, he has served as a UK Business Ambassador, promoting design excellence and the value of the built environment worldwide.
Jurors
Elie Gamburg, AIA
Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox
Elie Gamburg is a Principal at KPF with a strong track record of delivering ambitious urban and architectural projects. His work focuses on creating places that are both commercially successful and meaningful for people. He has led major academic and research-led developments, including projects for King’s College London and NYU Shanghai, as well as landmark schemes in Canary Wharf and Dubai. Elie is also deeply engaged in shaping the future of cities through his work on innovation districts and his teaching at leading universities.
Natalia Uribe
Cities Director, BDP
Natalia Uribe brings a global perspective to urban design, with nearly 25 years of experience working across more than 25 countries. Her work focuses on creating inclusive, resilient, and thriving communities through integrated design approaches. She has led large-scale masterplans, regeneration strategies, and city frameworks, working with both public and private sector partners. Natalia is known for her ability to connect disciplines, people, and ideas to deliver places that respond to both local needs and global challenges.
Mina Hasman
Sustainability Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Mina Hasman is a leading voice in sustainability and climate action within the built environment. At SOM, she drives projects that aim to deliver measurable environmental impact at scale. She has played a key role in shaping industry standards, including contributions to the UK’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and the development of whole life carbon methodologies. Her work spans practice, policy, and global advocacy, and she continues to influence how the industry responds to climate challenges.
Paolo Zaide
Assistant Head of School, University of Westminster
Paolo Zaide is an architect, academic, and curator whose work explores the future of cities in the context of climate change. His research focuses on how urban environments can respond to challenges such as sea-level rise and long-term environmental shifts. Alongside his academic leadership, he has taught at leading institutions and curated exhibitions that engage the public in conversations about urban futures. His work brings a critical and forward-looking lens to the design of cities.
Call for Entries
Submissions for the 2026 AIA UK Design Awards are open, and we encourage you to take part.
We are looking for projects that demonstrate clear ideas, strong design thinking, and meaningful impact. The awards align with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence, encouraging submissions that respond to environmental performance, community value, equity, and long-term resilience.
Whether you are working in architecture, urban design, planning, landscape, interiors, research, or beyond, this is your opportunity to share your work with a global audience. You do not need to be an AIA member to submit.
We also encourage Part 2 students to submit to the Excellence in Student Architectural Research, Noel Hill Award. This is a chance to showcase your research and receive up to £3,000 in grant funding to support the next stage of your work.
The submission deadline is 18 April at 5:00 PM GMT.
If you have any questions or need support with your submission, please contact vicepresident@aiauk.org.
We look forward to seeing your work.
Written by Paolo Mendoza, Assoc AIA
