RAIC International Prize – Submission deadline: December 3, 2021
RAIC International Prize Scholarships – Submission deadline: January 14, 2022, 11:59 p.m. EST

I. RAIC International Prize

 

1. Background and Vision

In 2013, Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama FRAIC CM, in collaboration with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the RAIC Foundation, created the Moriyama RAIC International Prize to share Canadian architectural values with an international audience and celebrate architecture that is socially and culturally transformative.  His vision for the prize was based on his conviction that great architecture transforms society by promoting humanistic values of social equity, respect, and inclusiveness, and by creating environments for the well-being of all people. In 2019, at Mr. Moriyama’s request, the prize was renamed the RAIC International Prize (the Prize).

The Call for Submissions (see Section I-9 of these Terms of Reference) will include a hyperlink to the appropriate RAIC website with information on the history and previous winners of the Prize.

2. The Prize

The RAIC International Prize celebrates works of architecture that are judged to be transformative within their societal context. The Prize may, at the discretion of the Jury, be awarded ex aequo to two different works of architecture in a single award cycle. The winner, or winners, of the Prize will receive an original sculpture created for the Prize by Canadian designer Wei Yew, in addition to other considerations deemed appropriate by the RAIC for each cycle.

The Jury may also recommend that two or more projects be shortlisted and visited as part of the selection process. The RAIC will recognize the architects of all projects shortlisted and visited for the Prize in an appropriate way.

3. Eligibility

The competition is open to all architects, irrespective of nationality and location. Any architect, team of architects, or architect-led collaboration is invited to submit a building or a related group of buildings that has been completed and in use for the purpose intended for at least two years prior to the entry deadline. There are no prescriptions with respect to the scale of the work, the building program, or the cost of construction.

Candidates are not limited to a single submission per award cycle, but will be required to complete a separate submission for each project entered. 

Submissions must conform to the requirements outlined in Section I-5 of these Terms of Reference.

4. Criteria

The intention of the RAIC International Prize is to celebrate works of architecture that are transformative, inspired as well as inspiring, and emblematic of the human values of respect and inclusiveness.  The Jury will consider a number of criteria in the evaluation of submissions, including:                   

  • the building’s formal and experiential qualities
  • the efficiency and effectiveness of the building in use
  • response to site, climate and environmental conditions
  • integration of principles of sustainable design and response to climate change
  • quality of engagement with the broader context - social, cultural, historic and political
  • craftsmanship
  • timelessness

 

5. Submission requirements

Entries may be submitted by an architect, a team of architects, or an architect-led collaboration. Candidates are not limited to a single submission per award cycle, but will be required to complete a separate submission for each project entered. 

Each Submission must be signed by an authorized representative (for example, a principal, partner or director) of the legal entity recognized by the relevant professional or civil authority as responsible for the project. 

5.1 Project Portfolio

Submissions shall be completed using the RAIC online submission platform. Submissions shall include a completed Application Form and a Project Portfolio. The Project Portfolio shall be formatted as a maximum 30-page 8 ½” x 11” or A4 document, in either portrait or landscape orientation. The limit of 30 pages does not include the covers or the Application Form. If the submission includes text in any language other than English or French, translations into either English or French must be provided.

The Project Portfolio should include the following information, in the order presented below:

  • The Application Form
  • Biography(ies) of the applicant(s)
  • A project description, not to exceed 500 words in length, outlining the objectives and significance of the project in language that is accessible to the general public
  • A media statement, not to exceed 100 words in length, crafted for website postings and media campaign requirements
  • Site plans, photographs and other documentation that describes the location and explains the organization of the site and physical context of the project
  • Architectural documentation, including, but not limited to, plans, sections, elevations and other drawings, and images of physical and virtual models
  • Photographs of the building in use
  • Two high-resolution videos (the videos must not include any logos or text, apart from the names of the architects, clients, and persons responsible for their production):

    1. A feature video, maximum 5 minutes in length, that shows the building in use from diverse points of view, including aerial views, long shots and close ups. This video will be reviewed by the Jury as part of the evaluation process.

    2. A promotional video, maximum 90 seconds in length, that shows the building in use. This video could be a condensed version of the feature video. The promotional videos of shortlisted projects may be used by the RAIC to increase public awareness of the Prize in the period leading up to the announcement of the winner(s).

  • A numerical index of all photographic and video images with full credit information, including names of photographers and agencies. Please include the signed Release Form(s) where necessary.
  • Other materials that explain the building and its broader context
  • References to awards, publications and other forms of recognition of the project
  • Evidence of support for the project from users, clients, visitors, and others
     

The Professional Advisor may request additional information from candidates.

5.2 Registration Fee

Each submission shall be accompanied by a $500 CAD Registration Fee, which must be paid online. The Registration Fee may be adjusted from time to time.

5.3 Questions

Questions may be addressed to the RAIC office at 1 613-241-3600 ext. 2014, or via email to awards-prix@raic.org before the published deadline (normally six weeks before the deadline for receipt of the final submissions). The RAIC will maintain an anonymized record of Questions and Answers that will be accessible to the public on the Prize website.

6. Professional Advisor

In accordance with its general rules and regulations regarding International Competitions, the RAIC will engage a Professional Advisor to administer the selection process in each award cycle of the Prize and the RAIC International Prize Scholarships.

The name of the Professional Advisor will be announced prior to, or at the same time as, the publication of the formal Call for Submissions and Schedule (please see Section 9 of these Terms of Reference). 

7. Jury

The Professional Advisor and the RAIC Monitoring Committee shall appoint a jury of at least five persons, including:

  • the Chancellor of the College of Fellows of the RAIC, who shall act as Chair;
  • at least one recipient of the RAIC Gold Medal:
  • at least one member-at-large drawn from the Canadian architectural community;
  • at least one member-at-large drawn from the international architectural community.
     

In addition, at the discretion of the Professional Advisor and the RAIC Monitoring Committee, the jury may include:

  • a previous winner of the RAIC International Prize;
  • a member of the public selected for his or her particular knowledge and experience.
     

Each member of the jury will be required to sign an acknowledgement of these Terms of Reference, a confidentiality agreement and a conflict-of-interest declaration. Jurors will be required to declare potential conflict-of-interest situations as soon as possible after the submissions have been circulated. Decisions regarding conflict-of-interest situations will be the responsibility of the Jury Chair and the Professional Advisor. 

The names of the members of the Jury will be announced with the publication of the formal Call for Submissions and Schedule (see Section I-9 of these Terms of Reference).

8. Selection process

The Professional Advisor and RAIC will prepare an information package for the members of the Jury.

Following preliminary discussions, the jury will meet to review the submissions and establish a process for the selection of the winner(s). The Jury may recommend that a small number of projects be shortlisted as part of the selection process, and that shortlisted projects be visited by one or more members of the Jury prior to the final selection of a winner.

The procedures for the announcement of shortlisted projects, if any, and for the announcement of the winner(s) of the Prize shall be determined by the RAIC in consultation with the Professional Advisor and the Chancellor of the College of Fellows.

The jury reserves the right to not award the Prize in any cycle.

9. Call for Submissions and Schedule

The Call for Submissions and Schedule shall be prepared by the Professional Advisor and Chair of the Jury in consultation with the Director, RAIC Honours and Awards, and the RAIC International Prize Monitoring Committee.

The Call for Submissions and Schedule shall be published at least six months before the deadline for Submissions, and should include, at a minimum, the following information:

  • The formal announcement of the Prize
  • A link to information on the history and previous winners of the Prize
  • Eligibility and criteria, as described in the current Terms of Reference
  • The names of the Professional Advisor and members of the Jury, with links to biographical information
  • A link to detailed information on the requirements for submission
  • Contact information for questions about eligibility, the criteria or the submission process, with links where appropriate 
  • A link to an anonymized record of Questions and Answers
  • The deadlines (time and date) for receipt of questions and final submissions, with links where appropriate 
  • The date and location of the awards presentation, if known 
     

 

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II. RAIC International Prize Scholarships

 

1. Vision

The RAIC International Prize Scholarships are three scholarships awarded to students of architecture in conjunction with the RAIC International Prize.

2. Eligibility

The RAIC International Prize Scholarships are open to students registered in a Canadian architecture program at any point in the period between the submission deadline for the previous cycle of the RAIC International Prize Scholarships and the submission deadline of the current cycle.

Up to three scholarships, each in an amount to be published in the Call for Submissions and Schedule (see Section II-6 of these Terms of Reference), will be awarded in each cycle of the RAIC International Prize.

The award of the Scholarships will be based on submissions from individual students that address a defined topic in the form of an original essay.

3. Submission requirements

3.1 Essay topic

For each cycle, a clear description of the essay topic, format and submission requirements shall be included in the Call for Submissions and Schedule (please see Section II-6, below). Under normal circumstances, essay topics will address the objectives of the RAIC International Prize and the Criteria identified in the current Terms of Reference.

3.2 Format

Submissions shall be completed using the RAIC online submission platform. Submissions shall be formatted as a single 8 ½” x 11” document in either portrait or landscape orientation, and shall include the following items:

  • a curriculum vitae, maximum 2 pages
  • documentation confirming the applicant’s student status
  • the essay: maximum 1,000 words in English or French, maximum 10 pages in length, with illustrations that complement and clarify ideas explored in the text. Please note that the combined limit of 1000 words and 10 pages for the essay does not include the front and back covers, the curriculum vitae, or the confirmation of student status. 
     

3.3 Questions

Questions may be addressed to the RAIC office at 1-613-241-3600 ext. 2014, or via email to awards-prix@raic.org before the published deadline (normally six weeks before the deadline for receipt of the final submissions). The RAIC will maintain an anonymized record of Questions and Answers that will be accessible to the public on the Prize website.

4. Evaluation criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on the applicant’s expression of vision and aspiration, and on the strength of personal conviction.

5. Scholarship Jury

The Professional Advisor and the RAIC Monitoring Committee shall appoint a jury of at least five persons, including:

  • at least one member of the College of Fellows of the RAIC, who shall act as Chair;
  • at least one full-time faculty member in a Canadian School of Architecture.
  • at least one representative of the RAIC Foundation
     

Each member of the jury will be required to sign an acknowledgement of these Terms of Reference, a confidentiality agreement and a conflict-of-interest declaration. Jurors will be required to declare potential conflict-of-interest situations as soon as possible after the submissions have been circulated. Decisions regarding conflict-of-interest situations will be the responsibility of the Jury Chair and the Professional Advisor.

The names of the members of the Scholarships Jury will be announced with the publication of the formal Call for Submissions and Schedule (please see Section II-6, below).

6. Call for Submissions and Schedule

The Call for Submissions and Schedule shall be prepared by the Professional Advisor and Chair of the Scholarships Jury in consultation with the Director, RAIC Honours and Awards, and the RAIC International Prize Monitoring Committee.

The Call for Submissions and Schedule shall be published at least four months before the deadline for Submissions, and should include, at a minimum, the following information:

  • The formal announcement of the Scholarship
  • A link to information on the history and previous winners of the Scholarships
  • Eligibility and criteria, as described in the current Terms of Reference
  • A clear description of the essay topic and submission requirements, with links where appropriate
  • The names of the Professional Advisor and members of the Scholarships Jury, with links to biographical information
  • Contact information for questions about eligibility or the submission process, with links where appropriate
  • A link to an anonymized record of Questions and Answers
  • The deadlines (time and date) for receipt of questions and final submissions, with links where appropriate 
  • The date and location of the awards presentation, if known 

     

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