Ninth Annual AL Light & Architecture Design Awards (2012)

ELIGIBILITY RULES
1. The competition is open to all design professionals worldwide.
2. Projects must be completed after July 2010.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
3. All entry materials must be contained in one large envelope per project, with the submitting firm and project name printed on the outside of the envelope. Include one B+W photocopied set of all entry materials, as well as one set of color printouts of the digital images. Images should be put on CD or USB stick. Do not staple, tape or clip hardcopy materials.

Entries should be mailed to:
Elizabeth Donoff, Editor
Architectural Lighting
AL Light & Architecture Design Awards
One Thomas Circle, N.W. Suite 600
Washington DC 20005
Note: AL is not responsible for lost, misdirected, or postage due mail. If you are mailing entries from outside the U.S. it is recommended that an expedited service, such as FedEx be used, so that materials arrive no later than two-days after the package is initially sent.

4. Each submission must be accompanied by a printout of the online payment form.

5. A Project Detail Form must also be contained in each project entry envelope. It should include:

(a) The project name, location and date of completion, lighting designer, architect, client/owner, photographer, and additional consultants;

(b) The main entry category, and whether the submission is also being submitted in any of the three Special Citation Awards (see Categories);

(c) Project name, project size in square feet, watts per square foot, energy-code compliance, project cost, and lighting installation cost; and

(d) A written description (600 words max.) of the project brief, project challenges, and design solutions;

(e) Luminaire and lamp type including manufacturer list and applications; and

(f) The digital images should be numbered and provide a brief directional description to clarify what is depicted. (The slides can also be keyed to the 600-word description.) Submissions being submitted for any of the Special Citation Awards should include:

(g) The Special Citation Award entry category;

(h) Project name;

(i) Explanation (300 words max.) of why the project excels in the particular Special Citation Award entry category (ies); and up to 6 additional images numbered and keyed to the 300-word description.

6. Images must be in digital format and be sent in both a lo-res (72 dpi) and hi-res (300 dpi) set. Additional image submission requirements:

(a) one CD per project;

(b) either TIF or EPS file format;

(c) lo-res set: 72 dpi; hi-res set: 300 dpi;

(d) approximately 8-inches by 10-inches.

For main entry categories, please include no fewer than 7 and no more than 12 images. Provide up to 6 additional images for each Special Citation Awards category. Label the image files using the project name and numbers that correspond to the image descriptions. Keep file name length to a minimum, approx. 12-15 characters

Example: ProjectName_01

7. Please avoid the use of fill light when photographing the project; if its use is unavoidable, identify which shots include fill light.

8. To maintain anonymity during the judging process, no names of entrants or collaborating parties may appear on any part of the submission except on the signed entry form and on the project envelope.

CATEGORIES

9. Identify each submission on its own Entry Form and on the Project Details Form as one of the following categories. (AL reserves the right to change the category of a submission.)

Residential
Interior Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Whole Building Projects
Exhibition Lighting
Projects will not be judged against each other, but rather as superior examples of a lighting design solution within their category. Each category may have more than one winner or no winner at all.

10. Appropriate submissions may also be submitted for any of the three Special Citation Awards. Projects must first be submitted in a general category in order to be submitted in a Special Citation category. If materials are not provided for the Special Citation Awards, or if they do not meet category requirements, projects will not be judged. These awards require the following additional information:

Best Use of Color: Entrants must include an explanation (no more than 300 words) clarifying the use of color in the project. Use of Color may be interpreted liberally; however, judges will be asked to consider the complexity of the design and the meaningful use of color to complement the design strategy.

Best Incorporation of Daylight: Entrants must include an explanation (no more than 300 words) clarifying how the project integrates daylighting with electric lighting. In addition, entrants must include ASHRAE 90.1 or LEED documentation indicating that daylighting provides persistent on-peak energy savings. If this documentation is not provided, the project will not be evaluated.

Best Lighting Design on a Budget: Entrants must include an explanation (no more than 300 words) clarifying why theirs is a budget project; in addition, they must include project construction costs, lighting materials costs, and lighting and electrical subcontractor costs (preferably on a per-square-foot basis). Judges understand costs are relative to project type; however, they reserve the right to determine whether it is truly a budget project.

JUDGING

11. An independent panel of judges will award prizes to projects at their sole discretion, based on the complexity of the project program and the lighting solutions applied. Decisions of the judges are final.

12. Judging will take place in June 2012. Winning entrants will be notified in late June 2012, and their projects will appear in the July/August 2012 issue of AL.

PUBLICATION

13. Winners of the AL Design Awards agree to have their projects and names published in AL, on AL's website, and in any other media, and must provide further information and publication-worthy graphic materials as needed by AL. Winners also agree to secure permission for publication from clients and photographers prior to entry. Photographer(s) will receive proper citation credit, but will not receive payment for images published as part of the editorial design awards coverage in both print and online.

14. Winners will be required to sign and return within a specified time a Publicity Release. Winners will also be required to sign a document stating that the entry is the original work of the winner and does not infringe on any proprietary right, including but not limited to copyright, trademark, and the rights of publicity and privacy of any party, and grants AL the right to use the entry in print and electronic medium.

ENTRY FEES

15. Payment is made through the online registration system. Each submission must be accompanied by a printout of the online payment form. Fees are as follows: $135 for the first entry; $95 for each subsequent entry; $95 for each Special Citation Awards entry; and $30 for each individual late entry submission. Entry fees are not refundable and will not be returned for any reason.

DEADLINE

16. Regular entries must be postmarked by May 25, 2012. Late entries will be accepted up until June 1, 2012, and must be in Washington, DC by 5pm that day. Please note, late entry is not a postmark deadline.

RETURN OF ENTRIES

17. AL will ONLY return entries that provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with proper postage. AL shall not have liability for damaged or misplaced entries.