Join us in celebrating the 46th Annual Awards of Excellence, the 7th Annual Community Design Awards and The Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Award!
In 1978, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission honored its first Awards of Excellence class– the designs that enhance our City. Four decades later, the annual awards continue to highlight excellence and achievement in local architecture, land use, and forward design balanced with preservation.
At the 8th Annual Awards of Excellence, the Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Award was introduced. Jenny Thurston was the first director of the Urban Design Commission. After her death in 1982, her family established an endowment that would support both the Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Award and the Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Fellowship at Georgia State University. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in historic preservation within the City of Atlanta.
The Community Design Awards made its debut in 2017. The focus of this award is to recognize the buildings, public spaces, events, art, organizations, etc. that make our communities better places to live. This is a community-driven selection via the Neighborhood Planning Unit system. Community Design Award winners have included: neighborhood events, community organizations, new buildings, public art programs, individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to a neighborhood, public agencies working in that part of the city, etc.
Entry for all three awards is free and open to the public. Anyone can submit nominations for projects, programs, individuals, and groups; however, the Awards of Excellence nominations are in the following categories:
- Public Works of Art
- New Construction
- Urban Design
- Adaptive Use
- Contextual Infill
- Parks & Landscape Design
- Interior Design of Public Spaces
- Historic Preservation
- Individual/Organization
- Sustainable Design
In 1978, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission honored its first Awards of Excellence class– the designs that enhance our City. Four decades later, the annual awards continue to highlight excellence and achievement in local architecture, land use, and forward design balanced with preservation.
At the 8th Annual Awards of Excellence, the Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Award was introduced. Jenny Thurston was the first director of the Urban Design Commission. After her death in 1982, her family established an endowment that would support both the Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Award and the Jenny D. Thurston Memorial Fellowship at Georgia State University. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in historic preservation within the City of Atlanta.
The Community Design Awards made its debut in 2017. The focus of this award is to recognize the buildings, public spaces, events, art, organizations, etc. that make our communities better places to live. This is a community-driven selection via the Neighborhood Planning Unit system. Community Design Award winners have included: neighborhood events, community organizations, new buildings, public art programs, individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to a neighborhood, public agencies working in that part of the city, etc.
Entry for all three awards is free and open to the public. Anyone can submit nominations for projects, programs, individuals, and groups; however, the Awards of Excellence nominations are in the following categories:
- Public Works of Art
- New Construction
- Urban Design
- Adaptive Use
- Contextual Infill
- Parks & Landscape Design
- Interior Design of Public Spaces
- Historic Preservation
- Individual/Organization
- Sustainable Design
There are two ways to submit nominations:
- Review requirements in the Nomination Brochure above and submit via email to
- Review requirements, complete form in the Nomination Brochure, and submit via US Mail to:
Matt Adams
Office of Design – Historic Preservation Studio
55 Trinity Avenue SW, Suite 3350
Atlanta, GA 30303
There are two ways to submit nominations:
- Review requirements in the Nomination Brochure above and submit via email to
- Review requirements, complete form in the Nomination Brochure, and submit via US Mail to:
Matt Adams
Office of Design – Historic Preservation Studio
55 Trinity Avenue SW, Suite 3350
Atlanta, GA 30303
Upcoming Dates
Open Nominations: February 1, 2024
Community Design Awards Submission Deadline: February 29, 2024
Award of Excellence Submission Deadline: March 14, 2024
Design Awards: May 31, 2024
Upcoming Dates
Open Nominations: February 1, 2024
Community Design Awards Submission Deadline: February 29, 2024
Award of Excellence Submission Deadline: March 14, 2024
Design Awards: May 31, 2024