Architecture firms submitted 12 projects from across the state for consideration for the 2020 AIA South Dakota Design Awards. Winners of the juried awards competition will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 during our virtual AIA South Dakota Design Awards Ceremony.
With our AIA SD Annual Convention going virtual this year, we decided to open up our 2020 People’s Choice Award beyond those attending the Design Awards Ceremony. You can view the entrants and read a brief description of the projects on this page (clicking on the photo allows you to scroll larger images) and then vote at https://www.judgify.me/public-voting/aiasd2020. The deadline to vote is 5 p.m. CDT on Friday, September 11.
Here are the entrants:
This one is an Event Center in Britton, South Dakota. It’ll be used mostly for events. But also for pickle ball, maybe a cover band concert, book clubs, changing for football practice, and other stuff too. Photo credit: Spencer Sommers 
This one is an Event Center in Britton, South Dakota. It’ll be used mostly for events. But also for pickle ball, maybe a cover band concert, book clubs, changing for football practice, and other stuff too. Photo credit: Spencer Sommers 
City Center offers a new level of government customer service in the City of Sioux Falls. The building complements the existing City Hall, originally built in 1935, while creating a modern office facility equivalent to a private sector development. Photo credit: Jesse Wilkens 
City Center offers a new level of government customer service in the City of Sioux Falls. The building complements the existing City Hall, originally built in 1935, while creating a modern office facility equivalent to a private sector development. Photo credit: Jesse Wilkens 
Renovation and restoration of a neglected fire station in the heart of Sioux Falls. Bringing hope to an unsettled neighborhood. Photo credit: Cipher Imaging / Brian Rotert 
Renovation and restoration of a neglected fire station in the heart of Sioux Falls. Bringing hope to an unsettled neighborhood. Photo credit: Cipher Imaging / Brian Rotert 
Here we have Look’s Marketplace. At Look’s you can get meat, beer, cheese and other stuff to keep you alive. In collaboration with BCV Architecture + Interiors. Photo credit: Spencer Sommers 
Here we have Look’s Marketplace. At Look’s you can get meat, beer, cheese and other stuff to keep you alive. In collaboration with BCV Architecture + Interiors. Photo credit: Spencer Sommers 
McVicker Plaza, located in Vermillion, SD, was renovated and restored. The building is home to the Chamber and provides additional collaborative space for the community, in addition to a retail shop. Photo credit: 605 Creative Co. 
McVicker Plaza, located in Vermillion, SD, was renovated and restored. The building is home to the Chamber and provides additional collaborative space for the community, in addition to a retail shop. Photo credit: 605 Creative Co. 
Located along Northern State University’s primary entry, the project creates a new portal onto the campus. It transforms how the University introduces itself to prospective students, potential faculty, and the Aberdeen, SD community. Photo credit: Matt Winquist Photography 
Located along Northern State University’s primary entry, the project creates a new portal onto the campus. It transforms how the University introduces itself to prospective students, potential faculty, and the Aberdeen, SD community. Photo credit: Matt Winquist Photography 
South Dakota State University expanded the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center to consolidate all of the performing arts disciplines under one roof. Now a premier center for the arts in South Dakota, the building fosters integrated learning and interdisciplinary collaboration between students and faculty in a dynamic environment. Photo credit: Tom Kessler 
South Dakota State University expanded the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center to consolidate all of the performing arts disciplines under one roof. Now a premier center for the arts in South Dakota, the building fosters integrated learning and interdisciplinary collaboration between students and faculty in a dynamic environment. Photo credit: Tom Kessler 
“South Dakota State University’s new Alumni Center proudly acknowledges the historic structures across campus through its form and materials. Located directly across the street from the formal historic mall, known as the Campus Green, the Alumni Center gives a nod to the campus’ historic brick buildings and colonnaded façades but introduces new materiality and form.” Photo credit: Greg Latza Photography 
“South Dakota State University’s new Alumni Center proudly acknowledges the historic structures across campus through its form and materials. Located directly across the street from the formal historic mall, known as the Campus Green, the Alumni Center gives a nod to the campus’ historic brick buildings and colonnaded façades but introduces new materiality and form.” Photo credit: Greg Latza Photography 
The South Dakota School for the Blind had been housed in an amalgamation of facilities and additions for the past several decades. The building was outdated, and the maze of corridors wasn’t conducive to wayfinding for those with visual impairments. The school was long overdue for either a remodel or an all-new home. Photo credit: Imagery Photography/Jeff Viere 
The South Dakota School for the Blind had been housed in an amalgamation of facilities and additions for the past several decades. The building was outdated, and the maze of corridors wasn’t conducive to wayfinding for those with visual impairments. The school was long overdue for either a remodel or an all-new home. Photo credit: Imagery Photography/Jeff Viere 
Sanford Imagenetics, the first facility of its kind in the nation, is located south of the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. The facility houses general internal medicine, dialysis, medical genetics, genetic counseling, medical-genetics laboratories (cytogenetics and molecular genetics), clinical labs and radiology. Photo credit: HDR/Dan Schwalm 
Sanford Imagenetics, the first facility of its kind in the nation, is located south of the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. The facility houses general internal medicine, dialysis, medical genetics, genetic counseling, medical-genetics laboratories (cytogenetics and molecular genetics), clinical labs and radiology. Photo credit: HDR/Dan Schwalm 
“Creative design and knowledge of area geography transformed a state-operated interstate rest area, once only a place to pause before proceeding on one’s journey, into a destination. A winding approach leading to a relocated entrance now gives the traveler an excuse to linger and learn the locale’s history.” Photo credit: Imagery Photography/Jeff Viere 
“Creative design and knowledge of area geography transformed a state-operated interstate rest area, once only a place to pause before proceeding on one’s journey, into a destination. A winding approach leading to a relocated entrance now gives the traveler an excuse to linger and learn the locale’s history.” Photo credit: Imagery Photography/Jeff Viere 
The city-owned Worthington Liquor Store, located in a small southwestern Minnesota community, faces a shopping thoroughfare lined largely with pre-engineered metal buildings. Now the former Dollar Store uses an 800 square foot front addition with large windows creating an inviting entrance beckoning to those who might otherwise pass by. Photo credit: Imagery Photography/Jeff Viere 
The city-owned Worthington Liquor Store, located in a small southwestern Minnesota community, faces a shopping thoroughfare lined largely with pre-engineered metal buildings. Now the former Dollar Store uses an 800 square foot front addition with large windows creating an inviting entrance beckoning to those who might otherwise pass by. Photo credit: Imagery Photography/Jeff Viere
Ready to vote? Visit https://www.judgify.me/public-voting/aiasd2020 and pick your favorite!
AIA South Dakota is the professional non-profit membership association of architects, future architects, and partners in the building and design industries, and the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) AIA South Dakota advances the mission that design matters in every South Dakota community.