The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has just announced its 2022 AIA Film Challenge winners.

Grand Prize, Runner Up, and Third Place winners were selected from a field of 32 qualified entries for the competition, which awards short 1:30 to 3-minute documentary films that “demonstrate how architects work with residents and civic leaders to design sustainable and equitable communities.”

This year’s contest was judged by 2021–2022 NOMA president Jason Pugh, University of Illinois at Chicago professor and associate dean Stewart Hicks, and three others. A special People’s Choice winner was also selected via an online public vote. That honor went to a film from Boston-based Darguin Fortuna, who examined the restrictive barriers towards entering the architectural profession and the work Flow Design Inc. is doing to counteract the resulting homogeneity through education. The other three films reflected this cause-oriented focus, furthering the organization’s mission with the latest edition of this challenge.

Per the AIA: “The themes woven into the productions are not merely in step with the values and mission of AIA but propound the need for architectural projects that help the planet and improve life for all people. The narratives promote the benefits of repurposing old buildings, center the experiences of impacted communities, and stress the significance of history and storytelling by diverse communities.”

Grand Prize: "a dream starts here" by Jordan Gray

Description: "On the southern border of South Carolina lies a small, overlooked town of 1,800, a town that has been hopeful for change. Calhoun Falls is known as The City of Opportunity, but much of that opportunity has dried up. LaSean Tutt, founder of the nonprofit 'Dreams with Open Arms,' and owner of one of the dilapidated downtown buildings, hopes that reimagining the space into a community center will catalyze change that radiates throughout the city. Calhoun Falls faces population decline and stunted economic opportunity but has the charm of a small southern town and the allure of a scenic lake and state park. As architects, if we want to improve the cities in which we work, we must include the people in the design process; it’s the first step. Community activation comes before construction. LaSean joined with Hanbury and the Clemson School of Architecture to engage the community at large through multiple events, including the first annual 'Rock the Block.' The prospect, alone, of a community center, was enough to fill the streets, encourage design dialogue, and forge momentum. How can we as architects and designers share tools with the community so they can visualize, communicate, and engage with the design process? Sometimes, small change is enough to bring people together. — a dream starts here."

Runner Up: "Betances Residence, Bronx, NY" by Bilyana Dimitrova

Description: "This film features Betances Residence, a new 'Passive House' supportive residence for formerly homeless and low-income seniors in the Bronx, NY. The 152-unit building is the result of the collaborative efforts of Breaking Ground and COOKFOX that both believe in sustainable design, creating permanence for people who have not had permanence before and that good design promotes well being. This film illustrates that it's possible to build high quality affordable housing that's good for the environment and how that helps the residents live better lives."

Third Place: "Regenerative Architecture on the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation" by Monica Hendrickson

Description: "The MHA Interpretive Center is located on the homelands of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Peoples. These three distinctly individual nations call this place home and share a common story after coming to live along the Missouri River. The interpretive center overlooks Lake Sakakawea, the United States' 2nd largest man-made reservoir. The creation of the lake via the Garrison Dam forced the displacement of members of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation from their villages of Van Hook and (old) Sanish, which were inundated by the creation of the lake. It's notable that predominantly white towns were purposefully spared by the Army Corps."

People's Choice: "The Change We Seek" by Darguin Fortuna

Description: "Diversity in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction is nowhere to be found. Principals of Flow Design Inc. decided to change that in whichever way they could. The film focuses on the early stages of one’s development and the need to inspire, guide and mentor others to begin their journey in the profession. Here we experience the journey to change the profession across the board by inspiring at early stages, guiding during middle school and high school as well as consistently helping those in the path in college and post graduation so that folks from all over can make it as architects. This is part of the mission of Flow Design Inc. which we believe make us all better as a biodiverse ecosystem and ensuring the makers of our cities, represent our cities."