Best Commercial Design Awards in Architecture 2025
October 7, 2025Commercial spaces are an extension of a company’s brand and a key part of customer experience. And a well-designed office or retail space can significantly shape how people perceive a brand and how they feel within the environment.
Today’s best commercial architecture embraces innovation, sustainability, and community impact through cohesive and inviting design principles.
In this guide, we highlight some of the top commercial architecture awards, helping you identify competitions where you can benchmark your work against the very best in the industry. We’ll also cover what judges typically look for in award-winning commercial projects, and share tips on how you can maximize your chances of success.
Let’s dive in.
TL;DR: The best awards for commercial architecture are:
1. International Property Awards (Commercial divisions)
2. Commercial Architecture MasterPrize by AMP
3. RIBA Awards (Commercial Buildings)
4. Dezeen Awards (Commercial and Retail projects)
5. SBID International Design Awards (Commercial interiors)
Why Commercial Design Awards Matter
Before we get into detail about each of the awards we’ve listed above, let’s discuss what makes these competitions so important.
Firstly, award winners send signals to clients, developers, and investors that their work meets the highest industry standards.
Next, winning drives significant media visibility as competitions like AMP’s Commercial Architecture awards have extensive media partner networks.
The commercial architecture market is crowded and winning an award helps you distinguish yourself amongst the crowd.
Finally, awards are great motivators and help lift the standard of work that your team produces. Also, attending award events are great networking opportunities through which you may get to know other industry professionals, local governing bodies and other stakeholders.
Best Commercial Design Awards in 2025
Now let’s get stuck into the top commercial awards in architecture.
1. International Property Awards (Commercial divisions)
The International Property Awards is a long-running program that recognizes excellence in real estate development and architecture worldwide. This award covers a wide range of categories, among which are its commercial categories such as Best Office Architecture, Best Retail Development, Best Commercial Renovation.
Recent award winners include TSLAW Tower which won the Office Category at the FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2025. Also the AURAFANTASY cinema project by Alexander Wong Architects.
The International Property Awards (IPA) are unique for their two-tier judging process and global scale. A project that wins in, say, the Asia Pacific Property Awards (the regional competition) might then go on to contend for the international title against winners from Europe, the Americas, and other regions.
Submission deadlines for this competition vary by region, and it’s best to check their website for full details.
2. Commercial Architecture MasterPrize by AMP
AMP’s Commercial Architecture MasterPrize is one of the most respected awards for commercial design. The annual competition attracts thousands or yearly entries from multiple countries each year and stands out for its truly international scope, esteemed judging panel, and the high calibre of projects it attracts.
Recent winners of the Commercial Architecture Masterprize include Kansas Restaurant by Carla Bechelli Arquitectos, Montagne du Parc by Baumschlager Eberle Architekten and Kaizen Campus by ASPA KST.
This award provides entrants with the opportunity to be featured on the world stage. Alongside evaluating how beautiful a building is, the award also places an emphasis on innovation and sustainability in design.
The Commercial Architecture Masterprize is an excellent award competition for architects and developers who have completed a commercial project that pushes boundaries or exemplifies excellence.
The submission deadline for the 2025 awards closes on September 30.
3. RIBA Awards (Commercial Buildings)
Given by the Royal Institute of British Architects, The RIBA Awards are among the most prestigious architectural accolades in the United Kingdom. Despite not being exclusively dedicated to commercial projects, they routinely honor some of the best commercial architecture as part of their annual program.
Recent award winners of the commercial building category include 8 Bleeding Heart Yard by GROUPWORK, London College of Fashion by Allies and Morrison, as well as Soho Place by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.
The awards structure includes RIBA Regional Awards across various UK regions, National Awards, and the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building in the UK each year. There’s also the RIBA International Awards.
The RIBA awards criteria emphasize not just looks, but how a building serves its users and community. That means commercial buildings that improve their occupants’ experience and neighborhood have a good shot of winning.
Entries for the RIBA UK Awards 2026 opened on October 17, 2025. Though, submission dates depend on the exact competition you’re applying for, so it’s best to check their website for full details.
4. Dezeen Awards (Commercial and Retail projects)
A relatively new award, the Dezeen Awards are run by a leading online design magazine that covers architecture, interior design, and design products, with an international outlook. Among their many award categories, they’ve reserved several spots for commercial spaces as well.
Recent award winners include Aesop Diagonal by Mesura (small retail interior of the year) and Pavillon Jardins by Atelier du Pont (workplace project of the year).
The Dezeen Awards stand out for their emphasis on cutting-edge design, as well as for their media platform. Since Dezeen is a publication, winning (or even being shortlisted) often means that projects get published to a wide global audience of design enthusiasts and professionals.
Dezeen Awards are open globally to architects and designers of all levels. Small studios, big firms, and even self-employed designers enter.
The 2025 awards have been finalized, and the 2026 awards are yet to be announced. Based on the 2025 schedule, we can expect that entries for the 2026 awards will open in February.
5. SBID International Design Awards (Commercial interiors)
Organized by the Society of British and International Interior Design, the SBID International Design Awards focus primarily on interior design across various sectors, with a strong representation of commercial interior categories.
Categories span retail design, office design, restaurant and bar design, hotel design, public space interiors, and anything that covers any sort of interior design. That includes commercial spaces as well, of course.
Recent award winners include Ixchel by The Nanu Group & Behind The Door Designs (Global Winner), Control Room B, Battersea Power Station by Ellis Design Studio (UK Winner) and 144 Oxford Anglo American by Paragon (Office Design over 2,000 SqM).
SBID’s awards are known for their robust judging process and a bit of public engagement as well. They employ expert judging panels (made up of industry leaders, press, and business figures in design) to score entries, combined with a public vote component.
The submission period for the 2026 SBID International Design Awards has not yet opened, and no specific deadlines have been announced. Based on the schedule for previous years, entries are likely to open in March 2026.
What Judges Look for in Award-Winning Commercial Architecture
Every award has its own set of criteria, but there are common themes in what judges tend to value in commercial architecture entries.
- Design Excellence and Aesthetics: First impressions count, and a commercial project should have a compelling architectural vision or concept. That means that the design should be cohesive, visually striking, and appropriate for its purpose.
- Functionality and User Experience: Alongside visually stunning projects, judges consistently reward designs that marry form with function. This could be an office that boosts productivity through smart layout and natural light, or a mall that intuitively guides shoppers.
- Innovation and Use of Technology: Cutting-edge construction solutions like an unprecedented façade system or a fully net-zero energy design also catch the judges attention. Therefore, showing that your project pushes the envelope of conventional design (even modestly) can help increase your chances of winning.
- Sustainability and Environmental Impact: Modern awards place heavy emphasis on sustainability. Judges will evaluate how your commercial project addresses energy efficiency, ecological impact, and resilience.
- Community and Context Integration: The best commercial architecture responds to its surroundings and contributes positively to its community. Judging panels often consider whether a building is sensitive to its surroundings (whether urban or rural), if it respects local culture and history, as well as if the design creates a positive community impact.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
If you’ve completed a commercial project that you believe in, don’t hesitate to throw your hat in the ring and enter one of the award competitions we’ve discussed above. Winning a commercial award will help shine a spotlight on your business and earn you international, regional and local recognition.
All the awards that we’ve mentioned share the same core principle: that great design can transform commercial spaces into something much more than mere real estate.
With its international reach and reputation for honoring visionary work, the AMP Commercial Architecture MasterPrize is a great place to earn international exposure. Submission deadlines for the 2025 competition close on September 30, so get in quick.