Arthur Ross Awards

Established in 1982 by Classical America advocate, Arthur Ross (1910–2007), and its president, Henry Hope Reed (1916–2013), the Arthur Ross Awards were created to recognize and celebrate excellence in the classical tradition. From the beginning, the awards have recognized the achievements and contributions of architects, painters, sculptors, artisans, landscape designers, educators, publishers, patrons, and others dedicated to preserving and advancing the classical tradition.

Past honorees for architecture have ranged from well-known practitioners such as Allan Greenberg, Peter Pennoyer Architects, and Quinlan Terry, to lesser known but no less accomplished ones such as A. Hayes Town and Harold H. Fisher. The awards have also recognized excellence in the work of artisans such as Historical Arts and Casting and Decorators Supply Company, painters such as Richard Piccolo and Edward Schmidt, sculptors such as Frederick Hart and Alexander Stoddart, and patrons such as Chauncey Stillman, the Citizens of Greater Kansas City, and H. R. H. The Prince of Wales.

The awardees are chosen each year by a selection committee made up of members of the ICAA Board of Directors and distinguished members of related professions.

The 2025 Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday, May 12th at Cipriani 42nd in New York City. Tickets for this event will go on sale on Tuesday, March 18th. For more information please click here.

Thank you to our Co-Chairs:
Andrew Cogar
Melissa DelVecchio
Bunny Williams

Thank you to our jury:
Andrew Cogar, Jury Chair
Elizabeth Graziolo
Siobhan Kelly
James McCrery
Donald Powers
Adrian Taylor
Thomas Woltz

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Luminaries
S. Donadic Inc. Construction Management

Benefactors
John B. Murray Architect
Steven W. Spandle Architect, LLC
Tischler und Sohn USA Ltd.

Patrons
Bulley & Andrews
Curtis & Windham Architects
DMG Architectural Specialists
Ferguson & Shamamian Architects
Hart Howerton
Highline Construction Group
Hollander Design | Landscape Architects
ICAA Chicago-Midwest Chapter
ICAA Florida Chapter
ICAA Southeast Chapter
Peter Pennoyer Architects
Reilly Architectural
Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Schafer Buccellato Architects
Sea-Dar Construction
Studio Magness
Thomas Lloyd
Tucker & Marks Inc.
Xhema of New York
Yellow House Architects PLLC

Award categories
Architecture
Artisanship · Craftsmanship
Community Design · Civic Design · City Planning
Education
Fine Arts: Painting · Sculpture · Mural Design · Rendering · Photography
History · Journalism · Criticism · Writing · Editing · Publishing
Interior Design
Landscape Design · Gardening
Patronage
Stewardship
Winners from
Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil, Doha, QA
Architecture
Markham Roberts, New York City, US
Interior Design
Féau Boiseries, Paris, FR
Artisanship & Craftsmanship
Thomas Wells Schaller, New York City, US
Fine Arts
Julia Watson, New York City, US
Education
Stephen A. Schwarzman, New York City, US
Patronage

Architecture: Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil, Doha, QA

Awards Ceremony & Submissions

Submissions

Submissions for the 44th Annual Arthur Ross Awards will open on Wednesday, September 25th. Please note that the submission deadline is Friday, December 20th.

The ICAA requests that all submissions be sent electronically. Submissions from individuals, firms, institutions, and organizations are accepted. If you would like to nominate another person or organization, please send the nominee's name to RossAwards@classicist.org.

The 44th Annual Arthur Ross Awards will be held on Monday, May 12th.

Criteria

The awards honor lifetime achievement, a career, or a body of work. The exceptions are for the categories of “Patronage” and “Stewardship” where single works may be honored.

In Fine Arts, the body of work should have been created in association with architectural projects, be related to design and placemaking, or be a depiction of the built environment.

Lastly, please note that awards are not given in every category every year; however, by tradition, an award in the architecture category is made every year.

Nominees may be an individual, firm, institution, or organization in the United States or from abroad. Nominees may be nominated by another individual or firm or may nominate themselves.


Format

Each entry must be a single PDF file sent to RossAwards@classicist.org. Entries may be sent via Dropbox, WeTransfer, or by other electronic means. All submissions must include the following:

  • A letter describing why the nominee should be considered for the award (up to 1 page, written either by the Nominator or by the Nominee).
  • A company or individual profile (up to 1 page) if appropriate.
  • Contact information - including email address and preferred phone number.
  • One page with visual highlights (e.g. drawings, plans, photographs, etc.). For example, view a sample page with image highlights.
  • Up to 25 additional pages of images may be submitted. A page may be a composite of images or a single image. Drawings and plans are encouraged, in addition to photography. The portfolio should also include captions and/or descriptions of the work being shown.
  • Nominations in the category of History / Journalism / Criticism / Writing / Editing / Publishing may include a portfolio with photographs, publications, clippings, research projects, and any relevant material. Submissions in this category should also include excerpts of work. This should comprise up to four (4) excerpts of no more than ten (10) pages per excerpt.
  • Submissions may be in landscape or portrait format.
  • Up to three (3) published books may be submitted as supporting material to the above. All books submitted will be considered, as per protocol, gifts to the ICAA library for use by our students, staff, and members and will not be returned. If you previously submitted books that are now part of the ICAA library, please note which three you would like the jury to review as part of your updated submission.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: May I nominate myself for an award? A: Yes, self-nominations are accepted.

Q: I’ve previously been awarded an Arthur Ross Award. May I submit again? A: Previous winners of the Arthur Ross Award may not submit or be nominated in the same category for which they have previously received an award; they may, however, submit in another category, if appropriate.

Q: May posthumous nominations be made? A: No, the committee does not accept posthumous nominations.

Q: Are undergraduate or students eligible to submit or be nominated? A: Many of the ICAA regional awards honor student work. Please consult the ICAA's list of regional awards.

Q: Must nominees be a certain age or be at a particular place in their career to be considered for an award? A: The Arthur Ross Awards honor lifetime achievement, one’s career, one’s body of work. Candidates tend to not be at the very beginning of their career. However, in the past, juries have awarded younger candidates who have a considerable and impressive volume of work.