The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting and preserving classical and traditional design. The ICAA offers a wide range of educational programs, including workshops, lectures, walking tours, travel programs, and continuing education courses for all ages and disciplines.

The Louisiana Chapter of the ICAA tailors the national mission to celebrate Louisiana’s unique architectural heritage. Drawing from Indigenous American, African, Caribbean, Spanish, French, and English traditions, Louisiana boasts some of the most diverse expressions of architecture in the United States. The Chapter’s educational and social programs support and celebrate the evolution of contemporary traditional and classical design and craftsmanship.

Mission of The A. Hays Town Awards Program

The A. Hays Town Awards seek to promote and honor excellence in the design and execution of classical and vernacular architecture in Louisiana. Inspired by the enduring legacy of architect A. Hays Town, who dedicated his life to the rigorous study and preservation of Louisiana’s rich architectural heritage, these awards celebrate those who excel and continue to advance and invent within our proud tradition.

A. Hays Town’s work is renowned for its deep appreciation of Louisiana's unique cultural influences, incorporating elements from Indigenous American, African, Caribbean, Spanish, French, and English architectural traditions. The awards recognize designers and craftsmen who not only demonstrate exceptional literacy in the language of classical architecture but also bring a profound understanding of the region’s historical building practices to their projects.

These awards highlight the importance of preserving and advancing the distinctive architectural styles that define Louisiana. By acknowledging outstanding contributions in this field, the A. Hays Town Awards seek to inspire future generations of architects and craftsmen to continue exploring and enriching the architectural landscape of Louisiana. Recipients of these awards are those whose work embodies the spirit of A. Hays Town, merging historical insight with innovative design to create structures that are both enduring and reflective of Louisiana's architectural diversity.

Eligible and Winning Projects

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects must follow the criteria outlined in the Eligibility Guidelines. Projects determined to be ineligible will be disqualified. Entrants are asked to assign their projects to one of the Professional Design, Building Arts, Student, or Emerging Classicist categories defined:

1. The Professional categories are reserved for professionals currently working in the fields of architecture, interior design, landscape design, or historic preservation.
2. The Building Arts category is reserved for entrants physically fabricating or installing elements of a project. Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to furniture, plaster, sculpture, millwork, ironwork, masonry, or tiling.
3. The Documentation category is reserved for entrants submitting their documentation of existing structures. This category is open to all entrants regardless of experience or profession.
4. The Student category is reserved for entrants submitting projects completed while attending a design school, trade school, or university. Eligible projects may include unexecuted design projects or built works.
5. The Emerging Classicist category is reserved for entrants who have a maximum of ten (10) years of experience working in their respective fields. Eligible projects may included unexecuted design projects or built works.
6. The Social Impact category is open to all entrants regardless of experience or profession. Eligible projects may be built or unbuilt and emphasize the use of classical and traditional design to address challenges posed by environmental and man-made disasters in honor of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

The jury is granted the latitude to assign any project to a category different from the one originally assigned by the entrant.

Winners

The ICAA Louisiana Chapter asks that the jury award projects exemplifying excellence in the classical and vernacular building traditions of Louisiana, irrespective of style. Winning projects must exhibit:

1. Exceptional fluency in the classical and vernacular architectural languages of Louisiana.
2. Mastery over the Vitruvian ideals of strength, utility, and beauty.
3. Embodying the finest examples of their respective categories.
4. Superb craftsmanship and execution.
5. Excellence in presentation including graphic composition and photography.

The jury is granted authority to not award any projects in a given category if the submitted projects do not exemplify excellence in their design, execution, photography, or presentation. The jury is also granted authority to create and assign winning projects to new categories.

The awarded project in a given category must represent the highest caliber of classical and traditional design and craftsmanship in Louisiana.