Architizer, the largest online platform for architecture, announces the 2025 A+Awards shortlist, honoring the year’s best buildings and spaces from around the world. 

With a focus on local and global innovation, the 2025 program spotlights architects and designers who are responding to the globalization of the industry in myriad ways. With more than 4,000 entries from over 80 countries, the program’s renowned Jury has selected Finalists in each of the program’s 120+ categories.   

Across the globe, architects are balancing universal challenges — from climate change to rapid urbanization — with the specifics of local conditions, cultures, and communities. This year’s finalists reflect that mission in full, demonstrating how buildings can be at once globally relevant and deeply rooted in place. Remarkably contextual, yet decidedly innovative, the 618 projects that made the cut impressed the jurors across the evaluation criteria, which include points for form, function, and social and environmental impact.    

“The 2025 Architizer A+Awards remind us that the best architecture is not static but adaptive—responsive to climate, culture, and human needs. These projects don't just solve problems; they spark joy, provoke thought, and, above all, reaffirm architecture's enduring role as a force for connection.” Kongjian Yu, Founder & Principal Designer, Turenscape 

Now in its 13th season, the A+Awards continues its commitment to showcasing the world’s most innovative architecture across all building typologies and scales. In addition to new categories honoring local and global approaches, adaptive reuse and renovation projects, and cutting-edge materials and technologies, the program also sets stringent sustainable design criteria for finalists in its Sustainability Awards.  

 Select 2025 Finalists include:  

• Apple The Exchange TRX by Foster + Partners (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) 

• Library in the Earth by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP (Kisarazu, Japan) 

• Perth Museum by Mecanoo (Perth, UK) 

• Portland Intl Airport Main Terminal Expansion by ZGF Architects (Portland, USA) 

• Academia Atlas by Sordo Madaleno (Zapopan, Mexico) 

• Duling Educational and Cultural Centre by Project Mingde (Duling, China) 

• CA College of the Arts Campus Expansion by Studio Gang (San Francisco, USA) 

• Paper Island by Cobe (Copenhagen, Denmark) 

• Rwanda Institute for Conservation by MASS Design Group (Gashora, Rwanda) 

• Aquifer Recharge Plant – Cape Flats by SALT Architects (Cape Town, South Africa)  

See the full list of categories and Finalists here. 

“What truly stands out to me is the growing geographic diversity. It’s incredibly refreshing to see brilliant work emerging from all corners of the world — from renowned global firms to smaller studios in unexpected regions, each bringing their unique cultural and contextual perspectives to architecture.” Amanda Ferber, Founder, Architecture Hunter  

Selecting the shortlisted projects were some of the design industry’s most renowned practitioners and thinkers, such as Philippe Block (ETH Zurich), Kongjian Yu (Turenscape), Evelyn Lee (Practice of Architecture), James Corner (Field Operations), Jha D Amazi (MASS Design Group), Ismael Seleit (Foster + Partners) and more. Other members of the A+Awards prestigious 250+ Jury Academy include luminaries from the fields of art, technology, fashion, media, business, and real estate. See the complete Jury list here.     

The A+Awards is unique among global architectural awards, with shortlisted projects also judged by the voting public, including design students, enthusiasts, building occupants, and the general public, who vote for their favorite work. In 2024, over 300,000 ballots were cast.  

In collaboration with its official partners the AIA, v2com, Global Design Awards Lab, and Aesthetica, Architizer will announce the 2025 A+Awards Winners on June 9th. Winners will be featured in The World's Best Architecture 2026, the year’s definitive architectural guide.