The Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation Competition (KRob) has celebrated the best in architectural delineation for 44 years. A Dallas classic that has received international recognition, KRob honors hand and digital delineation by professionals and students throughout the world. Averaging over 400 entries from 25 countries in the past several years, the competition’s visibility continues to grow.
The Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation Competition is the most senior architectural drawing competition currently in operation anywhere in the world.
History of KRob
In the late 1920’s, The Architectural League of New York established the first American competition for architectural drawings. It was named after Birch Long, one of their greatly talented and much-loved members who died while working on their 1927 exhibition. The “Birch Burdette Long Memorial Prize” was awarded annually until 1972, when it was discontinued for lack of interest in architectural illustration.
It seems a remarkable coincidence, indeed that a new annual event in far-away Texas was initiated the following year by the Dallas Chapter of the AIA, and was subsequently named for the untimely death of a respected colleague.
This event preceded by two years the 1975 founding of the British Society of Architecture Illustrators (SAI), the first of several national organizations to follow. In 1980 the Japanese Architectural Renderers Association (JARA) was initiated, followed by the 1986 founding of The American Society of Architectural Perspectivists (ASAP) in Boston by Frank Constantino, Steve Rich and myself. The NYSR in New York and the short-lived New Jersey Association were formed soon after ASAP. After the Koreans founded KAPA in 1990, the Australians became the “newest kid on the block” with their AAAI, which was organized [in 1995]. All this makes the Ken Roberts the most senior architectural drawing competition currently in operation anywhere in the world. – (article researched and written by Paul Stevenson Oles, FAIA)
Eligibility
General
All entries must be of an architectural nature, and must be authored by one individual. Entries can be elevations, sections, or perspectives, and can be conceptual or final renderings. Exploration and innovation in unique techniques are encouraged. While there is no limit to the number of entries one can submit, submissions awarded in past Ken Roberts competitions are not eligible. Sketchbooks as a whole will not be accepted; a single, clearly marked page within the sketchbook may be entered.
Professional Eligibility
Each entry must have been executed while entrant is a professional in architecture or in related fields (architectural illustrator, educator, engineer, cg animation). Due to the versatile nature of the architectural profession, it is not required for the entrant to be employed at the time submitting work for KRob. All work completed after graduation from a design program is considered professional.
Student Eligibility
Each entry must have been executed while entrant was enrolled at an academic institution (either high school or pursuing a higher education degree in architecture or design). Student entries can be submitted no later than 12 months following the entrant’s final graduation date.
Guidelines on the eligibility for prize categories
Each entry will be sorted into the appropriate prize category, guided by the following rules:
- The entrant must be currently enrolled as a student to be eligible for the student prize categories. Any changes made to a student drawing after graduation will make it a professional entry.
- If the work entered was completed at any point after graduation from a design program, it will be eligible for both the Hand Delineation Prize and the Hybrid Media Prize in the professional category. Since architectural delineation at the professional level takes place in a variety of circumstances, whether in response to client demands, design competitions, or research, it is not required for one to be employed by a traditional architectural design firm or studio. Any changes made to a student drawing after graduation will make it a professional entry.
Guidelines on the eligibility for the Travel Sketch Award
- The content of the drawing must be architectural – a space, building, an urban formation and/or a landscape or garden.
- Submittals must have been drawn in situ – at the place, in a bound or unbound sketchbook.
- Any view, diagram and graphic notation should be clear.
- Either a single image or a page combining different views, diagrams and conventions is encouraged.
Costs
Professional
AIA Member…………….$35 single entry, $20 per additional entry
Non-AIA Member………$50 single entry, $30 per additional entry
Student
AIAS Member…………..$25 single entry, $15 per additional entry
Non-AIAS Member…….$35 single entry, $25 per additional entry
Schedule
All entries must be received by Thursday, October 25th, 2018, 5:00pm CDT.
Awards for KRob 2018
The Award for Excellence in Digital/Hybrid Media
This prize is awarded to the best student and professional entries that demonstrate excellence through an innovative use of media and technology. Submissions may be digital, or hybrid mixed media with preference given to those that push the envelope of architectural representation, including drawings produced through algorithmic processes. The winners of this category will be awarded a $300 cash prize.
The HKS Award for Excellence in Hand Delineation
This prize is awarded to the best student and professional entries that embodies and celebrates the art of architecture as a tool for communication through hand delineations, sketches and renderings. The winners of this category will be awarded a $300 cash prize.
The Richard B. Ferrier Award for Best Physical Delineation
In response to the large majority of entries being submitted electronically, this prize has been created to highlight and honor the unique properties inherent to physical drawings. KRob has traditionally been an event that honored physical submissions, and this prize is intended to maintain this practice. To be considered for this prize, the entry must be submitted physically to the AIA Dallas office. Please carefully follow the instructions for physical submissions above. For entrants registered with a U.S. mailing address only. The winner of this category will be awarded a $300 cash prize.
The Kevin Sloan Award for Best Travel Sketch
This award acknowledges individuals interested in the time honored activity of drawing architecture and places to learn and understand. In lieu of drawings made to “interpret”, drawings submitted for this category are made to observe, analyze and record in a sketchbook. The winner of this category will be awarded a $300 cash prize.
Emerging Technologies Delineation Category
This prize is in response to the emerging technologies of design and production that have opened new ways to engage with traditional practices of architectural drawings. Submissions for this category will explore technologies and include but are not limited to; code and algorithmic drawing; animation and gifs; 3d printing. The winner of this category will be awarded a $300 cash prize.
Jurors Citation
These citations allow the jurors to independently select any student or professional piece that they personally wish to see recognized. Winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition.
Note: All awards listed are correct to the best of our knowledge at time of print but may be subject to change.
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