Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation creates opportunities with national attention to demonstrate the breadth of achievement in the building industries by women at the highest levels. Through a juried mapping project, Built by Women recognizes the significant but often overlooked work of women architects, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, contractors, and developers in selected cities. Following previous programs in Manhattan and Los Angeles, the 2026 Built by Women map will center on New York City to discover new and innovative women-led projects throughout the five boroughs and explore the important ways that work by women shapes the built environment.

Built by Women NYC

Timeline

Submissions close October 24, 2025. Contact info@bwaf.org with questions or for more information.

Eligibility

• Projects may be of any scale, typology, or discipline within the built environment (architecture, engineering, construction, landscape, interiors, urban design, etc.).
• Projects must be completed or planned to be completed by 2026 at the time of submission.
• The project must be located in New York City (for the 2026 cycle).

Defining “Built by Women”

Each submission must include a short statement (200–300 words) describing how the project reflects “Built by Women.” This can include, but is not limited to:

• Women-led firms or practices.
• Projects where women played a central role (design lead, engineer of record, project manager, developer, etc.).
• Collaborative teams where women’s contributions were essential to concept, design, execution, or impact.
• Projects advancing equity, inclusion, or visibility for women in the field.

Note: The definition is intentionally broad. We encourage applicants to reflect authentically on how women shaped the project and its significance.

Submission Instructions & Materials

Complete the form below to sign up to receive your personal submission link. Once received, submit your Project Statement and Team Information for each project being submitted as a single PDF and include your high-resolution project images as unique JPG files with firm name and building name in file.

Project Statement (300 words maximum)

• Overview of the project’s purpose, scope, and impact.
• How the project embodies “Built by Women.”

Team Information

• Names, roles, and affiliations of women whose contributions are being highlighted.
• Firm/organization name and contact details.
• Project Information
  • Project name, location, year completed.
  • Client (if applicable).

Project Images

• Minimum of 3, maximum of 6 high-resolution images (JPG/PNG, 300 dpi).
  • Images should directly correlate with the narrative in your text (e.g., key design moments, construction details, completed views).
  • Captions must include credits (photographer, firm, year).

Selection Criteria

• Submissions will be evaluated on:
  • Clarity of how the project defines and demonstrates “Built by Women.”
  • Design excellence and contribution to the field. Impact on community, culture, or the profession.
  • Quality of documentation, including images and narrative alignment.

Terms

By submitting, applicants grant BWAF the right to use provided text and images for exhibition, publication, and promotional purposes related to the Built by Women program, with proper credit given.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring all materials are free of copyright restrictions and that proper permissions have been obtained.

Submission does not guarantee inclusion; all projects will be reviewed by a jury convened by BWAF.

Complete the below fields to sign up to submit your Built by Women projects: