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About the Metropolis Planet Positive Awards
About the Awards
The Metropolis Planet Positive Awards are the biggest awards program for sustainability, health, and wellbeing in the built environment.
With 50+ categories across projects, innovation, products, and people, the 2025 Planet Positive Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the progress you are making toward design for a better future.
The Benefits
Planet Positive Award winners are feted across Metropolis’s channels and receive unparalleled editorial and event opportunities:
01: Published in the Winter edition of Metropolis, reaching an engaged readership of over 52,000.
02: Immerse yourself in a global celebration as Metropolis amplifies your achievements across its expansive digital network and social media platforms, reaching over 300,000 followers.
03: Winners will be celebrated at an exclusive in-person awards ceremony on 16th October in NYC, hosted by Editor in Chief Avinash Rajagopal in New York City and broadcast virtually on DESIGNTV by SANDOW, with 110,000 impressions and 30,000 views projected for the broadcast.
04: Enjoy potential features in Metropolis and exclusive invitations to events across the United States and online.
Submission Fees
Best Educator Award Pricing: $50
*the system will automatically charge $50 when the category is selected
Early-bird Pricing for Innovation, Products, People, & Projects: $300
Early-bird pricing ends: July 12, 2025
Regular Pricing for Innovation, Products, People, & Projects: $325
Refunds are not available for submissions once they have been formally entered. Submissions made that do not follow specifications are disqualified, and we will, unfortunately, not be able to provide a refund.
Project Eligibility
Eligible Submitters: Architecture and Interior Design Firms
Eligible Projects: Project award applications do not need to be certified by LEED, WELL, LBC, or any other building certification to be eligible. Projects must have been completed within the past three years (2022–2025).
*Please note: this requirement does not apply to the Unbuilt category.
Categories Include: Workplace, K-12 Education, Higher Education, Hospitality, Cultural, Infrastructure, Civic, Mixed-Use, Single Family, Multifamily, Showroom and Retail, Unbuilt Project, Landscape, Pavilion or Installation, Retrofit or Repositioning, & Workplace Interiors
Innovation Eligibility
Eligible Submitters: Architecture and Interior Design Firms + Manufacturers
Eligible Projects: Projects must have been completed within the last three years (2022–2025). Project award applications do not need to be certified by LEED, WELL, LBC, or any other building certification to be eligible.
Eligible Products: Products are only eligible for recognition in the following categories: Innovation in Material Use in Products, Circularity Initiative in Products, and Corporate Sustainability Initiative. Eligible products must have been released within the last two years (2023–2025).
Categories Include: Community Engagement, Design for Resilience, Embodied Carbon Reduction, Impact on Health and Wellness, Social Impact, Overall Decarbonization, Adaptive Reuse, Historical Preservation, Use of Biobased or Biogenic Materials, Research & Development, Innovation in Material Use in Products, Circularity Initiative in Products, & Corporate Sustainability Initiative.
Product Eligibility
Eligible Submitters: Designers, Manufacturers, Architects, Distributors, and Showrooms
Eligible Products: Products must be released in the last two years (2023-2025).
Categories Include: Acoustics, Architectural Lighting, Architectural Systems, Ceilings, Decorative Lighting, Facade Systems, Hard Flooring, Kitchen and Bath, Office Furniture, Other Furniture, Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Lighting, Paint, Residential Furniture, Soft Flooring, Surfaces Tiles Materials, Textiles, Timber, Wallcoverings, Walls, & Windows and Doors.
People Eligibility
Firm of the Year
This award recognizes one architecture or interior design firm demonstrating outstanding leadership in sustainability, wellness, equity, and resilience.
Rising Star
This award honors early- and mid-career professionals who have made meaningful contributions to sustainable, equitable, healthy, and resilient design within their firms.
Eligibility Criteria
· 1–10 years since receiving their terminal degree
· Currently working in the United States or Canada
Sustainability Consultant
This award recognizes consultants who work with design or client teams to provide expertise on design for sustainability, health, and equity in order to achieve outstanding project outcomes.
Eligibility Criteria
Sustainability consultants who work with architects or designers on design projects, or who work with corporations on their buildings or building portfolios. Consultancies must be headquartered in the US or Canada or have an office in those countries.
Sustainability Leader
This award recognizes an architecture, design, or sustainability leader who has had a significant influence on projects that make a positive impact in the world.
Eligibility Criteria
· Holds the title of director, associate, or higher.
· Working in the United States or Canada
Questions about eligibility? Contact awards@metropolismag.com
Timeline
Early-bird Deadline (For Innovation, Products People, & Projects): July 12, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
Final Deadline: August 1, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
In-Person Awards Ceremony: Live in New York City, October 16
Print Coverage: Winter Issue of Metropolis
Frequently Asked Questions
View the complete list of categories here.
When is the submission deadline?
All materials for submission must be provided by the deadline (August 1, 12:00 PM ET). Submissions that do not follow the specifications will be disqualified without notice or refund. Metropolis reserves the right to reassign entries to a more appropriate category if necessary.
How does Early-bird pricing work?
If you complete and submit your entire entry by midnight on July 12th, 2025, you'll enjoy an automatic discount of $25 off each submission, reducing your entry fee from $325 to $300.
What if I have questions?
Please email awards@metropolismag.com
Can I start my entry then return to it later?
Yes, you may begin your entry, save, and revisit it at any time prior to completing your payment. To access your in-progress entries, go to the "my account" link on the top right-hand side of the page. You will find a menu on the left with "My Entries".
What information do I need to submit to the awards?
PEOPLE:
INNOVATION
- Best Emobided Carbon Reduction
- Best Overall Decarbonization
- Best Water Conservation and Management
- Best Impact on Health and Wellness
- Best Material and Product Use for Projects
- Best Material and Product Use for Products
- Best Manufacturer Corporate Sustainability Initiative
Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes, you can submit more than one entry to multiple categories.
Can I edit or change my entry once it has been submitted?
If you need to make a vital change to a submitted entry, please email awards@metropolismag.com
How will the entries be judged and who will select the winners?
Project entries will be judged on how effectively they mitigate environmental impact, advance social equity, tackle complex challenges with creativity, and integrate beauty, function, and community value. Product entries are assessed for their innovation, contribution to health and equity, use of sustainable materials and processes, and transparency through third-party certifications.
Click here to view the full list of judges for the 2025 Planet Positive Awards.
How do I choose which category to enter?
Please enter the category that you feel best fits your submission. Metropolis reserves the right to reassign entries to a more appropriate category if necessary.
About Metropolis
Metropolis is your trusted source for what’s next in architecture and design. For over 40 years, we've championed a sustainable, just, and human-centered built environment—spotlighting climate action, equity, and innovation. From launching the Interior Design Pledge for Positive Impact to addressing carbon emissions in design, we’ve never lost sight of the biggest goals for architecture and design: making people’s lives better and safeguarding life on this planet. Through daily stories, tools, and events, we help you stay inspired, informed, and empowered to shape a better future through design.