Photo by Jim Alinder.
Call for Entries
The Sea Ranch Awards for Design Excellence recognizes eligible completed projects at The Sea Ranch that demonstrate clarity, restraint, careful siting, and a thoughtful relationship between building, landscape, and community.
Reintroduced for the first time since 1998, the program recognizes eligible work completed at The Sea Ranch between 1998 and 2026. Projects will be reviewed by an independent jury in September 2026. Selected projects will be recognized at the Design Awards Presentation on November 14, 2026, at The Sea Ranch.
Program Overview
The awards program is intended not only to recognize exemplary work, but also to deepen understanding of the architectural and landscape principles that continue to shape The Sea Ranch.
Rather than considering buildings as isolated architectural objects, the program recognizes projects that contribute positively to the broader Sea Ranch environment—work that belongs to its setting, strengthens the larger built landscape, and supports the continuing stewardship of this unique place.
The program is primarily focused on residential design, including single-family homes and individually owned condominium units. Significant restoration or rehabilitation of legacy, community-serving, or shared residential common-area projects may also be considered where the work demonstrates architectural, site, material, landscape, or cultural significance to The Sea Ranch.
Eligibility
Eligible projects must:
- Be located within The Sea Ranch
- Be fully constructed at the time of submission
- Have been completed between 1998 and 2026
- Demonstrate design, restoration, or rehabilitation significance consistent with The Sea Ranch’s architectural and landscape values
Eligible project types include:
- Residential New Construction
- Residential Addition / Remodel
- Residential Rehabilitation / Restoration
- Individually Owned Condominium Unit Renovation / Restoration
- Significant Legacy / Community-Serving Restoration
- Shared Residential Common-Area Restoration
Landscape-only projects are not included in the program at this time, except where the work is part of a significant common-area or legacy restoration project determined eligible by the program.
The program reserves the right to determine final eligibility, category placement, and whether a submitted project is best reviewed as residential work, condominium residential work, or legacy/community-serving restoration work.
Who May Submit
Submissions may be made by:
- Architects
- Designers
- Design firms
- Property owners with appropriate permissions
- Authorized representatives, where applicable
Jury Review Considerations
Projects will be evaluated qualitatively in relation to The Sea Ranch’s architectural and landscape values.
The jury may consider:
- Relationship to site and landscape
- Architectural clarity
- Material restraint and durability
- Response to neighboring structures and surroundings
- Sensitivity to existing historic or legacy fabric, where applicable
- Continuity with the architectural culture of The Sea Ranch
- Overall coherence and long-term contribution to community character
The program is intended to encourage thoughtful work that contributes positively to the evolving built environment of The Sea Ranch.
How to Submit
Submissions for The Sea Ranch Awards for Design Excellence are accepted through the online submission portal.
The submission portal contains the current requirements for file format, jury-facing materials, required project documentation, photographic documentation, administrative information, file naming, and upload procedures.
Applicants should review the submission requirements in the portal before preparing and uploading their materials.
Submission Deadline: September 14, 2026 (Extended)
Awards
The jury may confer the following awards:
- Honor Award
- Merit Award
- Citation Award, if warranted
Awards may not be granted in every category.
The jury retains discretion over the number and level of awards granted.
All jury decisions are final.
Recognition through this program does not constitute Design Committee approval, compliance determination, or endorsement of future alterations or projects.
Jury
Projects will be reviewed by an independent jury with expertise in architecture, architectural history, preservation, and contemporary practice.
The jury is intended to reflect a balance of disciplinary background, design perspective, and familiarity with the architectural values that continue to shape The Sea Ranch.
Jurors shall disclose potential conflicts of interest related to submitted projects and may be recused from deliberation where appropriate.
Additional jury information will be announced separately.
Key Dates
- Call for Entries Release
June 15, 2026 - Submission Deadline
September 14, 2026 - Jury Review
September 25, 2026 - Design Awards Presentation
November 14, 2026 at 1:00 – 3:00 pm
The Sea Ranch; Del Mar Hall
Program Administration
The Sea Ranch Awards for Design Excellence is a TSRA-sponsored program developed in coordination with the Vision Committee.
The program is a cultural, educational, and recognition initiative and is separate from The Sea Ranch design review, permitting, and compliance processes.
The program is intended to encourage ongoing discussion regarding architecture, landscape, stewardship, and community at The Sea Ranch.