Now, more than ever, people and planet require design that fosters a more livable world.The New AIA|LA Design Awards look to the future through changes to previous years’ categories in order to recognize the importance of design excellence that addresses planetary challenges. These changes celebrate work that nurtures quality of life; halts or reverses climate change; and are designed in respect for the natural world. Because, if there is a singular lesson from 2020, it is that ultimately nature is more powerful than human.These values are recognized through the synthesis of the Design Awards and what were previously AIA|LA COTE Awards. This year, rather than two separate categories, Design Awards submissions will include the Common Application or “common app,” a national sustainability criteria that consists of predominantly Yes/No questions. We become the first local Chapter to do so.The NEXT LA Awards return to the annual program, this year including the Common App as well, but a new category is also in the mix—if only for this year; “Best of the Millennium” will honor the Best of the Best work in the last twenty years and is open, only, to previous design award winners (as in the built-project category) from the years 2000 – 2019.Details at https://www.aialosangeles.org/awards/design-awards/