EIFS Excellence Awards

EIFS Excellence Awards Guide for a Successful Submission

The EIFS Excellence Awards celebrate the very best in architectural design, innovation, and performance achieved with EIFS. The following tips are intended to help you strengthen your submission and present your project in the best possible light. From compelling visuals to measurable performance data, these suggestions will show you how to align your entry with the judging criteria and highlight what makes your project stand out.

Strengthen Your Submission

Keep it clear and concise. Measurable data, tested results, diagrams, detailed photos, and real-world examples give credibility to your entry.
Speak directly to the judging criteria—make it easy for the panel to see how your project stands out.
Put care into your presentation. The quality of your entry package matters, and remember, you can edit or add to your entry until the November 1 deadline.

START ENTRY

Nail the Aesthetic Appeal

Bring the WOW factor. Showcase striking, professional photography that captures your project at its best.
Share the design story. Explain the architectural vision and how EIFS helped bring it to life without compromise. Consider questions like:
- Was the goal a bold design statement?
- Did the project need to blend seamlessly with its surroundings?
- Was it intended to attract or serve a specific audience?
Highlight style integration. Describe the architectural style(s) and explain how EIFS enhanced and supported them.
Strengthen your case with strong visuals, including:
- Eye-catching overall beauty shots
- Close-up detail images that showcase craftsmanship or innovative materials

Showcase Innovation & Creativity

EIFS alone is not innovation - Explain how this proven system was used in a new or unexpected way.
Share where boundaries were pushed, such as:
- Using EIFS where heavier, less energy-efficient materials would normally be specified (like precast concrete)
- Incorporating new materials, shapes, or finishes not typically seen in EIFS projects

Link the innovation back to problem-solving. Show how the creative approach helped overcome a design or performance challenge.

2024 Project of the Year The Atrium at Sumner winning team

Capitalize on Challenges & Resolutions

Tell the story. Identify any specific construction challenges faced and explain how EIFS solved them better than other cladding options. Include local restrictions that needed to be overcome.
Highlight the Why - Was EIFS chosen for cost savings, design flexibility, logistics, time-constraints or performance? If your project achieved speed, price, and quality, make the case—most projects only hit two!
Focus on Teamwork. Detail collaboration between contractors, manufacturers, architects and owners that achieves a final goal.

Detail Functionality & Performance

Highlight energy efficiency by including your project’s Effective Thermal Performance calculation or other industry standards measurements if possible.
Address thermal bridging. Show details on how the design minimizes heat loss at windows, terminations, and transitions. Drawings or diagrams can be uploaded to document these efforts.
Plan for the future. From drainage and flashing details to heavy-duty mesh at high-traffic areas, explain how your EIFS system defines long-term performance and low-maintenance.
Include interface solutions. Demonstrate how EIFS integrates with adjacent materials to control air leakage and drainage.
Describe quality checks and testing like mock-ups or third-party reviews.
Stakeholder satisfaction – consider providing a brief quote from the architect, owner, or other team member describing the impact of EIFS on the project’s success.

Bottom Line: A winning EIFS Excellence Awards entry tells a compelling story—supported by strong visuals, clear data, and thoughtful presentation. The more effectively you show how EIFS elevated your project, the stronger your chances of standing out to the judges.

For questions about the EIFS Excellence Awards, please contact:
Aggie Sterrett
Program Manager
EIFS Industry Members Association
[email protected]
(703) 538-1602