If you like architectural “drawings” than you’ve just landed on the mother lode. Those of us in the architectural business (because architects like to use big words) call these “architectural delineations” or “renderings.” Drawings are what go up on your refrigerator, typically held down with weak letter magnets.
Now in its 39th year, the AIA Dallas’s Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation Competition – “KRob” as it is commonly referenced – is the longest-running architectural delineation competition in the world. Organized by AIA Dallas since 1974, KRob has awarded prizes to works that best represent the artistic qualities of architecturally inspired drawings created digitally or by hand. All students and professionals are encouraged to submit entries, which are judged by a three member panel that includes industry recognized visionaries in the graphic arts. For most of its history, KRob was a local competition for architects and renderers in the Dallas/Fort Worth region. Since accepting drawing electronically five years ago, the competition has grown dramatically, with entries increasing by over 600% the first year. Due to high numbers of international entries, a new international prize was created for those outside of the United States.
On November 14th, I will be moderating a panel made up of the jurors, who will be selecting the winners in this years delineation competition, where each panelist will present their work and engage in a lively conversation on current trends in architectural delineation, the profession of CG Architects, techniques and technology. It is intended that this panel will be streamed live around the planet with the opportunity for viewers to pose questions to the panelists.
This competition is a big deal and there are typically hundreds of entries from all over the world from both professionals, students and all points in between. I used to chair the KRob Memorial Delineation Competition back in the ’90’s when I was more involved in my local chapter AIA. When I took over, the competition received around 40 – 50 entries from around the state and the reception was a lemonade and cookies event held in the chapter office. BORING. I decided that was going to change so I started raising money so I could fly in whoever I wanted to personally meet, we rented out space at a local microbrewery, and turned this into a fantastic party that celebrated the architectural graphic arts. Within 2 years, our entries almost tripled and the announcement party became a “must attend” event with 100+ people regularly attending. If you can believe it, I created a special category for digital renderings and received all sorts of grief over it – many of the older guard were really against admitting these “new” types of renderings into the competition. It’s amazing how times have changed – not only do digital renderings outnumber the number of hand drawn renderings 10 to 1, the submissions come in from around the planet (over 30 different countries last year.)
Enough talking … here are some of the recognized entries from last years event. Each is remarkable and show the depth of creative talent available from which we can all draw inspiration.
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![Stephanie Bower - Best in Category Professional Travel Sketch Stephanie Bower - Best in Category Professional Travel Sketch](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Stephanie-Bower-BIC-Professional-Travel-Sketch.jpg?resize=1100%2C388)
Best in Category – Professional Travel Sketch
2012 KRob Delineation Competition
![Ross Jordan - Best in Category Student Digital Mixed Ross Jordan - Best in Category Student Digital Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Ross-Jordan-BIC-Student-Digital-Mixed.jpg?resize=1100%2C223)
Best in Category Student Digital Mixed
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Robert Gilson - Best in Category Professional Digital Mixed Robert Gilson - Best in Category Professional Digital Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Robert-Gilson-BIC-Professional-Digital-Mixed.jpg?resize=1100%2C734)
Best in Category Professional Digital Mixed
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Gary Schuberth - Best in Category Professional Hand Gary Schuberth - Best in Category Professional Hand](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Gary-Schuberth-BIC-Professional-Hand.jpg?resize=740%2C937)
Best in Category – Professional Hand
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Andres Jaime - Best in Category Student Hand Andres Jaime - Best in Category Student Hand](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Andres-Jaime-BIC-Student-Hand.jpg?resize=1152%2C859)
Best in Category – Student Hand
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Michael Cincala - Juror Citation Student Hand Michael Cincala - Juror Citation Student Hand](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Michael-Cincala-Juror-Citation-Student-Hand.jpg?resize=1100%2C981)
Juror Citation – Student Hand
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Maj PLEMENITAS - Juror Citation Professional Digital Mixed Maj PLEMENITAS - Juror Citation Professional Digital Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Maj-PLEMENITAS-Juror-Citation-Professional-Digital-Mixed.jpg?resize=1100%2C461)
Juror Citation Professional Digital Mixed
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Anna Boldina - Juror Citation Professional Digital Mixed Anna Boldina - Juror Citation Professional Digital Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Anna-Boldina-Juror-Citation-Professional-Digital-Mixed.jpg?resize=1100%2C745)
Juror Citation – Professional Digital Mixed
2012 KRob Delineation Competition
![Gary Schuberth - Finalist Professional Hand Gary Schuberth - Finalist Professional Hand](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Gary-Schuberth-Finalist-Professional-Hand.jpg?resize=1040%2C1600)
Finalist – Professional Hand
2012 KRob Delineation Competition
![Dustin Wheat Finalist Professional Travel Sketch Dustin Wheat Finalist Professional Travel Sketch](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Dustin-Wheat-Finalist-Professional-Travel-Sketch.jpg?resize=1100%2C960)
Finalist Professional Travel Sketch
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Joshua Harrex Finalist Student Digital Mixed Joshua Harrex Finalist Student Digital Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Joshua-Harrex-Finalist-Student-Digital-Mixed.jpg?resize=600%2C925)
Finalist Student Digital Mixed
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Adamantia Maria Fytou FInalist Professional Digital Mixed Adamantia Maria Fytou FInalist Professional Digital Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Adamantia-Maria-Fytou-FInalist-Professional-Digital-Mixed.jpg?resize=1100%2C329)
FInalist Professional Digital Mixed
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Samuel Ringman Finalist Professional Physical Submission Samuel Ringman Finalist Professional Physical Submission](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Samuel-Ringman-Finalist-Professional-Physical-Submission.jpg?resize=1100%2C830)
Finalist Professional Physical Submission
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![James Blair FInalist Student Digital Mixed James Blair FInalist Student Digital Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/James-Blair-FInalist-Student-Digital-Mixed.jpg?resize=1100%2C641)
FInalist Student Digital Mixed
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![David Ericsson Finalist Student Digital Media Mixed David Ericsson Finalist Student Digital Media Mixed](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/David-Ericsson-Finalist-Student-Digital-Media-Mixed.jpg?resize=1100%2C337)
Finalist Student Digital Media Mixed
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Nicholas DeBrunye Finalist Student Travel Sketch Nicholas DeBrunye Finalist Student Travel Sketch](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Nicholas-DeBrunye-Finalist-Student-Travel-Sketch.jpg?resize=1100%2C731)
Finalist Student Travel Sketch
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![Steve Quevedo Finalist Professional Physical Submission Steve Quevedo Finalist Professional Physical Submission](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Steve-Quevedo-Finalist-Professional-Physical-Submission.jpg?resize=600%2C837)
Finalist Professional Physical Submission
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
![John Stack Ross Finalist Professional Travel Sketch John Stack Ross Finalist Professional Travel Sketch](https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/John-Stack-Ross-Finalist-Professional-Travel-Sketch.jpg?resize=1100%2C637)
Finalist Professional Travel Sketch
2012 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition
If you liked looking at these images, you can head over to the official Ken Roberts Competition web site and take a look at all the recognized entries (finalists and winners) from the last 8 years! It’s a huge repository of architectural eye-candy.
If you want to learn more about the event, including how to enter, submission requirements, juror data, and the Awards Presentation and Lecture event, you can find all of that information here:
and
It is important to note that the Entry Deadline is coming up. All entries must be received by Monday, October 28, 2013 5pm CST.
If you want to meet the jurors (or me, I love to meet people) you can attend the Awards Presentation, Wine Reception & Lecture without submitting a rendering. Just mark your calendar with the following date:
Thursday, November 14th 6:00pm at the Dallas Center for Architecture 1909 Woodall Rodgers Frwy, Suite 100