Architecture Public Relations: 6 Publications Every Architectural Firm Should Target to Showcase Projects, Expertise

When prestigious architectural publications showcase an architecture firm’s work, it gives that firm an invaluable stamp of approval that can play a key role in business development. 

While these publications are read by other architects — and not necessarily by clients — the coverage in these publications acts like a coveted referral from a trusted expert. It sends the message that your firm does quality work. 

While coverage in publications that clients read — like your local business journal or trade magazines such as Building Construction + Design, Medical Construction & Design and Hospitality Design (depending on your industry focus) — is also important, the strategy is different. These publications, while helping to establish your firm on your clients’ radar and demonstrate expertise in their industry, don’t provide the same cachet as publications like Architectural Record or Metropolis. 

So what publications should you aim for? And how can you get your work covered by them? Here are six architectural publications (for commercial/non-residential architects) that we recommend and how to get your firm’s work featured in them:

1) Architectural Record

Established in 1891 for architects, owners and other professionals involved in architectural services, Architectural Record (circulation: 93,079) provides design ideas and trends, news, business and professional strategies and an exploration of key issues impacting architects today. 

Nearly all of the magazine’s editorial focuses on innovative and unique projects tied to each issue’s theme, which can be found in the editorial calendar. Only 100 projects per year make it to the pages of Architectural Record, so competition is fierce.

To get your project profiled by the magazine, first check the editorial calendar to see when the publication will focus on your building type. Then, submit your project for consideration six months in advance of the issue date. Direct your email to the editor referenced in the table at the bottom of this page, which provides submission instructions.

The magazine’s editors use a roundtable format to review submissions, evaluate each project’s design characteristics and discuss possible story angles.

Don’t submit project material to multiple publications simultaneously, as the magazine prefers exclusivity (see our post on using media exclusives), with the exception of books for review, exhibitions, news and product announcements. Projects must be current or recently completed (so don’t submit that project that was completed three years ago). 

While getting your project featured is the gold standard, there are other regular sections of the magazine that you can target:

• Record News: If your firm was awarded a newsworthy commission or you’re breaking ground on an interesting building or opening one soon, submit a press release for coverage in this section.

According to the magazine: “New work must offer an interesting storyline — what is it that makes your particular building stand out?” The magazine notes that it does not publish personnel changes or information about office relocations.

• Technology, Lighting, and Digital Practice: Has your project used building technology, lighting or digital technology in an interesting way? If so, you might pique the interest of the editors who oversee those areas.
  
• Commentary & Criticism: While this section is written almost entirely by Architectural Record editors, there are sponsored content opportunities for this kind of editorial.
  
• Op Eds: This is the place for readers and thought leaders of the architecture profession to weigh in on news, projects and trends. It’s published infrequently and features outside contributors.
  
• Interviews: These brief interviews with “top newsmakers from the architecture world” include profiles of leading architects and designers, as well as noteworthy clients and policymakers. The magazine has also done special sections highlighting specific populations, including a “Spotlight on Black Leaders in Design” and a “Spotlight on Women Leaders in Design.”
  
• Firm Profiles: In this section, Architectural Record profiles noteworthy architects, designers and firms, exploring their work and professional histories. This section isn’t published frequently — there were no firm profiles in 2021 or any in 2022 as of the publication of this blog post.
  
• Top 300 Architecture Firms: In addition to editorial, the magazine includes several rankings and awards sections, including this one, which is an annual ranking based on revenue. 
  
• Good Design Is Good Business: This awards program recognizes architectural solutions that were instrumental to the client’s growth and success. However, the program hasn’t been done since 2019. We’ll keep an eye out to see if the magazine plans to feature it again.
  
• Women in Architecture Forum & Awards: This awards program honors women in the following categories:
  • Design leader: For an architect with significant built work and influence
  • New generation leader: For an architect who is rising in the profession
  • Innovator: For an architect who has made a mark in innovative design, materials or building type
  • Activist: For an architect who has used her skills to design for social change, to influence the public realm or to perform pro bono work
  • Educator or mentor: For a professional who has helped the advancement of women in the field
    
• Record Interiors: In this annual issue, Architectural Record spotlights the best, most well-designed interiors from around the world (past winners can be seen here). 

2) Architect

The official publication of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Architect is a leading digital-first trade publication targeting practicing architects, particularly those working on commercial and institutional (non-residential) projects.

While historically a print magazine (previously cited circulation ~106,000), Architect today operates primarily as an online platform, reaching a highly influential audience of architects, firm leaders and industry decision-makers.

Its editorial coverage focuses on the key issues shaping architectural practice, including:

• Design and project features
• Practice management and business strategy
• Technology and materials
• Sustainability and resilience
• Industry trends and culture

Unlike traditional trade publications, Architect does not follow a formal editorial calendar with themed issues. Instead, it publishes continuously, meaning opportunities are timely and trend-driven rather than tied to specific monthly topics.

Awards: Architect does not operate a large standalone awards program, but it plays a major role in covering and amplifying AIA awards and other industry recognitions.

Regularly featured awards include:

• AIA Architecture Awards
• AIA COTE Top Ten Awards (sustainability)
• AIA Interior Architecture Awards
• AIA Regional & Urban Design Awards
• AIA Housing Awards
• AIA 25-Year Award

The publication also covers broader industry awards and occasionally features programs such as:

• Progressive Architecture (P/A) Awards (historical/legacy coverage)
• R+D Awards (research and innovation)

3) Metropolis

Established in 1981, Metropolis (circulation: 42,217) “examines contemporary life through design, architecture, interior design, product design, graphic design, crafts, planning and preservation.” The magazine’s editorial is aimed at professionals, but also at “lay readers with a passion for the ins and outs of design.”

Metropolis features high-brow design topics and projects. Below are the magazine’s sections and an overview of each:

• Projects: This section reviews unique and groundbreaking projects, such as the new office building for the German Parliament built with prefab mass timber or Uber headquarters’ “secret garden,” all written by the magazine’s staff or a select group of specialist freelancers.
  
• Viewpoints: These thought pieces are written by the magazine’s editors or professional freelance writers, who all specialize in writing about architecture/design topics. Topics include reviews of art exhibitions, profiles of groundbreaking architects, book reviews, discussions of recent research on design concepts and op-eds from design industry leaders. 
  
• Sustainability: This section is similar to Viewpoints, but every article features a sustainability angle, such as this profile of a 3D printed house and this review of an affordable housing project that was overhauled to meet green efficiency standards.
  
• Products: The magazine reviews innovative products, such as this light column and this review of Paris’s furniture and decor showcase.
  
• Profiles: These stories focus on unique and groundbreaking designers and design firms, such as this profile on a UK-based consultancy that specializes in designing accessible spaces. 
  
• Programs: Often sponsored by architecture firms, these articles cover Metropolis’ Think Tank discussions.
  
• Sponsored content: This is paid editorial, such as this article on a shelving product and Sherwin Williams’ take on color trends.

4) The Architect’s Newspaper

Written for architects and covering the latest projects and commissions, The Architect’s Newspaper (circulation: 48,000) includes a mix of topical essays, opinion columns, project analyses, profiles, interviews, reviews of exhibitions and books, and a calendar of events and competitions.

As with the other publications profiled here, check the magazine’s editorial calendar to pitch your project in advance of the related issue. You must submit a form to request a media kit. 

Other sections include:

• Op-eds: These articles are written by outside contributors covering a range of topics, including sustainability, politics and more.
• Awards:
  
  • Best of Practice Awards: The Best of Practice Awards honor North American firms excelling at every level of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. A jury of industry experts, as well as the magazine’s editors, evaluate firms across multiple categories and seven regions. Honorees are featured in a special standalone issue at the end of the year.
  • Best of Design Awards: The Best of Design Awards spotlight the best new buildings, building elements, interiors, installations and public designs found across the continent. Entrants are invited to submit works in dedicated categories that reflect the magazine’s editorial coverage. Honorees are also featured in the end-of-year standalone magazine.

5) Architectural Review (UK)

Established in 1896, The Architectural Review, based in the United Kingdom (with a print circulation of 7,000 and monthly website page views hovering around 219,000), covers noteworthy projects and architectural initiatives across the globe. Editorial is written either by staff or freelance writers who specialize in architecture writing. A media kit can be requested through their online form.

Awards: The magazine also runs several awards programs that provide opportunities for coverage:

• W Awards: Celebrating the contribution of women and non-binary people
• AR Future Projects: Celebrating projects on the drawing board or under construction
• AR Public: Celebrating the creation, rescue and renovation of public space
• AR Emerging: Celebrating the next generation of talented designers 
• AR House: Celebrating originality and excellence in the design of dwellings
• AR New into Old: Celebrating the creative ways buildings are adapted and remodelled to welcome new contemporary uses

6) DeZeen (UK)

Another UK-based publication, DeZeen targets “the leaders and opinion formers of the architecture and design world. They are affluent, educated, creative professionals who are passionate about design and technology.”

The outlet says its biggest audience is in the United States, where it claims to have more than 760,000 monthly readers. The top five U.S. cities by page views are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle. 

As always, if you can align your pitch with the editorial calendar, that will help.

To submit a project for consideration, email the editors a selection of images (they request JPEGs with at least 3000 pixels on the shortest sides) and a short description of the project. They advise reviewing their copyright policy before submitting material.

Keep in mind that the projects typically selected are particularly noteworthy. Here are a few examples:

• Masastudio completes desert villa at Utah’s Amangiri resort
• A$AP Rocky revamps modernist Paul Rudolph guesthouse for Basic Space auction
• Benjamin Hall Design uses masonry walls for Arizona accessory dwelling unit

The magazine says that it doesn’t have formal criteria for selecting projects but in general is “looking for content that is fresh, innovative, newsworthy, has a good story behind it and fantastic images. We get tons of submissions and we can’t reply to everyone, although we do try to look at everything.”

Here are a few other tips from the editors:

• They like exclusivity: “We are more likely to publish projects that are sent to us exclusively. If you are offering us an exclusive, please make this clear in your submissions email.”
  
• They like videos: “If you have a movie related to your project, send it in! We usually upload submitted movies to our own channels (particularly YouTube, Facebook and Instagram) rather than embedding from other accounts. We may edit movies but we’ll ask for your permission first.”
  
• They like plans, drawings and sketches: “Plans, sections and sketches are very popular with our readers, so please include them if you can.”
  
• They like to credit everyone: “Send us project credits! Especially for the images. We are rarely able to pay for photography but we will happily give credits, links and full copyright details where appropriate. Many photographers happily give us free imagery as publication on Dezeen is a good way to promote their work and often leads to commissions from other publications.”

Other opportunities include:

• Op-eds: Opinion columns are written by outside contributors (architects, professors, students, etc.) and cover high-brow concepts (not nitty-gritty how-tos) such as: 
  
  • “It’s time to see all those circular economy strategies for what they are”
  • “Absolute freedom over who designs buildings only encourages the cowboy practitioner”
  • “As our celebrated architects sign off, we should resist the urge to replace them”

• Awards: There are 49 project categories in total. Within the sectors of architecture (19 categories), interior (14 categories) and design (16 categories). The studio categories have been specifically created to highlight the architects and designers producing the most outstanding work.

There are also three overall project winners, one in each of the sectors of architecture, interiors and design. Nominations aren’t accepted for these overall categories — they are chosen by a master jury from the winners of each of the project categories. 

If this seems a little daunting, never fear. You can enlist the help of an architecture public relations agency to handle the heavy lifting of pitching the publications and ensuring the resulting coverage highlights your firm’s work in the best way possible. Reach out to me at [email protected] to learn more.