Lindley Naismith, Jane Aimer and Mike Dowsett of Auckland architecture firm Scarlet Architects have announced the launch of a new prize for aspiring female architects. The prize will recognize the “best performing woman student in the design element of the first year of the Master of Architecture (Professional) at the Auckland School of Architecture,” says Naismith.

Scarlet Architects’ founders say they were inspired to fund the The Scarlet Prize in Architecture because they wanted to give back and encourage women in the industry. The female student with the best GPA across first year M.Arch design classes will receive $1000 along with the opportunity for ongoing mentoring as she moves from university to practice.

Aimer explains, “The founding directors of Scarlet Architects are women, and both Lindley and I are founding members of Architeture+Women NZ. We see ourselves as approaching the end of our conventional careers in the profession and wanted to contribute something that has an appropriate legacy given the history of our practice.”

Click here to find out more about the Scarlet Prize in Architecture.