Evidence Standards
The three-grade evidence system and the source hierarchy behind every claim in the index.
| Grade | Standard |
|---|---|
| A | Independent national record: AIA national awards, Architectural Record / ENR audited rankings, SEC filings, certification registries (USGBC, ILFI). |
| B | Professional juries: Texas Society of Architects, AIA chapters, peer-reviewed program selections. |
| C | Firm-reported figures awaiting independent audit. Labeled everywhere; never decide a ranking alone. |
Excluded as evidence: sponsored magazine content, paid directories without transparent juries, audience-vote awards, follower counts.