What Are The Gold Nuggets? In its 40th year, the Gold Nugget Awards program is the oldest and largest program of its kind. Gold Nuggets honor creative achievements in architectural design and land use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. Entries come from 14 Western states and all countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. Gold Nugget winners share one common denominator: excellence and innovation in addressing complex design/build issues. Visit Golden Nugget Awards for more details.